Staff Member Q&A: Dr. Mariya Masyukova, Medical Director of Drug User Health

Dr. Mariya Masyukova provides drug user health services and primary care for patients at Third Street Medical Clinic and clients of the 820 Residential Program. She works directly with patients and offers support and supervision to staff.

Q: Dr. Masyukova, what is the current status of the overdose crisis?

“We are in the fourth wave of the overdose crisis. It started with the over-prescription of opioids, which led to people turning to heroin. Recent years have been marked by the rise of synthetics like fentanyl in the illicit drug supply, including in stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.

Due to this unstable and unreliable supply, deaths are rising. In New York City, 2,668 people died of drug overdoses in 2021, a 78% increase since 2019. Our clients are disproportionately impacted: drug overdoses account for about half the deaths among New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.”

Q: How is Project Renewal responding to the crisis?

“Project Renewal is working toward implementing a harm reduction approach. We try to give people the resources they need to be as safe as possible. We provide fentanyl and xylazine testing strips so they can make an informed decision about their use, and medication for opioid use disorder to reduce their risk of dying from overdose. We train clients to recognize signs of an overdose and use the opioid reversal agent naloxone so they can respond if a friend or someone in the community is in need.

Harm reduction goes beyond these practical tools. We also value providing non-judgmental care and appreciate the sense of community clients create among themselves. For folks who have been isolated and cut off from support systems, fostering connections can make all the difference in their health outcomes.”

Q: What does client success look like?

“First and foremost, success starts with not dying from an overdose. We are here to partner with each person in working toward their own goals, which could include using more safely, reducing use or side effects by taking medication, not using drugs at all, and/or feeling more connected to themselves or their community.”

Q: What is the best part of your job?

“Our clients are resilient, amazing, kind, and creative. It’s incredibly rewarding to get to know them, to hear their stories, and to work with them to achieve their goals.”

America's Success at the SCC

America is a voracious reader who loves learning about a wide range of topics, from medicine to the military. She has big dreams for her future, including enrolling in Project Renewal’s Culinary Arts Training Program and seeking independent housing.

To help her achieve her goals, America is working with the interdisciplinary team of providers at our Support and Connection Center (SCC), which opened in 2020 as the first program of its kind in the city. The SCC provides stabilization and treatment services for adults experiencing mental health or substance use crises.

When America first came to the SCC she was experiencing challenges in her relationship with her mother, who she lives with in Harlem. “This is exactly what I was looking for—a place to clear my mind,” says America. “At the SCC, I am able to take care of myself.”

While initial stays at the SCC are only five to ten days, guests can return for aftercare services. America comes back regularly and especially enjoys occupational therapy, which helps participants build skills for daily living.

Through the occupational therapy program, she attends a cooking group, creates craft projects, and spends time in the sensory room, which has taught her how to remain calm and feel safe in her surroundings. “I like being productive and expressing myself through the activities. I feel happy and complete.”

From Our President and CEO: Responding to Emerging Health Needs

Dear Friends,

Throughout our history, Project Renewal has been committed to breaking down barriers to quality medical care so New Yorkers experiencing homelessness can achieve health and wellbeing. Our programs lead to impressive results, in part because we are keenly attuned to the evolving needs of the communities we serve. We pride ourselves in meeting the moment with tailored and responsive services.

This approach can be traced back to the 1960s and our earliest days on the Bowery, when it was clear that the commonly-accepted approach of arresting individuals who were publicly intoxicated was not working. We became the first organization to provide an alternative by supporting the health needs of these New Yorkers struggling with substance use.

Today, whether it’s providing health screenings for newly-arriving migrants; addressing the overdose crisis with harm reduction resources; or delivering integrated occupational therapy interventions, we continue to react to emerging needs quickly, compassionately, and effectively.

Your support enables us to adapt and innovate to deliver impactful health programs—as well as housing and job training—to our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

On behalf of our clients and staff, thank you!

Sincerely,

Eric Rosenbaum

President & CEO

A Healthier Future for NYC's Migrant Community

Lortashia Smith, Project Renewal Clinic Office Manager, connected newly-arriving migrants to health care.

Amid New York City’s unprecedented influx of migrants, Project Renewal quickly stepped up to welcome newly-arriving individuals and connect them to vital health care.

In the fall of 2022, we shifted our operations at a shelter-based medical clinic in Brooklyn to serve as a health intake center for migrants arriving in New York City. Our team provided triage services to 3,350 individuals over the past year, made possible by a generous grant from Trinity Church Wall Street.

Project Renewal’s staff tirelessly assessed up to 40 people a day—double the number of patients typically seen at the clinic. All new arrivals received tuberculosis testing and were given access to HIV screenings, vaccinations, medication refills, and referrals to longer-term treatment.

