THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT ANNOUNCE $845,000 SETTLEMENT ENDING ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTAL OPERATION RUN BY A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER

 

Suit Alleges That Real Estate Firm Mega Home, Inc. and Licensed Real Estate Broker 

Katherine Cartagena Illegally Converted Four Permanent Housing Units to Generate $2 Million in Payouts from Airbnb

New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez and New York City Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) Executive Director Christian J. Klossner and today announced a global resolution of an $845,000 settlement that shuts down an illegal short-term rental operation at two Manhattan buildings.

The investigation leading to the lawsuit brought by OSE was based on data obtained through the city’s Booking Service Data Reporting law before the city’s short-term rental registration law went into effect. The settlement acknowledges a separate investigation by the Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (DOS), which also completed its investigation of licensed brokerage and broker Mega Home and Katherine Cartagena. The settlements were negotiated by OSE and DOS as part of a collaborative and innovative enforcement effort by the City and State.

According to the OSE lawsuit, the defendants converted multiple permanent residential dwelling units at 311 East 51^st Street and 207 West 75^th Street in Manhattan to advertise and operate illegal short-term rentals. Between 2019 and 2022, records show that Airbnb disbursed more than $2 million to the defendants for more than 550 short-term rentals involving over 2,000 guests at the two buildings. In response to OSE’s enforcement, the defendants removed all illegal listings and will now settle for a citywide permanent injunction and $845,000 in restitution. Ms. Cartagena also agreed separately with DOS that she advertised illegal transient rentals in violation of the law and that should she do so again, her real estate license would be revoked.

 “New York is in the middle of a housing shortage crisis which makes returning a long-term rental units to the housing market crucial,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “The Department of State’s Division of Licensing Services will continue to collaborate with our city partners to ensure the laws are being followed and that violators are held accountable.”

“Safe, stable, and affordable housing is fundamental to a prosperous city, and with our short-term rental reporting and registration laws we are stopping illegal operators from impeding our housing goals,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Today’s settlement sends a clear message that we will not allow anyone to use our valuable housing stock for unlawful personal gain.”

“Ms. Cartagena and her corporate entities deceived and endangered guests while profiting from her short-term rentals, but she ultimately ceased the illegal activity and accepted responsibility after being contacted by the Office of Special Enforcement,” said Christian Klossner, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement. “This settlement highlights the importance of robust reporting requirements for booking platforms and short-term rental registration in combatting illegal short-term rentals and the attendant loss of housing.” 

“The Office of Special Enforcement is rigorously implementing measures to combat unethical and exploitative practices in the city’s housing market,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. “We commend Executive Director Klossner and the Department of State for their leadership in investigative efforts that enforce the long-standing laws on short-term rentals and promote housing equity for all New Yorkers.” 

“This settlement highlights the City’s commitment to ensuring people are safe and our housing stock is protected,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix. “The use of short-term rental registration laws combined with the strategic legal and investigative efforts of the Law Department and the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement have brought another violator into compliance.”

New York City’s booking service data reporting law requires online short-term rental platforms to periodically provide OSE with information about transactions for certain listings.  These reports include the physical address of the short-term rental as reported to the booking service by the host, the URL of the short-term rental listing, details pertaining to the scope of the short-term rental transaction, and information relating to the identity of the host, including contact information and associated bank accounts to which payouts were made.

New York City’s short-term rental registration law, which went into effect in January 2023, requires rental hosts in New York City to register with the city and prevents platforms like Airbnb from processing transactions unless the registration information matches a city database.

The NYC Law Department authorizes and reviews all lawsuits brought by OSE to enforce the city’s laws.

MAYOR ADAMS DEMANDS WATER BILL DODGERS TO PAY DEBT OR RISK LOSING WATER ACCESS

 

City to Issue 2,400 Water Shutoff Notices to Chronically-Delinquent Customers Who Owe Total of $102 Million in Unpaid Water Bills

 

Customers Failed to Take Advantage of Water Bill Amnesty Program, Which Brought In $105 Million and Saved More Than 100,000 New Yorkers $22 Million in Interest

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala today announced that the city has initiated the next phase of its expanded collection enforcement actions against approximately 2,400 chronically-delinquent water service accounts that owe the city a total of $102 million. As part of the effort, DEP will send out ‘Water Shutoff Notices’ to these customers, informing them that water service to their property could be shut off unless the entire owed amount is paid or they enter into a payment agreement within the next 15 days. This enforcement action is targeted towards commercial properties, including hotels, office buildings, and retail spaces, as well as one-to-three family homes that have not responded to any of DEP’s extensive outreach efforts over the past year. Earlier this year, DEP sent out ‘Water Shutoff Warning’ letters, which resulted in the agency recouping more than $3 million dollars from more than 400 overdue accounts.

