Welcome to the April 2015 issue of Network News, the Supportive Housing Network of New York's monthly e-newsletter. You'll find lead articles on the New York State budget that just passed, the Network's annual meeting, and a recent tour of a new supportive housing residence with Senator Jesse Hamilton. Thanks for reading!
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The New York State SFY 2015-16 budget that passed April 1st contains much good news for Network members continuing to build on several successful supportive housing initiatives. Unfortunately, the budget does
not include a larger statewide supportive housing agreement. Over the next several weeks, the Network will begin a post-budget advocacy campaign for an expansion of the program.
Budget highlights of particular interest include:
Statewide Supportive Housing Program
The final budget does include $74.5 million of the JP Morgan settlement funds to support a statewide supportive housing program. This is $8.5 million more than the Executive proposed but falls significantly short of what is needed to support a statewide supportive housing agreement that builds 30,000 units in NYC and 5,000 rest-of-state. The Network will be advocating for an expansion of the program.
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| The Network's Executive Director Laura Mascuch addresses members |
One hundred and fifteen members of our community gathered for the Network's annual meeting March 12th, to review the past year, meet our new Executive Director, hear from supportive housing's new champion, Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi and, as always,
network. In addition to a looped slideshow of the 22 beautiful supportive housing residences opened by our members in 2014, there was a continuous slideshow of photos from events throughout the year.
Commenting that this was her first annual meeting as Executive Director,
Laura Mascuch noted how many familiar faces were in the crowd. She kicked off the evening welcoming members as "the heart of the supportive housing movement," adding, "I'm amazed by the tireless commitment and great energy that you bring to our important work."
Special guest Andrew Hevesi, Assembly Member and Chair of the Assembly's Social Services Committee, delivered an impassioned speech and implored the community to educate stakeholders about supportive housing, calling the model "the only responsible answer for policy makers to address the long-term needs of homeless individuals, families and children." Later he shared his thoughts on our organization saying, "I was honored to speak at the Supportive Housing Network's annual event and I look forward to working with my new friends and partners at the Network to deliver a robust and critically important NY/NY 4 agreement."
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Senator Jesse Hamilton Tours CAMBA Gardens with the Network
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| From left to right: Edline Jacquet, Laura Mascuch, Senator Jesse Hamilton, Joanne Oplustil, Robin Pagliuco, and Sharon Browne on the roof top at CAMBA Gardens |
During an advocacy visit with the Network this winter, newly-elected
Senator Jesse Hamilton of Brooklyn said he'd like to actually tour some supportive housing, so on March 13
th, he joined CAMBA President and CEO
Joanne Oplustil and Network Executive Director
Laura Mascuch for a tour of CAMBA's recently opened CAMBA Gardens. He was, as he put it "sold" on the model, wowed equally by the residence's physical beauty and the wealth of on-site resources aimed at helping tenants maximize their potential: individualized case management, employment assistance, nutrition counseling, yoga, computer training and financial management. Developed in partnership with NYC's Health and Hospital Corporation on the campus of the Kings County Hospital, CAMBA Gardens I is the first of a two-stage development project that will eventually provide nearly 400 apartments for a mix of families and individuals with special needs as well as low-income families from the community.
The group toured the 208-unit residence which features a rooftop terrace, a state of the art computer lab, beautiful art sculptures throughout the building, a spacious community room available for tenant and local community use, a large commercial kitchen for nutrition and cooking classes and numerous green features such as a rooftop solar panel. CAMBA's Executive Vice-President of Health & Housing
Sharon Browne described the ways in which connectivity to services and proximity to healthcare resources helped meet the complex needs of vulnerable tenants, information of particular interest to Senator Hamilton who sits on the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee. At the end of the two hour tour, Senator Hamilton professed, "You've won me over. Supportive housing is great."
Thank you to the wonderful staff at CAMBA and to Senator Hamilton and his staff.
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Network Members Chosen for NY Community Trust Learning Lab
Learning lab on leveraging healthcare opportunities  The Network is pleased to announce that a number of our supportive housing and affiliate members were selected to participate in a six-session Learning Lab on Leveraging Healthcare Reform Opportunities. Groups selected to participate include Brooklyn Community Services, CAMBA, CASES, Goddard Riverside, Henry Street Settlement, NAMI, Project Hospitality, Sunnyside Community Services, WIN, Catholic Charities, EAC, Grand Street Settlement, Hudson Guild, Isaacs Neighborhood Center, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, Providence House, Turning Point, Union Settlement, and University Settlement. Funded by the New York Community Trust and offered by Markowitz Consulting, the Learning Lab is set to offer participants the chance to learn about all the programs and initiatives being undertaken to improve healthcare for the most vulnerable New Yorkers in order to make informed choices as to how their organizations might make use of these opportunities. The Lab is being offered to a limited number of groups that belong to the Network, and/or the Coalition for Behavioral Health Agencies and/or United Neighborhood Houses. We are grateful that the Trust is extending this opportunity to our members.