“I’m proud to have been there to support people as they start their new lives in New York City,” says Lortashia Smith, Clinic Office Manager. “Many of them left homes and careers, walked 10,000 miles with sores on their feet, and dealt with traumatic circumstances—yet they arrived with palpable energy, eagerness to work, and hope for the future,” added Naquan White, Clinic Outreach Specialist.

The team offered a listening ear and compassionate care, using Google Translate to overcome language barriers when needed. In addition to health resources, they provided shoes, clothing, and other basic necessities. “Our staff rose to the occasion. I am so proud of their resourcefulness and flexibility,” said Dr. Miranda Von Dornum, Project Renewal’s Chief Medical Officer.

The clinic has recently returned to regular operations, but Project Renewal continues to provide migrants with housing, health care, and case management services.

West 59th Street Shelter in Construction

Construction has begun on the new West 59th Street Shelter, a modern purpose-built building that has been designed to provide the most rehabilitative environment for clients we serve. Building features include:

• 200 beds for single women in dorm-style rooms

• 1,500-square-foot medical clinic, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that is open to the community

• Offices and programming space for social services and recreation

• An outdoor terrace space for shelter residents to use

• 800-square-foot commercial kitchen to serve shelter residents

Shelter Staff, Services & Programs

Project Renewal will offer a wide array of clinical and recreational groups throughout the day and evenings to engage clients in meaningful activities. The building has been designed with plentiful purpose-built indoor and outdoor spaces that allow for participation.

Project Renewal will have more than 70 multidisciplinary staff members dedicated to operations and social services, in addition to security personnel, to engage and assist clients. These include a director, supervisors, intake coordinator, social workers, nurses, psychiatrists, recreation specialist, occupational therapist, entitlements specialist, housing specialists, and residential aides. Project Renewal will have staff present 24/7 to ensure the overall safety of the building. Services will include and are not limited to:

• Psychiatry

• Occupational therapy

• Case management

• Housing coordination

• Benefits coordination

• Recreational programs

• Three meals a day, plus snacks

The Department of Homeless Services will oversee Project Renewal’s operation of the site to ensure the program is operating well to serve our clients and the community.

Security

• All residents have an 11pm curfew and there is a no-visitor policy.

• A security company will be contracted to provide security within the building and around its perimeter. 

• All guards will be licensed security guards and will receive an additional 40-hour training and Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Training. 

• PRI will also provide training to guards that includes, but is not limited to, verbal de-escalation training, boundary training, training material that provides an overview of the clients in the building, access equipment and procedure training. 

• The security team will have an assigned account manager that will visit the site regularly, in addition to PRI’s in-house Security team.

Medical Clinic Services

A medical clinic located in the building will serve shelter clients and local community members, thus expanding health care access for low-income neighbors.

• As a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC), our clinic is required to provide care to all community members.

• Services will include primary care, women’s health, gender affirming care, HIV treatment, behavioral health services, and care management. Services will be offered in-person and via telehealth.

• Doctors will prescribe any medication patients may need, but no medication—including Suboxone—will be dispensed on site. In our experience, less than 5% of individuals we will be serving are prescribed Suboxone.

Timeline

• The Department of Homeless Services and Project Renewal notified the community of plans for the shelter project in December 2020.

• In February 2022, Project Renewal and our co-developer the Hudson Companies completed the purchase of the former Manhattan Neighborhood Network building at 537 West 59th Street.

• In Spring 2023, the project team began demolishing the existing building and preparing for construction.

• As of Winter 2024, construction has begun on a nine-story building with a modern, purpose-built shelter for single women with mental health diagnoses.

• The shelter is scheduled to open in 2025.

Community engagement

Project Renewal greatly values relationships with our neighbors and community members at all sites we operate.

• We have reached out to and met with many local stakeholders about the shelter, including Fordham University, Touro College, John Jay College, Mt. Sinai West, our neighbors at The Element, the Heschel School, and the Lincoln Square BID.

• Project Renewal has met several times with Community Board 7 to update them on plans for the shelter.

• Closer to the shelter opening, a DHS-organized Community Advisory Board will be formed to ensure communication between the shelter and surrounding community and enable us to hear from stakeholders to quickly address any issues that are raised.

Relationship to Gertrude Ederle Park

The shelter will be located adjacent to Gertrude Ederle Park and Recreation Center.

• The building’s third-floor terrace is enclosed by a vertical six-foot high fence and the entire terrace will be 18 feet higher than the park. The entrance to the shelter will be set back and 100 feet away from the park entrance, which is a single gate.

• There is clear physical and visual separation between the shelter and the playground.

• The team has had extensive conversations with NYC Parks regarding construction logistics and shelter operations. During construction, Project Renewal will fund a Seasonal Program Associate for NYC Parks onsite.

• The site will have security guards onsite who will complete perimeter walks that will cover the Park.

• Shelter residents will be expected to observe all applicable NYC Parks rules, including those that prohibit use of the playground if not in the company of a child.

