Governor Hochul Announces $13.3 Million Awarded for Construction of Emergency and Permanent Supportive Housing

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than $13.3 million has been awarded to help expand and preserve emergency and permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Funding was awarded to projects that will create 51 apartments in the Bronx and a new 80-bed emergency shelter for families in Erie County. Funding was also awarded to help make repairs to existing emergency shelters in Oneida and Chautauqua counties.

"These diverse projects will expand access to affordable housing, while helping provide safe, secure homes for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "Once completed, these structures will help bring stability to the lives of our fellow New Yorkers experiencing homelessness -- helping them build a foundation for a better future."

The funding comes through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, which is an important component of Governor Hochul's comprehensive plan to make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable throughout New York. The FY 2023 Enacted State Budget included the Governor's $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan to increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with supportive services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

The Governor's FY 2024 Executive Budget includes the New York Housing Compact, a statewide strategy to address New York's housing crisis by building 800,000 new homes over the next decade to meet the historic shortage. The Executive Budget continues $128 million in capital funding for the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.

The projects awarded funding include:

• The Salvation Army was awarded $10 million to help construct 32 units including 80 beds of emergency housing for homeless families in Buffalo. This new shelter will replace the Salvation Army's existing 77-bed shelter located on another parcel, so no residents will be displaced during construction. The first floor of the new building will have administrative and support services offices, and a laundry facility.
• The Bridge, Inc. was awarded $3.1 million to help construct 51 units of permanent supportive housing in the Bronx for 12 frail and elderly adults and 39 individuals living with mental illness, all of whom have experienced homelessness. Support services to be provided to residents include case management, crisis intervention, educational and vocational services, and activities of daily living skills training, among others.
• Rescue Mission of Utica was awarded $100,000 to make emergency repairs to its 59-bed emergency shelter in Utica, including window replacement, masonry work and painting the exterior of the building.
• United Christian Advocacy Network City Mission was awarded $100,000 to replace an obsolete heating system at its 17-unit, 29-bed emergency shelter in Jamestown.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said, "The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program plays an important role in the development of permanent supportive housing but also provides capital funding that is vital to constructing, rehabilitating and repairing emergency shelters. Governor Hochul is committed to addressing the homelessness and housing crisis in New York and projects like these are fundamental to those efforts."

Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "HCR is committed to working with our partners at OTDA to provide New Yorkers the safety and dignity of a bed and a roof over their heads, with supportive services available to those who need them. Today's $13 million investment, which will help families in need achieve stability for years to come, is another step forward in Governor Hochul's unwavering commitment to ending homelessness and housing insecurity by creating affordable, supportive homes across the State."

The Salvation Army of Erie County Director of Operations Major Annette Lock said, "The Salvation Army in Buffalo is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Governor Hochul, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and our community supporters to build the Hope on Main Emergency Family Shelter. This facility will provide a safe, secure, hopeful space where vulnerable families will not only have a warm bed and nutritious meals but can access a full array of services needed to lift themselves from crisis to stability. Funding for the construction of this new center from the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program will ensure the continuation of the Salvation Army's sixty-year tradition of supporting under-resources adults and children in Erie County on their journey to finding permanent, stable housing."

The Bridge, Inc. Senior Vice President for Housing Development Carole Gordon said, "The Bridge applauds the efforts of the Governor and the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program for addressing homelessness, the need for affordable housing, and the importance of these State funds. These funds will help us provide vulnerable New Yorkers with safe affordable housing and services that will address long-term homelessness for adults with serious mental illness and frail/disabled seniors. In addition to the 51 permanent supportive units for formerly homeless adults with special needs that the HHAP funding will support, the building will house 14 very low-income community seniors at risk of homelessness. We look forward to starting construction shortly."

Rescue Mission of Utica, Inc. Executive Director Wendy R. Goetz said, "The Rescue Mission of Utica is incredibly thankful to Governor Hochul's commitment to provide funding to help expand and persevere emergency and permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. This funding will allow us to make much needed repairs to our 59-bed shelter."

United Christian Advocacy Network City Mission Executive Director Aaron Wadin said, "This award from the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program is being used to replace our ancient heating system for our men's homeless shelter. This is a huge blessing and an answer to prayer as it will allow us to continue to serve our guests in a warm shelter during these winter months, as well as providing air-conditioning in the building, for the first time in the history of this mission here in Jamestown, during the hot summer months."

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 the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Through this program, New York State has appropriated more than $1.5 billion toward the development of supportive housing. In total, the program has created more than 25,000 units of housing to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness.