In This Issue
Lobby Day March 14
NYC budget
Assembly testimony
OASAS awards
Obama housing plan
HOPE count
2012 NAEH report
Continuum of Care
Call for workshops
ICPH conference
Housing Solutions USA
Odds and ends
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Urban Pathways 
 
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We have a new member profile of Housing and Services, Inc., a pioneer in New York City supportive housing.

Learn more about upcoming horticultural therapy, advocacy and bed bug workshops. 

A new report from the Vera Institute of Justice finds that the average prison inmate in New York costs taxpayers roughly $60,000 a year. 
Supportive housing
in the news

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Monitor
ran a glowing profile of the supportive housing movement on January 25. The article states that "Permanent supportive housing not only removes the stigma of homelessness but is also cheaper than other alternatives."


ALBOR RUIZ OF THE NEW YORK Daily News published an op-ed on January 22  highlighting the findings of a new report from the Human Services Council of New York.


ON JANUARY 19, THE NEW
York Daily News
ran a feature article on Lantern Group's Vicinitas Hall, a new supportive housing residence for young adults who've aged out of foster care.


ON JANUARY 10, LOHUD RAN A story on recent lotteries held for 18 affordable housing units in Westchester. The piece quotes Alexander Roberts, Executive Director of Community Housing Innovations and member of the Network Board of Directors.


NEWSDAY RAN TWO ARTICLES
in January on Concern for Independent Living. The pieces -- one a feature story, the other a praising editorial -- covered a planned Concern residence for veterans in Long Island.


THE WEST SIDE FEDERATION
for Senior and Supportive Housing (WSFSSH) was mentioned in a January 27 New York Daily News article on elderly homelessness in New York City
.
Supportive housing comings and goings
ON FEBRUARY 10, ADOLFO Carri�n will step down as Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) New York and New Jersey Regional Office. Mr. Carri�n will leave his tenure to launch Metro Futures LLC, a new entity to advance investments in infrastructure and housing. A native New Yorker, Mr. Carri�n was tapped by the Obama Administration in 2009 to become Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs. The following year, President Obama appointed him to his current post at HUD. In addition to launching Metro Futures, Mr. Carri�n plans to renew his political advocacy efforts and help reelect President Obama Mr. Carri�n has honored us by speaking at several of our annual events, and we wish him the best of luck with his new ventures.

ROBERT V. HESS IS THE FIRST Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Housing Solutions USA, a newly-formed homelessness nonprofit in New York City. Mr. Hess previously served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) for over four years and more recently was Vice President of Replication at The Doe Fund. Mr. Hess helped reduce the number of individuals living on New York's streets by 47% during his tenure at DHS.

ALSO AT HOUSING SOLUTIONS USA, Cara Pace has begun work as the organization's first President. Ms. Pace served as Director of the Housing Division for Volunteers of America Greater New York from 2001 to 2010. During that time, Ms. Pace more than doubled the size of her division, from $19 million to $44 million. See the story below to learn more about Housing Solutions USA.


RAFAEL E. CESTERO HAS BEEN named the President and CEO of the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC). Mr. Cestero, who began his new post on January 17, previously served as the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD). As HPD Commissioner, Mr. Cestero launched a number of important initiatives, including the updated New Housing Marketplace Plan. Most recently, he held the position of Managing Director of L+M Development Partners. We look forward to working with him in his new role at CPC.

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Greetings!
Welcome to the February 2012 issue of the Supportive Housing Network of New York's monthly e-newsletter. In this issue, you'll find stories on the New York City and State budgets, the HOPE count, new research, awards and much more. As always, we welcome your feedback!
Network Lobby Day slated for March 14!
Join us in Albany to fight for supportive housing funding
On January 17, Governor Andrew Cuomo released his Executive Budget for the 2012 fiscal year. For a detailed rundown of the budget as it pertains to supportive housing, see here.

The budget contains a minor restoration of $703,000 to homeless housing and preventive services programs, including the NYS Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP), the Solutions to End Homelessness Program (STEHP) and Operational Support for AIDS Housing (OSAH) program. However, the current budget total ($27.3 million) is far short of the need. NYSSHP -- formerly known as SRO Support Services and Supported Housing for Families and Young Adults -- alone needs $28.3 million to adequately fund all existing residences and those opening this year.

The Network will hold its annual Advocacy Day on Wednesday, March 14, when we will meet with State legislators and executive staff to press for NYSSHP restorations in the final budget, expected by April 1. We encourage all members to bring staff and tenants to participate in this important day. The Network will coordinate with you to make sure you meet with your representatives in both the Assembly and Senate.

Please email the Network's Maclain Berhaupt if you wish to attend Advocacy Day or would like to schedule an individual meeting with a representative in your district or in Albany during the coming months.

Also, for those downstate, the Network will also host an Advocacy Day training session on March 9 at Common Ground's The Times Square. See this flyer for details.  Maclain will be conducting trainings via conference call for Upstate providers.
Mayor releases proposed 2012 budget
Includes cuts to HIV/AIDS supportive housing programs
On February 2, Mayor Bloomberg released his preliminary, $68.7 billion budget plan for Fiscal Year 2012-2013. For the third year in a row, the Mayor proposes to cut $5.1 million in funding for on-site case managers in supportive housing programs for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Network is disappointed that Mayor Bloomberg has once again proposed to de-fund essential service staff in nonprofit, permanent supportive housing residences for formerly homeless people living with AIDS. These dedicated and underpaid case managers keep multiply-diagnosed individuals with long histories of homelessness stably housed and connected to community-based services. By reducing tenants' use of expensive emergency interventions like shelters, hospitals and psychiatric centers, this program saves the City far more than the $5.1 million being cut. The Network worked tirelessly with Speaker Quinn, General Welfare Chair Palma, other City Council members, advocates and our members and residents to get the Council to restore this funding in last year's budget. But these were one-time restorations. If the Council does not restore these cuts again, they take effect on July 1.

The budget also included a "savings" of $1.35 million due to the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) HIV/AIDS Services Administration's (HASA) delayed procurement process for New York/New York III units. Under this ten-year, City-State agreement to create 9,000 new units of supportive housing in New York City, HASA was charged with funding 600 units of congregate supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS. 

Two-thirds of the way through the agreement, HASA now lags behind all of its sister organizations with only one-third of its units complete; the agency has not released a new request for proposals (RFP) for these units in over four years. These "savings" would ensure another year in which HASA does not release a new RFP. The NYS Department of Health (DOH) funds 50% of these units and has already reserved funding for FY 2012-2013 for new units.

Since the budget's release, HASA has been working with the NYC Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to budget the necessary funding for a new RFP this year. HASA must RFP all of its remaining 394 units within the year to meet the ten-year agreement deadline.

The City Council will begin budget hearings on the Mayor's Preliminary Budget on March 5. Following the adoption of the state budget, the Mayor will submit his Final Executive Budget in either late April or early May, and the Council will hold another round of budget hearings. The Mayor and the Council will then begin budget negotiations and work to adopt a budget by the end of the fiscal year, June 30.

The Network will be focusing its City advocacy strategies on again restoring the funding for case management services in HASA supportive housing and for NY/NY III HASA funding. For more information, please email the Network's Edline Jacquet.

Lastly, please note that an oversight hearing on recent HASA policy changes will be convened by the Council's General Welfare Committee on Wednesday, February 8 at 1 pm at 250 Broadway, 16th Floor Committee Room.
Network testifies at Assembly public hearing
Presses for additional funds for NYSSHP, STEHP
On January 25, the Network and several of its members testified at a public hearing on homeless services held by the NYS Assembly's Standing Committee on Social Services. Network Executive Director Ted Houghton spoke about the effectiveness of last year's  decision to consolidate five homeless service programs -- SRO Support Services, SHFYA, SHIP, HIP and HPP -- into two distinct funding streams: The NYS Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) and the Solutions to End Homelessness Program (STEHP).

The Network's testimony highlighted the positive outcomes of the consolidation, which include a streamlined grant and procurement process, less administrative burden for providers, improved tracking of outcomes and better leveraging of funds. The consolidation has also allowed the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to stretch its dollars further to preserve valuable programs for supportive services to families and children.

The Network's testimony also highlighted why the state must increase the amount of funding it allocates to these seriously underfunded programs. Without additional funding, the benefits of consolidation fall short.

Many Network members also testified at the hearing (click organization names to read testimony): Common Ground, YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County, Joseph's House and Shelter, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, CARES, Inc., University Settlement, Coalition for the Homeless and Homeless Services United.

Click here to read the Network's complete testimony.

OASAS announces family NY/NY III awards
Winners include five Network members
The NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) has announced the State's first awards for New York/New York III family supportive housing. OASAS awarded $1.87 million for 75 units last month. The awards, which ranged from $250,000 to $499,900, went to five nonprofit organizations: BASICS, Housing + Solutions, Odyssey House, Palladia and Women In Need. All award winners are Network members.

