Welcome to the August 2015 issue of Network News, the Supportive Housing Network of New York's monthly e-newsletter. You'll find lead articles on a bipartisan group urging Governor Cuomo to create more supportive housing, Nicole Branca's move to MOVA, a groundbreaking in the Bronx and an invitation to our annual awards gala on October 14th. Thanks for reading!
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133 Assemblymembers urge Governor Cuomo to Create More Supportive Housing: Join the Campaign for NY/NY 4
35,000 Units needed statewide
With the leadership of Assembly member
Andrew Hevesi, Chair of the New York State Assembly Social Services Committee, a bipartisan group of 133 Assembly members from across the state have sent a letter to the Governor urging the state to develop 35,000 new units of supportive housing statewide.
The letter was presented to the Governor following a series of Assembly briefings hosted by Assembly member Hevesi about supportive housing's role in ending homelessness, improving neighborhoods and saving tax dollars. The Network and many of our members, including Services for the Underserved, Community Access, Concern for Independent Living, Common Ground, Joseph's House, DePaul, Rehabilitation Support Services, Inc., and St. Joseph's Medical Center all presented at the briefings and helped educate Assembly members and staff about supportive housing and its critical role in stabilizing tenants and neighborhoods.
The Assembly has joined with the
Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing, calling on the Governor to develop 35,000 units of supportive housing over the next 10 years. The
Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing is a coalition launched in May of 2014 aimed at advocating for a new supportive housing agreement to finance the creation of 35,000 new units of supportive housing over the next decade. There are currently over 260 supporters who have endorsed the
campaign's platform! If your organization has not signed on yet please do so now by clicking on
this link and filling out your organization
's information.
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Network's Nicole Branca Moves to MOVA
Appointed Assistant Commissioner & Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives
After a decade with the Network, most recently as our Deputy Executive Director,
Nicole Branca has been appointed Assistant Commissioner & Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, Mayor's Office of Veterans' Affairs.
Laura Mascuch, the Network's Executive Director said, "For more than a decade Nicole has been a remarkably strong advocate for our members and supportive housing tenants across the state. She has accomplished many things, but her leadership on NY/NY III which culminated in the "Taking Stock" report points to her dedication and commitment to supportive housing. She has also been a steadfast leader on the Continuum of Care which engages many of our members. We wish Nicole many continued successes as she embarks on ending veterans homelessness in New York City."
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Please Join Us! Network Awards Gala on October 14th at Capitale
Nominations now open for Residence of the Year and Tenant of the Year
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| Honorees from the 2014 gala |
Don't miss this night of celebrating the heroes of supportive housing. Our annual awards gala honors our Government Partner of the Year, our Corporate Partner of the Year, and the Tim O'Hanlon Unsung Hero of the Year.
As always, we will be honoring Tenants and Residence of the Year. Click here to nominate a residence. Click here to nominate a tenant.
We look forward to seeing you on October 14th at Capitale!
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The Network Seeks a Director of Policy and Planning
Primary functions include policy and advocacy management and coordination.
The Network seeks
a Director of Policy and Planning. The primary functions of the Director of Policy and Planning are to 1) manage NYC policy and advocacy and coordinate with state and federal policy efforts to preserve and increase the statewide stock of supportive housing; 2) initiate and execute new programs and initiatives based on member and/or industry needs and opportunities; 3) represent the Network and membership on key committees and task forces that further the mission; 4) provide ongoing technical support to members; and 5) provide active leadership in the NYC Continuum of Care.
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Walton Avenue Residence Groundbreaking
New residence for veterans and young adults
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| Walton Avenue residence breaks ground |
On July 7th,
Jericho Project broke ground in the Bronx for a new affordable and supportive housing project, Walton Avenue Residence, which will provide homes for homeless veterans and young adults. The project is scheduled to open in the spring of 2017. The planned complex will feature 89 units of housing, with 56 units set aside for veterans, and 33 units for young adults. Located a few blocks from the Trenton Avenue station, Walton Avenue will provide tenants with a mix of energy-efficient affordable and supportive housing, with easy access to Manhattan.
"This is a landmark moment for Jericho Project as we deepen our commitment to veterans and extend our services to young adults who are in dire need of housing and support," said Jericho Project Executive Director
Tori Lyon.
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Survey: Huge Majority of New Yorkers Favors More Supportive Housing
68% favor federal funding increase
 Recently, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, along with and New York State's
Tenants & Neighbors and the Network
, published findings from
a state-wide public opinion poll that measured New York registered voter support for changing the mortgage interest deduction, addressing homelessness, and creating more affordable housing.
The results showed that an impressive majority (68%) of the voters surveyed supported federal funding increases for affordable housing to address homelessness. In addition, 72% of the surveyed voters expressed a desire for partnerships between state and local government in order to create permanent housing with support services for homeless people with disabilities.
While most New Yorkers showed support for the mortgage interest deduction (MID), they also expressed support for reforms that would make the deduction fairer and less regressive, and more than half said they would apply any savings from MID reform to ending homelessness.
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Fred Scaglione Passes Away
Founder of New York Nonprofit Press
Fred Scaglione,
founder and Editor Emeritus of New York Nonprofit Press (now New York Nonprofit Media) passed away on August 6, 2015. Mr. Scaglione was a tireless advocate for nonprofits in New York through his work in city government and social service agencies - a commitment that culminated in his creation of New York Nonprofit Press in 2001. Mr. Scaglione's goal was "serving people who serve people."
The Network's Executive Director,
Laura Mascuch said "Fred understood and celebrated the nonprofit world and we will miss his dedication and integrity."
Allison Sesso, Executive Director of the Human Services Council, said "Fred was a true friend and partner. He had a unique ability to synthesize the complex wonky issues of the human services world making them easy to digest. NYNP was his labor of love and a real gift to the nonprofit world."
The Network extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Scaglione's family and the New York nonprofit community.
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 Member News Liberty Village and The Amityville Community Center created by the Concern for Independent Living were awarded with the 2015 Smart Growth Award in Amityville, Long Island. |
News Clips
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Comings and Goings
Typically, the Network devotes more attention to our community's comings and goings -- but this summer has seen so many changes that in the interests of communicating this information to you in a timely fashion, we've condensed these items considerably.
RuthAnne Visnauskas
left the Robin Hood Foundation in June to join the Cuomo administration as the Executive Deputy Commissioner of Housing Development for New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).
Ted Houghton
left the Cuomo administration as the Executive Deputy Commissioner of Housing Development for New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) to head up the Gateway Development Assistance Corporation (GDAC).
Craig Retchless,
previously HRA's Supportive Housing Services Director, is now HRA's Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Customized Assistance Services.
Paul Francis,
a former State Budget Director, is being brought back by the Cuomo administration to serve as Deputy Secretary for Health.
Courtney Burke, New York State's Deputy Secretary for Health who also served as Commissioner of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, is leaving the Cuomo administration to become Albany Medical Center's Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer.
Patrick Markee, previously the Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy at the Coalition for the Homeless, stepped down from this position in June.
Tanya Stevens, previously the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) Director of Peer Services Division, will now assume the post of NYAPRS Deputy Director.
Raymond Hodges, previously the Director of Planning and Development at HPD, is now
Housing and Community Development Specialist for the San Mateo County Department of Housing.
Sarah Baldwin, our first Alan Epstein Fellow, spent the first half of the summer at Hirschen Singer and Epstein LLP, and now joins the Network through September 11, 2015. This fellowship was created in honor of our late board member Alan Epstein for law students interested in supportive housing policy and advocacy.
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