 

“We gave these delinquent customers a chance to clear their water debts and save millions on interest through our water amnesty program, and while more than 100,000 took us up on our reasonable offer, a small percentage of customers incorrectly made the mistake of thinking they could get away with stiffing their fellow New Yorkers without any accountability,” said Mayor Adams. “We’re not going to allow big commercial properties and others leave the rest of us holding their water bills. DEP is sending ‘Water Shutoff Notices’ to 2,400 chronically-delinquent customers who owe over $102 million in unpaid bills. While we aim to work with these customers one last time, we will not look away while landlords and property owners ignore their obligations to their neighbors and their city.”

 

“DEP is serious about collecting the outstanding money owed from delinquent accounts and we will be shutting off water service for customers that don’t resolve their overdue bills,” said DEP Commissioner Aggarwala. “Delinquent customers who refuse to pay their water bills force everyone else to pay higher rates. That is simply not right, and it must stop. Everyone must pay their fair share to support our critical water system.”

 

During the pandemic, DEP saw a significant increase in the number and balance of delinquent accounts. The total of delinquent payments nearly doubled to $1.2 billion, which threatened the operations and capital needs of a service the city could not survive without. In 2023, DEP initiated a successful amnesty program that helped more than 100,000 New Yorkers reduce their water bill debts, while saving them more than $22 million in interest. Of the nearly 200,000 customers who owed money on late water bills when the program started, more than 50 percent participated in the popular program — bringing in nearly $105 million in payments from substantially past due accounts. To help low-income customers, during the amnesty program, DEP granted $8 million in additional billing credits to those accounts that had participated in New York state’s Low Income Homeowner Water Assistance Program.

 

Shutting off water service can have serious consequences and may subject property owners to code violations by the New York City Department of Buildings, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Fire Department of the City of New York, as well as the potential for an Order to Vacate the Premises. Water service shutoffs may also affect a property owner’s insurance policy and/or mortgage. Additionally, a loss of water could impact a property’s heating system; owners should consult whoever maintains the property’s boiler or furnace as to whether any special actions must be taken if there is a loss of water.

 

Money recouped through enforcement actions will be used by DEP to keep water rates low for all customers, and all bill payments are used to fund maintenance, upgrades, and repairs to almost 15,000 miles of water and sewer mains, 19 reservoirs, 12,000 rain gardens, and 14 wastewater resource recovery facilities. Nearly half the population of New York state enjoys New York City’s tap water.

 

Customers with chronically delinquent water bills who previously received a ‘Water Shutoff Warning’ letter in the mail are now receiving a ‘Water Shutoff Notice’ instructing them to resolve their outstanding balances or enter into a payment agreement with DEP within 15 days.

 

If balances are not resolved within that timeframe, DEP will begin the process of shutting off water service. Outstanding accounts will have a ‘Water Shutoff Notice’ posted on their property’s front door and the street or sidewalk in front of the property will be spray painted to indicate where the service line will be disconnected from the DEP water main. If water service is shut off, affected customers will be required to pay a $1,000 restoration fee and pay the past due balance in full, or enter into a payment agreement with a 25 percent down payment, in order to have their service restored.

 

Customers can make payments or enter into a payment agreement online, by calling 866-622-8292, paying in-person at a borough office, or by mailing in payment to the New York City Water Board. Convenience fees apply to credit/debit card payments, but no fee is charged by the Water Board if payment is made by a checking or savings account. DEP also offers a number of financial assistance programs to assist property owners in paying their water bills, including a leak forgiveness program and a multi-family water assistance program.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - DON`T FORGET TO RSVP: 2024 STATE OF THE BOROUGH

 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Housing Lottery Launches For 2175 Davidson Avenue In University Heights, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 2175 Davidson Avenue, a four-story residential building in University Heights, The Bronx. Designed by Oleg Ruditser of Engineering Professional Service, the structure yields 20 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are six units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $87,052 to $146,900.

Units come with name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Residents also have access to a rooftop terrace. Tenants are responsible for electricity.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are six studios with a monthly rent of $2,539 for incomes ranging from $87,052 to $146,900.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than April 3, 2024.