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Relaunch of the Funding Guide Today!
58 New York supportive housing funding streams
 We are pleased to announce the re-launch of our website's popular funding guide, after a concerted effort by the Network's policy team. The funding guide is an invaluable resource, given that a typical supportive housing residence receives funding from a variety of city, state, federal and private sources. Keeping tabs on these funding programs -- their guidelines, deadlines and fine print -- can be a time-consuming task. We hope that our funding guide, a one-stop resource for anyone seeking funds for supportive housing, will facilitate the process for you. Your feedback is welcome. What you'll find: up-to-date information and analysis on 58 New York supportive housing funding streams. Each profile contains the basic facts and figures for its given program. These include rules on how to apply, details on which populations are eligible and links to term sheets and regulations for more detailed information. Users can search profiles using the tools in the green side bar on the left-hand side of the page. These filters allow you to search for entries by funding type (capital, operating, etc.) and source (New York City, federal, etc.), among other variables. Our profiles will be updated regularly to maintain the most current information possible.
Here are a few highlights of current available funding streams: In November of 2014,
HDC archived their LAMP program, and created Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA), which builds on LAMP but offers more homeless set aside units and targets deeper affordability
. At the same time, HPD archived the LIP program, and created
their version of ELLA
. HPD's ELLA like HDC's, builds on its predecessor, and also provides deeper targeting for lower income people as well as increased homeless set aside units. HPD also created the Senior Affordable Rental Apartments program (SARA), which provides gap funding for affordable housing for low income seniors above 62 years in age. These new programs are part of the effort to increase the development and preservation of affordable housing to achieve the Mayor's Housing New York Plan. Updated information on Medicaid Redesign Capital Funding, available from NYS OTDA and NYS HCR will help developers preparing for this year's funding cycle, now that the state budget has been enacted. A new Continuum of Care section updates HUD Homelessness funding with HEARTH regulations and terminology.
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Network Jobs Board Check out these job openings and many others on our Jobs Board. Network members can post their employment opportunities for free!
Clinical Coordinator for Common Ground
JET Program Coordinator for Henry Street Settlement
Employment Program Coordinator for Henry Street Settlement
Case Manager/Housing Specialist for Henry Street Settlement
Case Manager (Senior Supportive Housing Pilot Program) for Goddard
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 Upcoming Events
Network members are invited to attend the AIA's conversation on architecture and supportive housing moderated by the Network's
Nicole Branca on April 14th. Event is free. Register
here.
The Network continues to partner with the
Center for Urban Community Services to offer discounted state of the art trainings to Network members. On May 12th, they are offering
Coordinating Property Management and Social Services.
Head over to our website to register and to learn more about all our events!
The Network's
15th annual conference is just two months away - mark your calendars for
Thursday, June 4th and register online beginning April 13th! If you'd like to sponsor the conference and/or exhibit, contact
Raj Hosein at 646-619-9644.
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 News Clips The New York Times highlighted the need for a robust NY/NY 4 in Uncertain Future for New York Housing Program That Helps Mentally Ill Homeless People. Network's Executive Director Laura Mascuch wrote a clarifying letter to the editor in response to a thoughtful City Limits piece on the actual impact of both supportive housing and shelters on communities: Advocate's Plea: Don't Blur Line Between Shelters & Supportive Housing. Matt Urban Center was the subject of moving article in the Buffalo News, Women Alone on Street are Given Hope. The important, humane work of Volunteers of America was showcased in Bloomberg News: NYC's Record Homeless Population Seeks Shelter at LaGuardia.
Common Ground's new Bronx residence was celebrated in DNAInfo. |
| Comings and Goings After three years as our Director of Member Services, Wren Longno is leaving the Network on April 10th to pursue other opportunities. As many of you know, Wren came to us from Housing Services Inc. where she was Communications Director. Over the past several years, Wren captained the Network's three large annual events -- the Conference, the Gala and the Annual Meeting -- all of which grew steadily with her assistance. Wren also worked with Center for Urban Community Services to bring trainings to members around the state. And Wren worked with members to help with direct assistance and connect them to other resources. Wren hopes that you will keep in touch with her via email. Thank you Wren! |
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