• Clients in the building wishing to smoke will be directed to the third-floor terrace. 

• In front of the ground-floor entrance to the building, which is set back from the sidewalk, there will be a courtyard that is walled off from the park and mostly walled off from the street, where clients coming into the shelter can finish their cigarettes before entering the building. There will be no sightlines from the courtyard to the park. 

• One of the intentions behind the courtyard design was to ensure that clients who smoke can finish their cigarettes there and not on the sidewalk. Clients will not be sent out from the building to smoke in the courtyard; they will be directed to the third-floor terrace.

Contract

The City's contract is over the duration of 40 years. Annual operating costs are also included in the 40-year contract. 

• The contract covers rent at significantly lower cost than rental from a private landlord, and provides for non-profit ownership of a purpose-built shelter which allows for clearer accountability around maintenance of the facility and more efficient use of City funds. 

• This contract structure does not change accountability for providers. They are regularly reviewed and renewed, and it is not a 40-year guarantee to Project Renewal as the provider.

Project Renewal: Renewing Lives, Reclaiming Hope for More than 55 Years

Project Renewal launched in 1967 on the Bowery, as one of the nation's first successful treatment programs for people struggling with alcoholism and homelessness. Since then, we have created innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the New Yorkers we serve, including:

• the city’s first residential and work rehab program for people experiencing homelessness and alcoholism (1970).

• the nation’s first non-medical detox center (1976).

• one of the city’s first transitional housing programs for people with mental health diagnoses (1990).

• the city’s first social purpose catering company, employing New Yorkers with histories of homelessness, incarceration, and substance use disorder (1997).

• the city’s first shelter-based dental clinic (2003).

• one of the first shelter-based occupational therapy programs designed to prepare older New Yorkers for independent living (2005).

• the nation’s first mobile mammography clinic (became a Project Renewal program in 2007).

• one of the city’s first eco-friendly transitional housing facilities (2011).

• the city’s first shelter for LTGBTQIA+ young adults (2016).

• the city’s first diversion center, providing stabilizing services and long-term care referrals to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crisis, as an alternative to jails and emergency rooms (2020).

Today, we continue this pioneering course as a leading provider of health, homes and jobs for New Yorkers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

In 2022, through our HOMES programs:

• we provided shelter, transitional housing, or permanent housing to 3,768 people.

• we placed 297 people out of shelter into housing, amid an unprecedented housing crisis.

• 85% of residents placed in our permanent homes were still living independently after one year.

• 99% of our shelter clients placed into housing stayed out of the shelter system for at least a year.

In 2022, through our HEALTH programs:

• 8,112 people received substance use disorder treatment, medical care, or psychiatric services.

• we saw each patient an average of 3.39 times.

• 1,702 received mammograms on our ScanVan, the nation’s first mobile mammography clinic.

• 1,111 visited our mobile medical clinics.

• 1,555 participated in occupational therapy programming.

• 333 visited our shelter-based dental clinic, the only such clinic in New York City.

In 2022, through our JOBS programs:

• 410 job placements were secured.

• our clients’ average hourly wage was $17.01 – 29% higher than the NY State minimum wage.

• 96% of our Next Step Internship Program graduates were placed in jobs.

• 1,277,500 meals were served by our City Beet Kitchens catering company, which employs 23 of our Culinary Arts Training Program graduates and feeds more New Yorkers experiencing homelessness than any other organization.

Overcoming Decades of Street Homelessness

“I was able to open up with my feelings and experiences for the first time. I feel happy and proud. I’ve come a long way.”

— Luis

As a child, Luis suffered from abuse in his family. To cope, he used alcohol and drugs. His substance use increased and he experienced severe depression and anxiety, eventually becoming homeless at 20 years old. For decades, he cycled between street homelessness, psychiatric wards, and incarceration.

When the pandemic took hold, Luis found himself deeply depressed and thought about harming himself. He entered the shelter system and was referred to psychiatric services at Project Renewal’s Third Street Shelter. Through therapy and medication from his Project Renewal psychiatrist, he was finally able to regulate his emotions. “I was able to open up with my feelings and experiences for the first time,” Luis says.

With newfound stability, Luis secured an apartment in Times Square in the spring of 2022. He still meets with his Project Renewal psychiatrist each month, which helps him maintain his sobriety and navigate his mental health journey. “I don’t have suicidal thoughts anymore,” he says. “I feel happy and proud. I’ve come a long way.”

From Our Chief Medical Officer: Addressing New York City's Mental Health Crisis

Dear Friends,

Serious mental illness is one of the primary causes of chronic homelessness in our city. Institutions that should provide a strong network of support—hospitals, shelters, and rehab programs—are often siloed and unable to meet individuals’ complex needs. Too often, New Yorkers who need mental health care fall through the cracks.

When these systems fail, Project Renewal steps up. Our health programs target the most serious cases. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed medical and mental health services. We work toward stability and independence for our clients, while creating innovative programs that fill the gaps caused by the fractured system in which we work.

Our recent milestones in mental health care include: opening the city’s first Support and Connection Center; breaking ground on the Barbara Kleiman Men’s Shelter; and scaling up our comprehensive psychiatry services for clients like Heather and Luis. Additionally, we are tearing down Midtown East’s New Providence Shelter so we can redevelop it as modern, purpose-built housing and shelter for women with mental health concerns.

Your support enables us to innovate and advocate, while continuing to provide housing, health care, and job training to New Yorkers with serious mental illness at our programs throughout the city.

On behalf of our clients and staff, thank you!

Sincerely,

Miranda Von Dornum, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Project Renewal

Staff Member Q&A: Rob Gadomski, Deputy Medical Director of Psychiatric Services

Rob chats with Project Renewal licensed practical nurse Theresa Blair.

Rob oversees psychiatry services at Project Renewal’s Support and Connection Center, a first-of-its-kind program that provides short-term stabilizing services for unhoused people experiencing an acute mental health or substance use crisis. Guests typically stay up to five nights, after which many participate in aftercare services, linking them to long-term support.

Q. Rob, what is unique about the Center’s approach to mentalhealth care for people in crisis?

“We provide recovery-oriented care, working with guests on what they identify as their needs and goals. Often, when they interact with hospitals or the prison system it’s the other way around, so their needs aren’t met. Our low client-staff ratio allows us to tailor our support to each guest. We always have staff available, even in the middle of the night, so the guests can engage with a certified peer or substance use counselor.”

Q. Many guests have had traumatic experiences in settings that are supposed to be rehabilitative. How do you gain their trust?

“We emphasize trauma-informed care. That starts with listening to guests, making them feel safe, and making sure they know that our services are optional—they can choose how we help them. Certified peer counselors—staff members who often have similar life experiences to our guests—are critical because of their empathy, relatability, and expertise. They are the first people to engage guests, even before a nurse or psychiatrist, and are instrumental in developing treatment and referral plans.”

Q. How do you measure success?

“We must be realistic about what’s possible during a five-day stay. We try to build a relationship with a guest, so that they come back for our aftercare services. Other things we can do in five days include helping someone sign up for food stamps; setting up a medication-assisted treatment plan with a suboxone prescription to help reduce opioid dependence; enrolling them in Project Renewal’s job training; or placing them into a Safe Haven if they’re eligible.”

Q. What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

“This work is not always easy, but it’s gratifying to see relief on a guest’s face and hear them say that they feel heard for the first time in a long time. And we have a phenomenal team. It’s inspiring to work with like-minded people who care deeply about seeing guests reach their goals.”

Helping Heather Heal

heather at home at leona blanche house.

“I could finally see that there was hope. Project Renewal helped me get to a much better place—physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

— Heather

As Heather built a promising career in academia, she became overwhelmed by stress. She was teaching at the City University of New York, pursuing a PhD, and managing a difficult relationship. When anxiety and depression took hold, she turned to alcohol. Her body broke down and she was hospitalized. Unable to maintain her job, she was evicted and became homeless.

At Project Renewal’s New Providence shelter, Heather began to heal. Understanding the importance of long-term care, she met weekly with our psychiatrist, who prescribed medication to stabilize her mental health. She engaged in recreational activities, including a weekly music group and cultural outings. During check-ups at our on-site medical clinic, she focused on nutrition to maintain her long-term health. “I could finally see that there was hope,” she said.

Within two years, Heather was ready to live more independently, and moved to Leona Blanche House, a Project Renewal transitional housing program. She continued visiting her psychiatrist at New Providence and when COVID hit, she transitioned seamlessly to telepsychiatry service.

Today, with our support, Heather is preparing to search for a permanent home. “If I hadn’t come to Project Renewal, I would probably be dead,” Heather reflects. “They helped me get to a much better place—physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

Project Renewal Breaks Ground on the New Barbara Kleiman Men's Shelter in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Transformative redevelopment of the former Greenpoint Hospital will also feature 557 homes of affordable housing, community facility space, open space, and retail

(Brooklyn, NY) – Project Renewal, St. Nicks Alliance, and The Hudson Companies, along with the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Barbara Kleiman Men’s Shelter in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This vital development is championed by Mayor Eric Adams, former Council Member and current Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez.

Construction of the 200-bed shelter is part of the first phase of the long-awaited redevelopment of the former Greenpoint Hospital campus into the new Kingsland Commons, a mixed-used development that will also feature approximately 557 affordable homes for seniors and families, a senior center, a health center, a cafe, and public open space. The multi-phased development will replace an existing homeless shelter and former hospital buildings. 