New York City Council Votes to Declare Continuing Housing Emergency to Maintain Rent Stabilization Laws

 

Council also passed legislation to require Department of Education to report on actual class sizes, rather than averages

Today, the New York City Council voted to declare that there is an ongoing housing emergency to extend the Rent Stabilization Law from expiring on April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2027. To maintain New York City’s rent stabilization laws pursuant to state law, the Council must determine whether there is an ongoing housing emergency every three years, defined as a vacancy rate of less than 5% of the City’s rental housing stock. Findings from the 2023 Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS) show a citywide rental vacancy rate of 1.41%, the lowest this measurement has been since 1968, and a significant decline from 2021, when the net vacancy rate was 4.54%.

The Council also passed legislation to require the Department of Education (DOE) to report on the actual class sizes of all classes in DOE schools and programs. This bill would also require the DOE to report, on a district, borough, and citywide level, the number and percentage of students in special programs, disaggregated by program type, grade, race or ethnicity, gender, special education status, and English language learner status.

“The shortage of available homes in our city has contributed to an affordability crisis affecting all New Yorkers,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The results from the latest Housing and Vacancy Survey underscore how dire our housing crisis has become, especially for units at the most affordable rates. By passing today’s legislation, the Council will extend the Rent Stabilization Law to ensure rent regulation protections can continue in our city. I thank Chair Sanchez for her leadership and all of our colleagues for supporting this important legislation.”

Declaring Continued New York City Housing Emergency to Extend Rent Stabilization Laws

Introduction 653-A, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez, would extend the Rent Stabilization Law from expiring on April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2027, based on the declaration of an ongoing housing emergency from findings of the 2023 Housing and Vacancy Survey.

Resolution 256, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez, would declare that there is a continuation of a public emergency that requires rent control in New York City beyond April 1, 2024.

“New York’s intersecting crises of rising evictions, record homelessness and housing unaffordability are only worsening,”said Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “The most recent housing vacancy survey highlights the lowest vacancy rate on record since the 1960s, showing a 1,4% vacancy rate, with nearly 90 percent of unassisted low-income households severely rent burdened. As the demand for housing continues to surge, and supply remains severely constrained, low-income and working-class New Yorkers are leaving in record numbers. In charting the path forward, we must increase housing supply to accommodate the city’s needed growth, invest in building upgrades and tenant protections so tenants can remain safely in their homes, and increase New Yorkers’ ability to afford our homes so we can stay and contribute to our city’s vibrancy.

Sanchez continued: “Thus, our vote today on my Intro. 653 and Reso 256, which acknowledge the finding of a historically low vacancy rate of 1.4%, allow for the continuation of rent regulation in NYC, a necessary step in providing even a modicum of stability for nearly a million rent regulated city households.”

Tracking Public School Class Sizes

Introduction 45-A, sponsored by Council Member Rita Joseph, would require the Department of Education (DOE) to report the actual class size of all classes in DOE schools and programs. This bill would also require the DOE to report, on a district, borough, and citywide level, the number and percentage of students in special programs, disaggregated by program type, grade, race or ethnicity, gender, special education status, and English language learner status.

In 2022, the New York State Legislature passed legislation mandating that the Department of Education (DOE) limit the number of students in classrooms across all of its K-12 schools, through a 5-year phase-in process beginning in fall of 2023. Though the DOE currently provides reporting on the average class size of all DOE schools and programs, reporting on actual class sizes would provide increased transparency.

“By requiring the New York City Department of Education to report actual class sizes three times a year and expand reporting on the number of students in special programs, we are taking a critical step towards ensuring equitable access to quality education for all,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “Int.45 will empower parents, educators, and policymakers with the information they need to advocate effectively for our children’s futures. Together, we are building a stronger, more accountable education system that leaves no student behind.”

Distributing Information on Low- or No-Cost Healthcare to Older Adults

Introduction 228-A, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, would require the NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA) to make information available to older adults about NYC Care, the NYC Health + Hospitals initiative to provide low- or no-cost primary health care to income-eligible NYC residents. DFTA would be required to provide eligibility guidelines for the initiative, clarify it is not based on immigration status, and ensure information is available in paper form and at all locations where DFTA services are provided.

“For our older neighbors, access to low or no-cost primary health care is a vital resource,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “However, too many of our neighbors—of all ages—are unaware of NYC Health + Hospitals’ NYC Care initiative, which was created to expand access to primary health care for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. The passage of Int. 228A will help us guarantee our older neighbors are equipped with the information they need to lead healthy lives and gain access to the myriad additional resources NYC Cares provides, including housing, legal, and food assistance. Int. 228A also represents another critical piece in our fight to make New York City the best place to grow older, and I am eager to continue working toward that end under the leadership of Speaker Adams.”