These funds will help provide supportive housing to chronically homeless families, families at serious risk of becoming homeless and other currently homeless families in which the head-of-household has a substance-use disorder. Families living in a Tier II Family Shelter will receive first priority for placement.

The New York/New York III Agreement is a ten-year, City-State commitment to create 9,000 new units of supportive housing in New York City. The Agreement includes 1,150 units for family supportive housing. The State is responsible for 375 of these units, with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) procuring the rest. For more information on New York/New York III or to apply for the City's open RFP for family units, visit the Network's website.
Obama announces new housing plan
Plan includes $1 billion investment in Housing Trust Fund
On February 1, President Obama announced a $1 billion investment in the National Housing Trust Fund as part of his FY 2013 proposed budget. The investment would allocate $120 million in new housing capital resources for New York State. Because NHTF targets extremely low-income individuals and families -- those below 30% of the area median income -- it will be a major resource for supportive housing development.

The Network applauds the president and plans to advocate this year both for NHTF funding and a dedicated source of ongoing funding. Despite becoming law in 2008, NHTF has yet to receive any funding. President Obama has included the trust fund in his Executive Budgets throughout his presidency.

To learn more about the president's housing plan, visit here.
NYC holds annual street homelessness count
Thousands volunteer for annual HOPE count
At midnight on January 31, thousands of New Yorkers hit the streets to help New York City count the number of homeless people living on the street. Each January, 2,000-3,000 volunteers turn out for this event, the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE), dedicating six hours in the middle of the night to survey the city's streets, subways and parks, looking for people who have no place to stay and offering them assistance.

The City uses the HOPE count to evaluate and improve its homeless outreach programs.  In addition to providing a total number of street homeless individuals, the count provides important information on demographics, veteran status and where concentrations of homelessness are located in the city.

The count is also done as part of a national effort to end homelessness. New York City receives over $100 million in federal funding to help house homeless people. In return for this funding, overseen by the NYC Continuum of Care and its lead agency, NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the City must do an annual or bi-annual street homeless count.

Volunteers include many dedicated government and nonprofit workers as well as hundreds of civic-minded New Yorkers willing to give up a night of sleep to fight homelessness. The Network is proud to participate each year and would like to congratulate the 400 Network members that joined in this year's count.

Upstate members: We'd love to hear your stories from the recent HOPE count. Please email all thoughts and anecdotes to Soheil Rezayazdi.
Study finds drop in chronic homelessness
Attributes decrease to supportive housing development
The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) has released "The State of Homelessness in America 2012," a comprehensive report on homelessness trends from 2009 to 2011.

Among its major findings, the analysis found a 1% drop in overall homelessness and a 3% drop in chronic homelessness nationwide. NAEH attributes the 3% reduction to the effects of supportive housing.

"A primary reason for the downward trend in chronic homelessness is the increasing use of permanent supportive housing, an intervention shown to be effective and cost effective in ending chronic homelessness," the report states.

In New York, NAEH noted a 4% increase in overall homeless and a 10% decrease in chronic homelessness from 2009 to 2011.

The report also offers a wealth of data on veteran and family homelessness, unemployment, youth aging out of foster care, the uninsured and other variables to understanding homelessness in America.

To read "The State of Homelessness in America 2012," visit here.
NYC CoC holds strategic planning session
Continuum of Care to implement key strategies shortly
For three days in January, providers, consumers, advocates and government representatives met to develop a strategic plan for the New York City Continuum of Care (CoC), the 27-member coalition that oversees $100 million in federal homeless housing assistance funding each year. The NYC CoC was one of nine continua chosen from around the country to receive technical assistance to help prepare for the new federal regulations governing this funding. This assistance, provided by two national technical assistance providers, TAC and Abt Associates, led to the CoC's first strategic planning process.

The three-day forum opened with presentations from Barbara Poppe, Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Ann Oliva, Director of Special Needs Assistance Programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Seth Diamond, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and Linda Glassman, Deputy Commissioner of the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

Panelists emphasized that, as the largest CoC in the country, New York City was a critical starting-point for reaching federal goals to end homelessness. The first day of activities focused on systems design, outcomes and how all of the pieces of the homeless system work together.

The second and third sessions largely focused on New York City and its unique challenges. Panel discussions included dialogues on supportive housing, transitional housing and how to increase consumer stability and independence. The third day was open only to Steering Committee members and largely brought together all of the ideas and recommendations that occurred during the first two days. Speakers discussed how to engage other critical stakeholders and, through greater cooperation, help ensure that the homeless services system in New York uses its limited resources as effectively as possible to prevent and end homelessness. The CoC hopes to adopt a strategic plan by the end of the month and begin implementing its key strategies immediately.
Wanted: 2012 conference workshop ideas
Submit proposals for the Network's annual conference
What are the workshops you most want to see at the 12th Annual New York State Supportive Housing Conference?