Kingsland Commons will be the culmination of a 40-year community led process to develop the approximately 3.4-acre site. Planning and advocacy was led by the Greenpoint Renaissance Enterprise Corporation (GREC), a consortium of 11 organizations that have guided an innovative grassroots effort to redevelop the one of the few remaining large public sites in the city. The process balanced local priorities for affordable housing, open space, and community facilities with a citywide priority for safe shelter for homeless men. The project team were designated by HPD in 2018 out of a Request for Expressions of Interest based on the community’s priorities.

“My husband Guido and I, along with my neighbors at GREC, devoted 40 years of our lives to redeveloping the campus. We were there for a 40-night vigil to ‘right size’ the former 1,150 bed shelter, attended every community board meeting to advocate, and invested countless hours with my neighbors to shape the plan for the campus,” said Theresa Cianciotta, of Concerned Citizens of Withers Street and GREC.

“We are honored to work with GREC community leaders over the past 40 years and thrilled that we were able to bring together outstanding joint venture partners in Hudson Company and Project Renewal to realize the GREC Community Plan,” said Michael Rochford Executive Director of St Nicks Alliance.  “We are equally proud that Hudson Companies has committed to investing in training for 30 neighborhood residents to work and develop career skills, as well as joined with St Nicks Alliance to invest in improving Cooper Park across the street from the site and $1 million in the new School Settlement Community Center nearby.”

The development’s first phase is an extensive renovation of the campus’ historic Nurse’s Residence at 19 Debevoise Avenue to convert it into the new purpose-built shelter. The 54,000-square-foot facility will be converted in partnership with the New York State Historic Preservation Office to preserve and restore some of the building’s historic interior and exterior structural elements, along with brand-new building systems, finishes, a rooftop courtyard, and landscaping. Construction began in December, with an expected completion in October 2025.

Project Renewal, which has served New Yorkers experiencing homelessness for more than 55 years, will provide services for the shelter’s clients, including employment counselling, occupational therapy, psychiatry, and primary care at an on-site medical clinic.

“Kingsland Commons exemplifies the kind of holistic and sustainable solutions that are essential to revitalizing historic city infrastructure and spaces to create high-quality affordable and transitional housing for our vulnerable communities,” said Department of Social Services Acting Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “As we continue to make vital investments in innovative models while expanding access to quality care for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, we are grateful to all of our incredible partners and the community for their decades-long commitment to the realization of this tremendous initiative.”

“We’re finally breathing new life into this historic site with today’s groundbreaking at the Greenpoint Hospital campus which has sat vacant for far too long,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Just imagine, when Kingsland Commons is complete, more than 700 families and individuals will have shelter and affordable housing, older New Yorkers will have a brand-new senior center, and the community can enjoy public open space that has been inaccessible for decades. Thanks to our partners DHS, Project Renewal, St. Nicks Alliance, and Hudson Companies for working to make this dream a reality.”

“Kingsland Commons presents a rare opportunity in New York City to gut-renovate a building and redesign it as a shelter that centers the needs of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness," said Eric Rosenbaum, President and CEO of Project Renewal. "Project Renewal looks forward to bringing our 55 years of experience to bear, making this a place of comfort and stability, with targeted services that break the cycle of homelessness. We are proud to partner with The Hudson Companies and St. Nicks Alliance on this innovative mixed-use development and we look forward to being part of the Kingsland Commons community.

“Kingsland Commons is a reminder that when we fight alongside one another, we can shape our neighborhoods for the good of our people,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “While we keep our eye squarely on stable, dignified, and affordable housing that can support Brooklynites long-term, shelters like this remain essential in providing temporary reprieve and a steppingstone toward better futures for our neighbors.”  

"The groundbreaking for Kingsland Commons and the Barbara Kleiman Men’s Shelter is a perfect reminder that when we work together, we can shape and improve our neighborhoods for everyone's benefit. This project represents a true collaboration between community organizations, the City of New York, and private developers to create much-needed affordable housing, community space, and a safe shelter for unhoused men. As we continue to address the housing crisis in our city, it is important that we prioritize developments like this one, which meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents. I am proud to have been a champion for this project, and look forward to its continued success," said New York City Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, District 34

"The newly rebuilt Barbara Kleiman shelter will provide dignified emergency housing to people experiencing homelessness. With a high quality shelter operator, I am confident that the future clients at the Barbara Kleinman will get connected to the support, services, and permanent housing they deserve," said New York City Council Member Lincoln Restler, District 33.

“Hudson is honored to join its partners, St. Nicks Alliance, Project Renewal, the City of New York and the project’s design and engineering team in celebrating the first phase of redevelopment that community stakeholders passionately advocated for decades to bring to fruition,” said Aaron Koffman, President of The Hudson Companies. “We take great pride in developing leading-edge permanent and transitional housing for all New Yorkers and today we are one step closer to transforming this campus into nearly 557 affordable homes in East Williamsburg with a new 200-bed shelter, open space, and community spaces to complement the neighborhood.”

Financing for the first phase of Kingsland Commons was provided by Prudential Private Capital and NYCEEC, which provided a predevelopment loan. The new shelter was designed by Edelman Sultan Knox Woods Architects and will be built by Broadway Builders. Magnusson Architecture and Planning and Architecture Outfit are designing the overall campus plan and the other building which is part of the first phase.

The next component of Kingsland Commons is the construction of a building adjacent to the shelter with approximately 311 affordable homes for low-income families earning between 30 and 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). Construction is expected to begin in 2024. The new apartment buildings will offer a range of studios, one, two, and three-bedroom units. Amenities will include outdoor courtyards and playgrounds, rooftop terraces, laundry rooms, fitness center, bike storage room, children’s playroom, and tenants’ lounge.

Kingsland Commons is within walking distance from the Graham Avenue L subway station.

About Project Renewal

Project Renewal is a New York City-based nonprofit organization that works to end the cycle of homelessness by empowering individuals and families to renew their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Project Renewal’s innovative programs are designed to end the revolving door of emergency rooms, jails, shelters, and the streets. For 55 years, Project Renewal’s pioneering approach has created uniquely integrated and comprehensive programs that are replicated around the nation, helping even beyond the thousands of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness that Project Renewal serves every year. www.projectrenewal.org

About The Hudson Companies

At Hudson, we develop housing for everyone. From townhouse to high rise, gut rehabilitation of warehouses to modest renovation of 100-year old walk-ups, we have touched all housing typologies. We are a collaborative team guided by entrepreneurial vigor, civic spirit and deep expertise. We are fully integrated, having close affiliates that handle property management and leasing, Lisa Management, and general contracting construction services, Broadway Builders. Our team is diverse and our motivations arise from varied personal and professional experiences, but our crucial commonality is a desire to thoughtfully add to this great city's blocks and boroughs. Hudson is an award winning development company that has completed almost 8,000 residential units with another 7,000 in the pipeline.

About St. Nicks Alliance

Founded in 1975, St. Nicks Alliance has built over 2,800 units of housing; is developing an additional 1,800 units of housing and currently manages 1,750 affordable apartments. The organization serves over 17,000 people annually and seeks to transform lives of low- and moderate-income people through employment, education, housing, and health care. We do this by delivering impactful services with measurable outcomes to children, adults, and the elderly. As a civic anchor we carry out this mission within the context of building a sustainable community for all people through the arts, environmental advocacy, and urban planning. www.stnicksalliance.org

Q&A: Tavasha McDade, Engagement Specialist, Third Street Men's Shelter

“I get to make somebody’s day a little bit brighter. When clients move out they get really excited...that’s the rewarding part–making sure that clients get to their goal.”

— Tavasha McDade

With a casual confidence, down to earth personality and a disarming smile, Tavasha McDade is renewing lives and reclaiming hope one relationship at a time. A Next Step Internship Program (NSIP) graduate, she uses her skills as an Engagement Specialist at Third Street Men’s Shelter to help her clients move out of shelter and into homes of their own. When roles in her previous career in TV and film production began drying up due to the pandemic, she found Project Renewal’s job training program on Google and never looked back. What began as a simple search for a stable job grew into a passion for helping others reach their goals of long term stability. 

Tavasha is very clear that she is successful in her work because she does it in community. Always growing, she is genuinely enthused to learn from clients and colleagues how to be better at her job, even when that means navigating conflict. She says being in NSIP taught her to practice patience with herself and others, which serves her well when the job gets tough. 

We sat down with Tavasha to talk about working at Project Renewal, sustainable self care practices, and the multidimensionality of being black. As she spoke frankly about how to enjoy the simple things, both inside and outside of work, we were definitely taking notes for our own lives. Maybe you will too. 

What do you do at Project Renewal? 

I’m an Engagement Specialist at Project Renewal. I’ve been here for 17 months. I came from the Next Step program. I was an intern here at Third Street first and then I started working as a Residential Aid (RA). From there I got promoted to Lead RA and then to my current role. I am a liaison between case managers and their clients, making sure that clients get to their appointments, and I also manage my own caseload. I know a lot of clients from my time as an RA so I already have a rapport with them.

Sometimes clients don’t have this or they don’t have that, IDs, birth certificates and other important documents they need to be prepared to move out. We make sure we have everything for them–sometimes that means getting some things from immigration or documents from another state or country. Our main goal as a team is to make sure clients get to the point where they can move out of shelter and be very self-sufficient. 

What is the best part of your job?

I get to make somebody’s day a little bit brighter because you don’t know what they’re going through. When they move out they get really excited! Some of them are older gentlemen who never had their own apartment or who did have their own apartment but they got kicked out. We have some clients that get a beautiful apartment and stay [there] for years. You have some clients that come back [to shelter] unfortunately. But that’s the rewarding part–making sure that clients get to their goal and showing them they can do it.

