"The river just keeps on flowing, it don't worry about where it is going"
Forrest "Dicky" Betts, Allman Brothers Band
Mike Gill was truly a champion for some of the most marginalized people in our community; the unhoused. REACH Board Chairperson Andy Carey spent some time looking back at emails with Mike, and he could clearly see all the incredible things Mike helped with, initiated, and fought for in our community. In his 2017-18 emails, his closing was the above-mentioned Dickey Betts quote.
Thanks to NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney, the Tiny Homes Project will receive a Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology Program (CREST) grant in the amount of $200,000. We began completing the required application for the funds, which will be used for construction costs.
In April, we attended the Housing Roundtable with local and state funders. Based on a recommendation from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Services (OTDA), we’ve begun a search for a partner for the Tiny Homes project. This partnership with another nonprofit or religious organization will serve to strengthen our application for our Homeless Housing Assistance Program application, which will fill a substantial portion of our remaining funding gap for construction costs.
Project Haven News
On Friday, May 3, REACH Board Chairperson Andy Carey, and Board Vice Chair Patrick Tobin began a ten-mile Walk for Awareness from Blessed Sacrament Church. They were joined by other members of the REACH board as well as many friends of REACH. We were particularly grateful to have Katie from Senator Cooney’s office and Aaron from Assembly Member Bronson’s office support us by taking part in the walk.
Along the way, we were enthusiastically welcomed by many of our friends in the community: Health Reach, ABC’s Action Front Center, People’s Pantry, Father Tracy Advocacy Center, Cameron Community, and SWAN at Montgomery Center.
NYS Good Cause Eviction: While not all we hoped for was included in this year's budget resolution, there are significant new rights tenants enjoy under NYS law. Housing Justice for All (HJ4A) is offering a virtual seminar to explain how tenants can exercise their rights. Click here to register.
City Council - Vacancy Study: Council President Miguel Melendez has introduced a bill to support a Vacancy Study that will comply with the newly introduced requirements of NYS law.
The Advocacy Team usually meets on the Third Wednesday of the month at 4:30 PM at the Third Presbyterian Church or by Zoom. In recognition of Juneteenth, we will meet on June 26th. There is ample parking on Meigs Street.