In past years, we've sent out a Call for Workshops, in which we request not only a fully-formed topic but recommendations for presenters, moderators and other workshop-specific details. This year, in an effort to make this process as simple and quick as possible, we're asking for the following instead:

Please review the list of general categories for workshop topics below, and send us a two-to-three sentence description of what you'd most like to see at this year's conference. Along with your idea, please note the corresponding category if applicable (there can be more than one) and suggestions for presenters, if you'd like. This requires no forms to fill out -- just a quick email with your "wish list" of ideas.

Conference workshop categories include:
  • Finance and Development
  • Service Provision
  • Advocacy and Policy
  • Innovations in the Field
  • Sustainable Buildings and Management
  • Operations and Administration
For members who would prefer to send a more formal workshop proposal, please see this form.

Please email ideas to Emily Rubin no later than March 16, 2012.
ICPH holds homelessness conference
Network participates in permanent housing panel
On January 20, the Network participated in a panel discussion at Beyond Housing, a two-day conference organized by the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness (ICPH). Network Executive Director Ted Houghton and fellow panelists discussed housing programs and how to best advocate for them at the federal level.

The "State of Permanent Housing" panel included National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Sheila Crowley and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Planning and Development Regional Office Director Vincent Hom. The discussion was moderated by independent consultant Jessica Katz, the Lantern Group's former executive director.

The panel primarily addressed the recent cuts to the nation's affordable housing budget.

"Until we have something like the Housing Trust Fund or a major increase to HOME or Section 8 funds, states and localities are going to have a real problem addressing this issue," Houghton said. "Sorry to be a bummer."

The event featured a lively, standing-room-only crowd, with attendees from Ohio, Alabama and across the country. "The State of Permanent Housing" was one of 20 panels at the Beyond Housing conference.

The Network thanks ICPH and congratulates the organization on a successful national conference.
Introducing Housing Solutions USA
New homelessness nonprofit launched in New York City
Last month saw the launch of Housing Solutions USA, a New York-based nonprofit working to end homelessness. The national organization combines housing and support services to assist homeless and low-income individuals and families. Robert V. Hess, recently with The Doe Fund will serve as Chairman and CEO of the new venture and Cara Pace of Volunteers of America Greater New York will serve as President (learn more about Ms. Pace and Mr. Hess in our Comings and Goings sidebar).  

Housing Solutions USA will offer a distinctly client-centered approach to housing.

"In our experience, the standard approach of presenting rules and developing plans with minimal client input does not create positive results and does not instill a sense of ownership," said Mr. Hess.

The organization has submitted proposals to operate a family emergency shelter in New York City and plans to eventually construct and operate supportive housing residences.

To learn more about Housing Solutions USA, see this brief video.
Odds and ends in supportive housing
Green workshops, Good Shepherd acquires nonprofits
BEST green logo
The Network Green Housing Initiative is partnering in four upcoming workshops. In partnership with the Horticultural Society of New York and Praxis Housing Initiatives, the Network will co-sponsor a Horticultural Therapy Forum on February 10. The half-day workshop will include presentations and panel discussions on horticultural therapy, a tenant activity with both physical and mental health benefits. Following that, Managing Lean and Green (MLG) will return on March 13 with a session on Tenant Engagement as part of a three-part subseries titled Building Green Behaviors. The series stems from a collaboration between the Network, Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Enterprise Community Partners.

Check out the Network's Living Green Tenant Conservation Education pilot project, which we will present at the March MLG session. We're pleased that all three participating agencies -- Project Renewal, West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing and Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens -- are continuing tenant engagement programs in their buildings. Contact Ariel or Johanna for more information on how to engage and educate tenants in energy conservation measures.

In an effort to expand its outreach efforts for youth and families, Good Shepherd Services has acquired Groundwork, Inc. and Edwin Gould Academy. Good Shepherd assumed management of Groundwork in January and will complete its transition at Edwin Gould this spring. Both Groundwork and Edwin Gould specialize in support services for New York City young adults. The latter operates a 51-unit supportive housing residence for young adults and their children in Manhattan.

"Coming together with Groundwork and Edwin Gould will enhance both our presence in high-need communities and our continuum of care for youth leaving foster care and juvenile justice programs," said Good Shepherd Executive Director Sr. Paulette LoMonaco.