How do you sustain your work at Project Renewal?

It’s a very rewarding job but sometimes it does get stressful. I make sure I put myself first, even if it’s the smallest things. Like getting my nails done and when my hair grows out a little bit more, getting my hair braided. Putting my phone on do not disturb. Buying a candle or a Starbucks cup just because I think it’s pretty. Or taking myself out for ramen at lunch. I also cook for myself. I don’t even have to eat it, just making it makes me happy. Just chopping it up, getting the ingredients, seasoning it, making it your own. And I want to take cooking classes so I can learn how to master that. 

What are some of your other passions outside of social work?

Photography! A couple years back I had a gallery in Harlem showcase my work.

I love anime–I got 3 anime tattoos. I’m getting more! I’m a big movie person. I love music and musicals. I would like to learn more about the different strains of cannabis and how to grow your own. Also fashion because I grew up in it. My mom, my aunties, and my uncles–they were always dripped out in designer so that put me on to liking fashion. I want to try my hand at making my own clothes, embroidery and sewing.

“I’m very eclectic when it comes to my likes and loves. I’m not just a one dimensional black girl. We always get put in this box. There are so many aspects of blackness that people don’t get to talk about.”

Is there anything else you want to share about your work at Project Renewal?

I work with a great team. They’re patient with me and they’re kind with me. I’m surrounded by a lot of intelligent people from many different backgrounds–that’s really a big thing for me. It pushes me to be a better professional because I see how they are. And I get to work with these people everyday…I’m surrounded by greatness.

Acing the Interview: Next Step interns and volunteers from Google swap strategies for confidence and success

“Both of my [mock] interviews I really enjoyed. Amazingly, I was just comfortable. And I’m hoping that I carry that into my next interview because I know what I want, and I know my worth.”

— Next Step Intern

Last Wednesday, a vivacious group of Next Step Interns and volunteers from Google came together for a mock interview experience. The Next Step Internship Program (NSIP) works to remove barriers to employment for adults with histories of homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and involvement with the criminal justice system in order to prepare them for successful careers.

Project Renewal’s current cohort of Next Step interns is in week 7 of the 8-week training program, and will begin interviewing for jobs this week. In preparation for those interviews, interns had the opportunity to complete two rounds of mock interviews – one to warm up, and another to practice what they learned during the first interview and implement any feedback they received.

“One of the issues that I have is nervousness and I tend to get stuck when I’m elaborating on a question,” one intern remarked. “They taught me different ways to go about [dealing with my nervousness]. I said I’m going to write them down and I’m going to start practicing at home with my kids.”

And the teaching was mutual. Volunteers and interns discussed shared experiences and strategies for learning how to be personable without oversharing and gaining confidence in selling themselves. As the day went on, sweaty palms and nervous energy turned to supportive conversation and group laughter.

A volunteer from Google reflected, “Being on the other side of the table, we didn’t exactly know what to expect either. But as soon as I started asking questions, your responses were right on point…some of your responses, I was like—I’m putting that in my back pocket!”

Interns were encouraged to reflect on the value of all of their life experiences and to confidently present them as assets to their future job performance. One intern shared how her role as a mom gives her managerial skills that translate both inside and outside of the home. “I learned how to highlight my skills in a much better way,” she said. “It’s not just a stay-at-home mom, it is a full-time job, a 24/7 organization. I have to deal with all these little personalities running around. It’s a big deal.”

It was beautiful to witness the self-knowledge and confidence of NSIP participants as they moved through the mock interview process. Interviewees described themselves as accountable, reliable, team players, detailed oriented, professional, compassionate, and adaptable. They are looking forward to sharing their strengths, advocating for themselves, and acing their upcoming interviews!

“Both of my [mock] interviews I really enjoyed,” one participant said. “Amazingly, I was just comfortable. And I’m hoping that I carry that into my next interview because I know what I want, and I know my worth.”

Eva’s story: A new career was her path to stability

“We all fall to get back up – if you can see up, you can get up. We learn from the hardship. We all have an inner warrior.”

— Eva

Eva is one of Project Renewal’s brilliant Culinary Arts Training Program (CATP) graduates, with a warm disposition and a fierce work ethic to match.

Seven years ago, Eva was going through a series of challenges in her work and personal life. She had moved from a homeless shelter into her own apartment in the Bronx, when suddenly, she lost her job at a dental clinic. She was concerned about being able to continue to pay her rent while caring for her sick mother, her children, and her grandkids. It was a dark time in her life, and she was worried about losing her home.

