The State of New York has announced a sixth round of funding for the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, an ambitious plan to create or preserve over 100,000 affordable and at least 6,000 supportive housing units. For this round, the state will release $35 million in financing aimed at creating at least 1,400 supportive housing units.
Abbreviated as ESSHI, the initiative was founded in 2016 and has provided operating funds for more than 5,400 units of supportive housing. The State intends to develop a total of 20,000 units over the next 15 years.
In the New York City area, projects financed by the initiative include 1159 River Avenue and 1325 Jerome Avenue in The Bronx and Dayspring Commons and Hudson Hill in Yonkers.
“New York State is leading the nation in the development and preservation of supportive housing, and these safe, stable, and secure homes are giving people with mental illness the support they need to live successful and productive lives in their own communities,” said Office of Mental Health commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. “The Governor’s ESSHI program has been a tremendous accomplishment that has helped thousands of individuals and families, and I’m proud of the role OMH has played in its success.”
Aerial rendering of 1159 River Avenue – Urban Quotient
Perspective rendering of Hudson Hill – Courtesy of Amie Gross Architects
Rendering of Dayspring Commons – Westhab Inc.
To ensure the maximum benefit of this investment, the state adhered to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “Continuum of Care” model that engages localities and not-for-profit providers in developing and implementing data-driven strategies to address homelessness in specific populations. This includes victims of domestic violence, runaway and homeless youth, at-risk veterans and their families, formerly incarcerated individuals, the intellectual or developmental disabled, those living with HIV or AIDS, and individuals suffering from substance abuse.
“For the past six years, the governor’s Empire State Supportive Housing initiative has been providing New Yorkers with developmental disabilities the opportunity to live independently within their communities with the right services and supports to meet their individual needs,” said NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities commissioner Dr. Theodore Kastner. “[We are] pleased to join our partner agencies to support this initiative once again this year to provide even more people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to be thriving, active members in the center of their communities.”
The request for proposals for the funding awards was developed by the governor’s ESSHI Interagency workgroup, which includes representatives from seven state agencies that serve homeless, at-risk, and other vulnerable New Yorkers. Awards will provide up to $25,000 per unit per year for service and operating funding needed to operate permanent supportive housing units.
Applicants are expected to secure separate capital funding to finance the development and construction of proposed housing projects. Awarded funding may be used to provide rental assistance and services to eligible target populations to ensure their housing stability.
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