Series A: 10:30am-12:00pm
A New Era of NYC Housing & Homelessness Response - Astor Ballroom, 7th Floor
Join New York City agency leaders as they discuss advances in the supportive housing sector and high-level strategies to address the homelessness crisis.
Erin Dalton, she/her, Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Social Services
Dina Levy, Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development
Ryan Murray, he/him, Executive Deputy Commissioner & Chief Program Officer, NYC Dept. for the Aging
Dr. Jorge Petit, he/him, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene
Moderator: Yvette Brissett-André, Executive Director/ CEO, Unique People Services
The Workforce We Need: Innovative Recruitment and Retention Strategies in Supportive Housing - Empire Complex, 7th Floor
Supportive housing, along with other human services programs, have been facing a workforce crisis for several years. Providers are leading the charge with innovative recruitment tactics and HR policies. This session will cover staff retention, wellness, mentorship, education programs -- and a four-day work week.
Emma Hambright, she/her, Vice President for Social and Human Services, RUPCO
Bill Jolly, Director of Mental Health Recovery & Family Services, Access; Supports for Living
Shawn Pilgrim, he/him, Director of Staff Learning & Development, West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing
Kimberly Roselle, she/her, Director of Human Resources, Unity House of Troy
Moderator: Jennifer Mitchell, she/her, President & CEO, The Doe Fund
Fighting Forward: Navigating Federal Shifts in Housing and Homelessness Policy - Soho Complex, 7th Floor
This session will explore how recent federal budget decisions and policy shifts are reshaping the supportive housing landscape nationwide and in New York. Speakers will reflect on key lessons learned over the past year, including the impacts of funding uncertainty, changing housing and behavioral health priorities, evolving federal requirements, and the role of litigation. The discussion will also highlight opportunities moving forward—from advocacy and coalition-building, to cross-sector partnerships, to contingency planning.
Anthony Feliciano, he/him, Vice President of Advocacy, Housing Works
Alexa Milton, she/her, Counsel, Relman Colfax PLLC
Marcy Thompson, she/her, Vice President of Programs and Policy, National Alliance to End Homelessness
Donald Whitehead, he/him, Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless
Moderator: Michelle Sandoz-Dennis, CEO, CARES of NY
Aging in Place: Voices from Research, Practice, and Lived Experience - Shubert Complex, 6th Floor
With supportive housing tenants aging in place and continuing to enter supportive housing as older adults, the need for aging-related services has increased. This session will explore strategies and resources for serving the older adult (55+) population, which comprises over half of supportive housing tenants statewide.
Russell Eisgrub, he/him, Associate Executive Director, Project FIND
Paul Freitag, he/him, Executive Director, West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing
Eileen Mullarkey, Associate Commissioner, NYC Dept. for the Aging
Moderator: Giselle Routhier, she/her, Research Assistant Professor, NYU Langone
Past Due: Practical Strategies for Managing Rent Arrears in Supportive Housing - Marquis Ballroom, 9th Floor
Arrears don't resolve themselves — and in supportive housing, the usual playbook doesn't always apply. This hands-on workshop explores practical approaches to prevention, with a focus on how program and property management teams can work together when residents fall behind.
Jonathan Castro, Vice President of Supportive Housing, Lantern Community Services
Michelle Sanderson, Associate Vice President of Social Services for Supportive Housing, Goddard Riverside
Supportive Housing Food Programs: Nourishment for the Body and Soul - Cantor/Jolson, 9th Floor
Even before the current moment of increasing strain on SNAP and emergency food resources, supportive housing providers have been reimagining food initiatives as an effective tool for healing, workforce development, and community building. This panel explores food access models, such as urban farming, grocery distribution, nutrition planning, and community partnerships, that help promote independent living and long-term housing stability.
Melissa Gallanter, she/her, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, Alliance for Positive Change
Jajaida Gonzalez, she/her, VP of Day Services, Services for the UnderServed
Ana Moran, Director of Health and Wellness, Community Access
Sterling Thomas, Tenant, Alliance for Positive Change
Moderator: Dr. Xellex Rivera, she/her, Chief Program Officer, Housing Solutions of New York
Leading with Lived Experience - Ziegfeld, 4th Floor
Supportive housing organizations are strongest when leadership reflects the experiences of the people they serve. This session brings together executive leaders and board members with lived experience of homelessness and mental health systems involvement, alongside organizational leaders working to expand lived-experience representation in governance and leadership, to discuss how those experiences shape organizational culture, service delivery, advocacy, and decision-making. Panelists and attendees will together examine structural and cultural barriers that continue to limit pathways into leadership roles across the field and leave with practical ideas for strengthening leadership pipelines.
Shams DaBaron, Founder, LionFox Development; Board Member, Housing Solutions of New York & Project Renewal
Tina Goodrich, she/her, Vice President of Supportive Services, HELP USA
Steve Miccio, CEO, People USA
Gabriela Sandoval Requena, she/her/ella, Vice President of External Affairs, New Destiny Housing
Moderator: Rob Robinson, Senior Advisor, Partners for Dignity; Professor of Urbanism, New School; Board Member, Urban Pathways & GEEL Community Services
The Youth Are Alright? Supporting Youth in and Beyond Supportive Housing - O'Neil, 4th Floor
This panel examines the transition — or lack thereof — that young adults experience as they age within supportive housing. Panelists will explore what outcomes look like for youth who remain in their original placements, how experiences differ between youth-specific programs and mixed-population settings, and whether existing contracts and program requirement provide any guidance on navigating this shift.
Jermaine Joseph, Tenant, Hudson River Housing
Dawn Saffayeh, she/her, President & CEO, Heartshare St. Vincent Services
Mark Smith, Tenant, Heartshare St. Vincent Services
Chrissy Tuttle, she/her, Manager of Youth and Young Adult Services, Hudson River Housing
Tiffany Walker, she/her, AVP Young Adult Housing, New York Foundling
Moderator: Saeeda Dunston, Chief Executive Officer, Elmcor Youth & Activities