Categories: Network Events
06.19.2026
On June 18th, the Network welcomed nearly 2,300 registrants to its 24th Annual New York State Supportive Housing Conference, marking another year of record-breaking attendance.
The event featured 23 panels with experts sharing updates and best practices for providers and operators of supportive housing, including innovative staff recruitment and retention strategies, approaches to managing rent arrears, and creative programming to support tenant engagement and well-being. Held on the same day as the New York City’s historic Knicks championship parade, the conference embraced the spirit of the historic celebration. Network Executive Director Pascale Leone kicked off the morning plenary saying “As I watch celebration unfold across New York, I couldn’t help think about the parallels with supportive housing. It exists because generations of people refused to accept that homelessness is inevitable. So, they organized, advocated, and built something extraordinary. Today, tens of thousands of New Yorkers have a home because of that determination.”
Network Board Chair Brenda Rosen also addressed the room “I want to reiterate my heartfelt thank you to this entire community. In the face of enormous challenges, you chose action over encouragement. You stood up for one another, and you helped us protect our tenants, who are central to the work that we do and the main reason we’re all here.”
2026 Network Neighbor of the Year Honoree, Jimmy Emmick spoke to the transformative impact supportive housing as had on his live, “Supportive housing saved my life. I was in prison, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. I now live and work with Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach and give back to my community by supporting people coming out of prison and those dealing with substance use challenges, which often go hand in hand with mental health concerns. People are dying in the streets, and it’s a shame. It’s a shame that in our own country we have homelessness.”
One of the country’s leading experts on homelessness, substance use and racial equity and Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless Donald Whitehead delivered this year’s keynote speech and underscored the importance of centering those with lived experience in advocacy and policymaking, “The people closest to the pain are closest to the solution. Not because we are special, and not because our stories are more important, but because lived experience reveals truths that data alone cannot. We know what works because we survived what did not.”
The conference also introduced the inaugural Frederick Shack Keystone Legacy Award for Mentorship in Supportive Housing, which was awarded to Homeward NYC CEO Jeannette Ruffins in recognition of her decades of leadership, partnership and mentoring the next generation of supportive housing staff. Presenting the award, Pascale said, “For more than three decades, Jeannette has dedicated her career to serving people experiencing homelessness and those most at risk for being left behind. What makes Jeannette truly exceptional is not only what she has built—it is who she has built up. For anyone who has had the pleasure to work with her, partnership and mentorship come effortlessly.”
Following the plenary, attendees participated in 23 workshops, had lunch covering the Knicks championship parade, networked at the cocktail hour, and visited the Exhale Room, a dedicated space for relaxation and self-care throughout the day.
The Network extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered, and sponsored this year's conference.
See full workshop descriptions and presentations here. See photos from the day here.