Mayor Makes Major Commitments toward Ending Homelessness for DV Survivors in NYC | |
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On April 15, we joined Mayor Adams; Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom; Department of Social Services Commissioner Park; Department of Homeless Services Administrator Carter; and Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Acting Commissioner Sethi, for the announcement of three separate efforts to reduce barriers to permanent housing for domestic violence survivors in the city.
We were also joined by the New York City Fund to End Youth and Family Homelessness and The Helmsley Charitable Trust for their support of Project Home, the first program announced.
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The launch of Project Home, a pilot program that will connect 100 domestic violence survivors in DHS shelters with Housing Navigators to help them find safe, permanent homes, and with Resource Coordinators to ensure survivors can access all the aftercare services they need to remain stably housed.
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Providing access to HPD affordable housing - The city will open up HPD homeless set-aside units to survivors in HRA domestic violence shelter, allowing New Destiny, already an Our Space pre-approved provider, and other DV organizations the ability to refer homeless DV survivors into HPD funded affordable housing and provide light-touch services to ensure long-term stability.
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Changing 15/15 supportive housing eligibility to allow our most vulnerable DV survivors much needed access to the City’s supportive housing program.
As our Executive Director, Nicole Branca, stated, "We are incredibly glad to see the city heed the calls of domestic violence survivors and advocates by allowing survivors to live in New York City supportive housing and expanding their access to HPD set-asides. These policy changes will end the cycle of housing instability and abuse for so many survivors and their children, including our most vulnerable families who have needed the additional supports that come with supportive housing."
Learn more about the announcements here.
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New Destiny in the News
The city’s triple announcement generated substantial press for New Destiny: CBS News, NY1, Pix 11, Yahoo, AM New York, News12 Bronx, BK Reader, CityLand, The Forum, Staten Island Live, Spectrum Noticias NY1, Telemundo 47, and El Diario.
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Additionally, earlier this month, Stephanie Woodbine, member of New Destiny’s Survivor Voices Project and co-chair of the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence’s Advisory Council, authored an op-ed for City & State calling on state leaders to prioritize survivors and include Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) and increase funding for the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) in the FY 2025 state budget. | |
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Our Director of Policy and Communications, Gabriela Sandoval Requena, spoke with Anny Ruiz Huayamabe of Spectrum Noticias NY1 about the need to build more safe, affordable housing in New York City at the Yes to Housing rally.
Read the article here.
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Gabriela also spoke with David Brand at Gothamist about the findings of Comptroller Lander’s new database, “Charting Homelessness in NYC,” and the devastating effects of homelessness, especially on young children. As Gabriela stated: “Housing is the key solution that the state and city need to invest in. We know shelter stays can be traumatizing. The shorter the shelter stay, the better.” | |
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Special Appointments: Nicole Branca is appointed to the Veterans Community Oversight and Engagement Board (VCOEB) and Nick Lundgren joins City Limits’ Board | |
Nicole was recently appointed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans and Community Oversight and Engagement Board, to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the VA on improving housing and services for veterans in the West LA community. She was recommended based on her prior work as one of the chief architects in New York’s successful effort to end chronic veteran homelessness, as well as her current executive director role, developing affordable housing and providing trauma-informed services.
Earlier this month, New Destiny’s General Counsel, Nick Lundgren, joined City Limits' Board. Founded in 1976 in the midst of New York’s fiscal crisis, City Limits uses investigative journalism to inform democracy and empower citizens to create a more just city.
Please join us in congratulating Nicole and Nick!
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We're looking forward to seeing you on May 14th!
There are only a few tickets left. Get yours today!
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For this month’s column highlighting our incredible board and staff, we’re elated to feature Alex Majumder, our longtime Development & Marketing Associate.
"At New Destiny, my role has revolved around maintaining databases, designing print materials, and maintaining our website to effectively communicate our mission. Since joining the team in 2015, I’ve been involved in exciting changes, like revamping our website and executing a migration to a new fundraising database.
At the time of joining the team, I became a new parent. Parenting was a bigger challenge than I perhaps expected; though it pales in comparison to the hurdles faced by many of our clients. I appreciate the chance to be part of an organization that serves so many parents and children during a critical stage in their lives.
Outside of work, I’ve been engaged in activism, particularly in the anti-war movement, shaped by current events, my immigrant background, and my family history. People are often surprised to learn that I was born in Russia, lived in India, and grew up speaking 3 languages: Bengali, Russian, and English.”
In the words of Wren Longno, New Destiny's Director of Development, "Alex’s long tenure with New Destiny makes him part of the formative background and part of why we thrive. He has really stepped up during this period of growth and, as such, we have expanded his job to full-time after nearly a decade at part-time."
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This month, our Senior Director of Real Estate, Richard Conley, Director of Data Evaluation, Dan Grenell, and Director of Policy and Communications, Gabriela Sandoval Requena, participated in the Yes to Housing rally with NYHC in City Hall Park. New Destiny is one of the more than 130 pro-housing organizations that support a thoughtful and comprehensive reform agenda to help address New York City’s affordable housing crisis. | |
The following week, Gabriela and members of New Destiny’s Survivor Voices Project: Daniris, Michelle, and Stephanie, participated in a rally calling on Governor Hochul to include HAVP in the FY 2025 state budget. Watch Stephanie’s powerful speech here.
New Destiny also released a statement on the New York City Council’s Preliminary Budget.
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Partner Highlights: EatWell
We’re thrilled to share that last month New Destiny launched a meal distribution pilot program with EatWell, a social impact startup that designs prescription meal kits to alleviate both food insecurity and nutrition deficiency.
During the eight-week pilot program, families residing in our supportive housing in Coney Island, Brooklyn, receive a weekly supply of healthy, balanced ingredients along with recipes that take less than 30 minutes to prepare. The meal kits, which are delivered to the families weekly, include ingredients that are plant-forward and nutrient-dense, like vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. The kits also include recipe cards crafted by EatWell’s Culinary and Education Director, Adriana Katekawa, a 2-star Michelin chef who creates each recipe with resource-limited kitchens and time-strapped families in mind.
Taneaja Wright, one of our residents and program participant, stated: “My family and I like the meals from EatWell, and I’ve saved a lot of money on groceries. The initiative has been very successful so far and a big help for us, and I hope that more survivors like me have the opportunity to participate in this exciting new program.”
Last week, tenants celebrated food and healthy eating habits in a serious Cook-off competition. Congratulations to the skillful winner! We also want to acknowledge the judges: Daisy Graciano, Leroy Akoto, and Marcus Galloway for savoring all the dishes. Special thanks to Brenda Tong, Molly Olsen, Louise Mcknie, Diamond Catlyn, Johanna Juarez, and all the New Destiny staff who made the project and the event possible!
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Every year since 1999, millions of people protest against destructive attitudes and myths about sexual violence by wearing jeans in what’s known as Denim Day. New Destiny staff joined in the social movement and took a stand with survivors of sexual assault. | |
Vote for New Destiny
New Destiny has been nominated for the prestigious Ponce Bank Best of The Bronx 2024 Contest in the Best Not-for-Profit Category! This is our chance to win, but we need your vote.
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You can vote once a day until polls close on August 30th. Please support New Destiny.
Vote early, vote often!
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Join our team! Some of our current job openings are:
To see the complete list of job opportunities, click here.
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