Clarifying Frequency of Reports on the Removal of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness from Public Space

Introduction 349, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, would clarify that required reports on the removal of individuals experiencing homelessness from public spaces, and the services offered and outcomes, are to be submitted on a quarterly basis.

“Today’s bill further clarifies that the City will be required to issue quarterly reports on homeless sweeps and other removals, the first of which is expected in May,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse. “Int. 349 is especially prescient as recent reporting has shown that more and more migrants are being forced to sleep on the streets and subways due to the Administration’s new rules restricting shelter stays. Now more than ever the Council needs greater transparency and accountability over the Administration to protect people’s human and civil rights, as well as to move us away from destructive policies that do nothing to place people in housing.”

Land Use

East 94th Street Rezoning – LM East 94 LLC seeks a zoning map amendment to change an existing M1-4 district to a C2-8 and C4-6 district and related zoning text amendment to establish a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) area in Council Member Julie Menin’s district. These actions will facilitate a new 40-story mixed-use building with approximately 487 housing units, including 146 affordable units, and commercial and community facility space on the lower floors. The Council is modifying the application to strike MIH Option 1 (25% of units at 60% of AMI) and require MIH Option 2 (30% of units averaged at 80% of AMI).

Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments – New York City Department of Housing and Preservation and Development (HPD) requests a zoning map amendment, a zoning text amendment, the designation of an Urban Development Action Area (UDAA) and Urban Development Action Area Project (UDAAP), and disposition of City-owned property in Council Member Darlene Mealy’s district. These actions will facilitate the development of a nine-story mixed-use building that includes approximately 283 affordable housing units, outdoor open space, and ground floor community facility space to promote local arts and culture.

Jennings Hall Expansion – St. Nicks Alliance requests a Zoning Map Amendment to change existing R6B, R7A, and R7A/C2-4 Districts to R7A, R7X, and R7X/C2-4 Districts and related Zoning Text Amendment to establish a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing area in Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez’s district. These actions will facilitate the development of a new 14-story building and the expansion of the existing Jennings Hall senior housing facility with approximately 218 new affordable senior housing units and ground floor commercial space. The Council is modifying the application to remove Option 2 and add the Deep Affordability Option, resulting in MIH Option 1 and the Deep Affordability Option as the available MIH Options for this project area.

88-08 Justice Avenue Restrictive Declaration Termination – Justice Avenue Tower, LLC, in Council Member Shekar Krishnan’s district, requests a cancellation of a Restrictive Declaration from 1973 prohibiting commercial uses on the site that would otherwise be allowed as-of-right. This will facilitate the conversion of community facility space to commercial use in a portion of a recently completed 18-story mixed-use building with 180 residential units, community facility space in the Central Queens Academy Charter School, ambulatory medical space, and 407 parking spaces in a multi-level parking structure.

26-17 37th Avenue Rezoning – Yaron Rosenthal is seeking a Zoning Map Amendment to change an existing M1-1 district to an M1-5 district. The development site in Council Member Julie Won’s district is currently occupied by a one-story plus cellar light manufacturing building. These actions will facilitate a new seven-story mixed-use building with light manufacturing uses, commercial uses, 58 parking spaces in the cellar and sub-cellar levels, and two loading docks.

Man Sentenced for Murder of Department of Defense Employee Stationed Overseas

 

A U.S. citizen was sentenced today to 16 years and eight months in prison for killing his mother, a U.S. Department of Defense civilian employee stationed at a naval base in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

According to court documents, on Jan. 31, 2021, Giovonni Z. Pope, 30, killed his mother in the apartment they shared in Bahrain by stabbing her with a knife. At the time, Pope’s mother was employed as a U.S. Department of the Navy civilian employee, assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, and Pope was living with her as a dependent. After fatally stabbing his mother, Pope cleaned her body and removed evidence of the murder from the apartment. He then left in his mother’s car. On Feb. 1, 2021, Pope was apprehended by Bahraini authorities.

On Feb. 11, 2021, Pope was ordered detained and removed from Bahrain to the United States pursuant to the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act. Pope was charged on March 4, 2021, in the District of Maryland with one count of murder while employed by or accompanying the armed forces outside the United States. Pope pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2023, to second degree murder.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland; Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Rothrock of the FBI Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge John Parkinson of the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Middle East Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI and NCIS investigated the case.

