NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the launch of the Street to Housing pilot program, which is a partnership between Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY), NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
The Street to Housing pilot program creates a direct pathway for New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness to access permanent supportive housing without having to go through the shelter system. This initial pilot will connect up to 80 single adult clients with supportive housing. Once placed in housing, clients will be supported by VOA-GNY as they complete the application from the very unit that can become their permanent home.
The city will fund the supportive housing units during the transitional period when VOA-GNY staff work closely with each client to connect them to vital housing supports, including rental assistance. VOA-GNY case managers will work closely with participants to connect them to key housing supports, such as rental and cash assistance; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and referrals for health and mental health supports. DOHMH is providing funding for additional social workers at each of the VOA-GNY supportive housing programs to provide dedicated mental health and other health supports.
This pilot builds on the city’s ongoing efforts and investments to address unsheltered homelessness and commitment to exploring every avenue to further expedite moves to supportive housing, especially for the most vulnerable.
VOA-GNY President and CEO Myung Lee was in attendance at Monday’s announcement at City Hall with two members of the VOA-GNY Board of Directors: Gerry Cunningham (Board Chair) and Robert Golden.
“Homelessness does not need to be an evergreen issue – permanent supportive housing is a tried-and-true model for addressing chronic homelessness, and we can make it accessible to our unsheltered neighbors,” says Lee. “The Street to Housing pilot program builds on this knowledge and combines our expertise with the resources of various city agencies to ensure unsheltered residents have the services they need to get housed – and stay housed. VOA-GNY is proud to partner with City Hall on this initiative, and we look forward to sharing what we have learned from this pilot to facilitate a broader rollout across the five boroughs – so that all unhoused New Yorkers can get the support they need.”
Read the full press release on the City’s website.