Categories: Network Events
10.26.2015
The Supportive Housing Network of New York recognizes outstanding individuals and residences in our community.
Laura Mascuch addresses the crowd.
New York's supportive housing community came together on October 14th for the Network's annual Awards Gala. More than 600 guests joined us at Capitale, the spectacular Stanford White-designed Beaux Arts national landmark, on a lovely Wednesday evening to celebrate the outstanding individuals of supportive housing and our amazing community.
The mood was festive during the 90 minute cocktail hour as friends and colleagues revived old friendships and forged new partnerships.
The night’s festivities continued with our awards ceremony. This year, we honored four remarkable people, two outstanding and innovative residences, and two groups that have been steadfast supporters of supportive housing: the New York State Assembly as Government Partner of the Year, and the Affordable Housing Group at Nixon Peabody LLP as Private Sector Partner of the Year.
Network Board Chair and Richman Housing Resources President Bill Traylor welcomed the crowd, and introduced the Network’s Executive Director, Laura Mascuch, who expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Network’s Board, staff and the community for all their support.
The first honoree, as Government Partner of the Year, was the New York State Assembly, represented by Speaker Carl Heastie and Social Services Chair Andrew Hevesi, who accepted the award on behalf of the Assembly. Assembly Member Hevesi opened his remarks by offering thanks to those assembled, the “front-line workers who are really the people getting this done.” He alluded to the role he played in educating Assembly members about supportive housing through briefings that led to the Assembly’s bi-partisan support for a robust NY/NY 4. Assembly Member Hevesi closed by saying he “absolutely believes the Senate Republican majority and Governor Cuomo will also soon move forward with 35,000 new units.”
Speaker Heastie lauded the teamwork of The New York State Assembly, and recognized the critical role played by Assembly Member Hevesi as Social Service Committee Chair in pushing forward NY/NY 4, and thanked the Network for honoring the Assembly.
James Milan of Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS) accepted the first of the evening’s three Tenant of the Year awards from the Network’s Cynthia Stuart. Mr. Milan, a young adult who’d been in foster care for most of his life, said “so many people go unnoticed. He went on to thank the staff at NCS’ Louis Nine House for helping him develop the tools to transition to adulthood.
Craig Retchless, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Customized Assistance Services, NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), accepted this year’s Tim O'Hanlon Unsung Hero of the Year award. Mr. Retchless, whose euphoric extended family was in the house, was introduced by HRA’s Daniel Tietz, who recognized Mr. Retchless’ role in expanding supportive housing through his work with NY/NY III – and noted “plus, he’s just a wonderful person.”
Randy Holloman of Evergreen Health Services was honored to receive the evening’s second Tenant of the Year award, and thanked “everyone who has supported me at Evergreen Health Services. I never thought I would be coming from the streets to be standing here today.”
Marty Teller, Executive Director of Finger Lakes Addictions Counseling and Referral Agency (FLACRA), accepted our upstate Residence of the Year award from the Network’s Maclain Berhaupt, on behalf of FLACRA’s and Cazenovia Recovery Systems Inc.’s Cadence Square, a magnificent supportive housing residence dedicated to ending veteran homelessness and brilliantly re-imagining a formerly neglected building.
Ralph Fasano, of Concern for Independent Living, welcomed Network Board Member Deborah VanAmerongen and the Affordable Housing Group at Nixon Peabody to the podium to receive our Private Sector Partner of the Year award. Nixon Peabody has brought over a dozen supportive housing deals to fruition in New York.
Our final Tenant of the Year, Alexander Griffin, got a standing ovation from the crowd, in recognition of his achievements overcoming thirty three years of homelessness. Now living at Housing and Services’ Kenmore Hall, Mr. Griffin was nominated by Goddard Riverside, whose outreach worker, James Martin, Mr. Griffin credited with getting him off the streets.
Tori Lyon, Executive Director of the Jericho Project, accepted our final Residence of the Year award on behalf of the gorgeous Kingsbridge Terrace, and spoke eloquently about her and Jericho Project’s journey in focusing on veteran homelessness as well as the key role supportive housing plays in that effort.
The evening ended with more cocktails, conversation, and delicious desserts!
You can also read more about each of our honorees by following the links here and check out the amazing photos of the evening.
We hope to see you at next year's Gala!