Governor Cuomo Announces $11.2 Million for Supportive Housing Projects and Emergency Shelter Repairs across the State

 

Homeless Housing and Assistance Program Funding to Create 127 Units of Supportive Housing

Funding Will Also Help Three Homeless Shelters to Perform Necessary Repairs

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that $11.2 million in state funding has been awarded to six projects that will provide supportive housing or emergency shelter to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Supported through New York State's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, these projects will create 127 units of permanent supportive housing and assist three emergency shelters in performing needed repairs.

"As we build back our state better than it was before, we must focus on helping our most vulnerable New Yorkers who have suffered so much during this pandemic," Governor Cuomo said. "These projects, like many others supported by this critical program, will provide New Yorkers experiencing homelessness or housing instability with the safe shelter, supportive services and stable housing they need, furthering our efforts to create a stronger, more inclusive New York."

Administered by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program will provide $6.9 million to the Bridge, Inc. to construct Bishop House Apartments, a nine-story 88-unit building in Central Harlem that will offer 71 units of supportive housing to serve individuals with severe mental illness or who are reentering the community after incarceration. The Bridge will provide case management, daily living skill and vocational training, substance use treatment, and physical and mental health care services.

The program will provide $4 million to construct Jericho House, a 56-unit supportive housing development in New York City serving adults with substance use disorder who are experiencing homelessness. Services provided by the Jericho Project include case management, crisis intervention, relapse prevention, career counseling, job readiness and substance use treatment.

In addition, the approved funding will provide a total of $255,000 to four emergency shelters to conduct repairs. These shelters include Caring for the Hungry & Homeless in the Westchester County town of Peekskill; St. Catherine's Center for Children's Marillac Family Shelter in the city of Albany; and two awards to the Soul Savings Station for Every Nation's Mother Anderson, one for their family shelter, and one for single individuals, both in the city of Saratoga Springs.

OTDA Commissioner Mike Hein said, "Emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing both play a critical role in helping New Yorkers who experience homelessness on the path to achieving lasting stability. Likewise, these projects each play an important role in ensuring their respective communities have the necessary resources to provide safe shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness as they address the root causes of their housing instability. I commend Governor Cuomo for redoubling the support for this program and our efforts to end homelessness in New York once and for all."

The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program made available $128 million in capital funding for projects proposing to build supportive housing units or to repair emergency shelters. Already during this funding cycle, the program has allocated nearly $12 million to six projects that will add 127 units of supportive housing and repair emergency shelters throughout the state. Last year, the program provided funding to 30 projects that will add 881 units of supportive housing and repair emergency shelters.

The awards reflect Governor Cuomo's continued efforts to provide all New Yorkers with access to safe, affordable housing, which is reflected in the state's unprecedented $20 billion housing plan. So far, the plan has helped to build or preserve 7,000 units of supportive housing across the state, putting the state well on the way to achieving the goal of 15,000 created or preserved over 15 years.

Building on his commitment, the Governor's 2021 state budget increased the available capital for the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program from $64 million to $128 million - a funding level that was maintained in the enacted 2022 budget. This funding includes $5 million earmarked for supportive housing for homeless veterans; $5 million for supportive housing for individuals with AIDS who are experiencing homelessness; and $1 million for necessary repairs to emergency shelters.

The Homeless Housing Assistance Program provides capital grants and loans to not-for-profit corporations, charitable and religious organizations, and municipalities to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate housing for persons who are unable to secure adequate housing without special assistance. The grants are awarded through a competitive process by the New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation, a public benefit corporation staffed by OTDA.

Through this program, New York State has appropriated more than $1.2 billion toward the development of supportive housing. In total, the program has created more than 22,000 units of housing to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness.