Categories: Network Events
02.28.2025
On Thursday, February 27th, the Network joined over 150 members of the supportive housing community for our 2025 Annual Meeting to reflect on and celebrate the past year in accomplishments and challenges.
The Network’s Board Chair and Breaking Ground CEO Brenda Rosen kicked off the program noting the importance of the Network’s role keeping the community informed and connected in these chaotic times. She ticked off some of the Network’s accomplishments over the past year under Pascale’s leadership including record-breaking attendance at the annual Conference with over 2000 registrants and the Gala with over 700 registrants. She also congratulated the Network on its recent Tenant of the Year Nominee breakfast with more than 50 tenants and staff.
She then took over the role of Treasurer and Executive Director of Concern Housing, Ralph Fasano, and covered the Network’s financials which were excellent especially in a difficult fund-raising atmosphere.
Network Executive Director Pascale Leone then spoke welcoming members and thanking the Network’s Board for their support over the past year. She then asked for votes on the board slate for the 51 groups that had voted via proxy as well as those in the room. The Board was re-elected unanimously.
Pascale congratulated the community on the past year’s openings: members developed 18 new residences with 1,085 supportive and 756 affordable units as well as 18 affordable residences with another 594 supportive units for a total of 1,679 new supportive housing units. .
Pascale then noted the many Network advocacy accomplishments over the past year: at the State, inclusion of $17.8 million boost in NYSSHP funding; $25 million more for HHAP and major increases in ESSHI rates in the Executive budget; at the City a long-awaited 3-year COLA increase of 9%, and the Network’s first year of its Safety and Well-Being Training and Community of Practice. She also congratulated everyone present on the
Pascale ended her remarks by noting the darkness of the current times “I would be remiss not to acknowledge the weight you’re holding . We know we have to fight like hell and that power concedes nothing without a fight. We wouldn’t be here without the fight of forefathers – we have to keep going in the darkest of days and those days are getting darker. But this is not the first time our community has faced adversity. She ended in encouraging all assembled to join in the call and response: “when we fight, we win.”
For the powerpoint of the 2024 supportive housing openings, see HERE.