Attorney And Former Bank Director Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Bank Fraud

  

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MENDEL ZILBERBERG was sentenced today to 30 months in prison in connection with a scheme to obtain a fraudulent $1.4 million loan from Park Avenue Bank.  The defendant was a member of Park Avenue Bank’s board of directors at the time of the offense.  ZILBERBERG was previously found guilty following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels, who imposed today’s sentence.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Those entrusted with the stewardship of financial institutions must uphold their responsibilities with integrity, not exploit their positions.  Mendel Zilberberg’s manipulation of his roles as a legal practitioner and a director of Park Avenue Bank exemplifies a disturbing breach: one that led to a staggering loss for the institution.  Safeguarding the integrity of our financial systems is imperative, and this Office will not tire in our mission to track down those who pose threats to this vital cornerstone of stability.” 

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, the evidence offered at trial, and matters included in public filings:

In or about 2009, ZILBERBERG conspired with a co-defendant, Aron Fried, and others to obtain a fraudulent loan from Park Avenue Bank (the “Bank”).  Knowing that the co-conspirators would not be able to obtain the loan directly, the co-conspirators recruited a straw borrower (the “Straw Borrower”) to make the loan application.  The Straw Borrower applied for a $1.4 million loan from the Bank on the basis of numerous lies, as directed by ZILBERBERG and his co-conspirators. 

ZILBERBERG used his privileged position at the Bank to ensure that the loan was processed promptly.  Based on the false representations made to the Bank and ZILBERBERG’s involvement in the loan approval process, the Bank issued a $1.4 million loan to the Straw Borrower, which was quickly disbursed to ZILBERBERG and his co-conspirators through multiple bank accounts and transfers.  In total, ZILBERBERG received more than approximately $500,000 of the loan proceeds.  The Straw Borrower received nothing from the loan and ultimately defaulted, resulting in a loss to the Bank of over $1 million.

On November 15, 2022, Fried pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.  On April 10, 2023, Judge Daniels sentenced Fried to one year and one day in prison. 

In addition to the prison term, ZILBERBERG, 65, of Monsey, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $1,066,853 in restitution and $506,000 in forfeiture.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of the Inspector General.

Governor Hochul Announces Completion of 245-Unit Affordable Mixed-use Housing Development in the Bronx

 

$120 Million Transit-Oriented Development Builds on Governor’s Long-Term Strategy to Increase New York’s Housing Supply

River Avenue Includes 148 Homes for Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of River Avenue, a 245-unit affordable and supportive housing development in the Concourse section of the Bronx. The transit-oriented development includes over 20,000 square feet of commercial space and offers on-site supportive services for families and individuals experiencing homelessness.

“River Avenue will provide a safe, modern, and affordable place for individuals and families to call home and will be nothing short of transformative for those experiencing homelessness,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration is dedicated to increasing the supply of housing in the Bronx and throughout the state so that everyone has the chance they deserve to live in a stable home in a thriving neighborhood.

In the last five years, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has created or preserved over 14,500 affordable homes in the Bronx. River Avenue continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul's $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan that will create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

River Avenue is affordable to households earning at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The building is a short walk from the 4 train and is just a few blocks from the B and D trains, multiple bus lines, Yankee Stadium, and the Reverend T. Wendell Foster Park and Pool.

Amenities include 24-hour security, an exercise room, laundry room, computer room, community room, tenant and bike storage areas, lounges, and a commercial kitchen.

The development was designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities Standards and Energy Star's Multi-Family High Rise standards and includes such energy-efficient features as Energy Star appliances and water conserving low-flow fixtures.

There are 148 apartments reserved for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. On-site supportive services and rental subsidies are funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Services include counseling, group activities, health and wellness workshops, harm reduction services, linkages with health care providers, crisis intervention, money management, and educational, vocational and employment referrals.

The ESSHI program provides operating funding for supportive service providers serving homeless veterans and their families; survivors of domestic and gender-based violence; older adults who are disabled or frail; young adults with a history of incarceration, homelessness, or foster care; chronically homeless individuals and families; individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities; individuals reentering the community from prison; and those living with HIV or AIDS, serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders. OMH serves as the lead procurement agency for the funding, which is dispersed by an interagency workgroup of eight state agencies serving vulnerable New Yorkers.

State financing for the $120 million River Avenue includes $25 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, $41 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits and $16 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. OMH is providing more than $3 million annually in operating funding through the ESSHI program, as well as approximately $915,000 to cover start-up costs of the supportive housing units. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $26 million through the Supportive Housing Loan Program.

The development team consists of Community Access, Inc. and J. Equities II, LLC, an affiliate of affordable housing developer Madd Equities. Community Access is also the supportive service provider.