Everything changed when she learned about CATP through a friend. The six-month classroom and internship program put her on a new career path with upward mobility. The Project Renewal team immediately recognized Eva’s determination and talent. After graduating from CATP, she was hired as a cook at Marsha’s House, Project Renewal’s shelter for LGBTQ+ young adults. In February, she will celebrate six years working at the shelter, where she has been promoted to kitchen manager.

Eva credits CATP with the stability she has in her life. “I’ve been able to stay in my place because of the training and my job,” Eva says. “I’ve been able to repair my credit, pay my bills, and keep myself and my family comfortable.”

In addition to these benefits, Eva says the best gift she received from CATP was meeting people who really saw and supported her. “Ms. Cherry, [CATP’s Assistant Director], said ‘we love you here.’ That was something that I really needed to hear.” Eva fell in love with CATP’s community and maintains friendships with fellow graduates from her cohort to this day.

Having gained incredible financial and emotional stability from the program, Eva is eager to pass this gift on to others. “This program gave me something to look forward to when I didn't have anything to look forward to. We all fall to get back up – if you can see up, you can get up. We learn from the hardship. We all have an inner warrior.”

John’s story: A journey from prison to a permanent home

“When you have your own home, you can dream about your future.”

— John

John takes pride in sharing his home and his story. But it hasn’t always been this way. A disciplined Army veteran who gave his country 12 years of service, John struggled with his mental health after his discharge. He experienced economic challenges, food insecurity, and lack of access to mental health care, and eventually became incarcerated.

Two years ago, John was preparing for release from prison after 17 years.  As someone who lives with bipolar disorder, John reached out to the Office of Mental Health (OMH) for resources to help him navigate life outside of the justice system.

They connected him with Project Renewal’s Parole Support and Treatment Program (PSTP), which helps New Yorkers with histories of both incarceration and mental health concerns to avoid the “prison-to-shelter” pipeline, and successfully reintegrate into society.

John’s PSTP case worker met him at the parole office and took him directly to supportive housing. “That was the key. I never had to navigate through the homeless shelter system,” says John.

Today, John is living in one of Project Renewal’s permanent apartments and successfully maintains his mental health with consistent support. He is preparing to continue his previous career in property management by taking computer and real estate classes. John looks forward to connecting with our employment team and returning to the workforce in 2023. “When you have your own home, you can dream about your future,” John says.

He credits his success to the commitment Project Renewal made to him—and his commitment to himself. “Project Renewal made an investment in me and provides me with the resources I need to succeed,” says John. “It is a partnership. They make a commitment to you, you make a commitment to them, and we both work together to put prison behind you. I will do what I need to do. I don't want to let them down.”

Don’t let John down. Help make a difference for New Yorkers like him. Learn more and donate to our campaign to prevent homelessness in New York City.

Project Renewal Breaks Ground on Bedford Green House II in The Bronx

 New construction will add 116 more units of affordable and supportive housing and a medical clinic to the site

 The development’s first phase—Bedford Green House I—opened earlier in 2022 with 117 apartments, supportive services, and a rooftop greenhouse

(The Bronx, NY) – On December 9, the homeless services nonprofit Project Renewal celebrated the groundbreaking of Bedford Green House II, a $71.4 million supportive and affordable housing development in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx, next to Bedford Green House I which the organization opened earlier this year.

The 17-story Bedford Green House II, located at 2880 Jerome Avenue, will bring 116 additional units of affordable and supportive housing to formerly homeless individuals and families impacted by mental illness and substance use disorder, low-income seniors, and people earning 60% of area median income or less. The building, designed to LEED Gold standards, will feature a 2,309-square-foot street-facing medical clinic, offering primary care, pediatrics, podiatry, digital radiology, and other health care services to both tenants and community members. It will also include a fitness room; a landscaped backyard; and The Molly B. Kronick Library and Learning Center for residents.

The LEED Gold-certified Bedford Green House I opened in January 2022 with 117 affordable and supportive homes and innovative design elements, amenities, and services that support residents’ health and long-term stability. A 1,500-square-foot rooftop greenhouse and aquaponics urban farming system allows residents to grow fresh vegetables year-round. A green exterior façade features plantings that will grow to cascade from the top floors to the ground, reducing the building’s energy use and removing airborne pollutants. Bike storage and a playground facilitate active lifestyles for all ages.

Project Renewal’s multidisciplinary team provides wraparound, on-site services, including case management, occupational therapy, horticultural therapy, and entitlements support to Bedford Green House I tenants and will provide those same services to Bedford Green House II tenants. Together, the two buildings will provide 233 supportive and affordable homes.

“Bedford Green House has become a community of renewal and stability for individuals and families overcoming homelessness, mental health concerns, and other challenges,” said Eric Rosenbaum, President and CEO of Project Renewal. “With the second phase, we are excited to bring not only more critically needed affordable homes to the Bronx, but also a medical clinic that will provide health care to our neighbors in the community, as well as our tenants. We are grateful to our funders and partners who have helped make our vision for Bedford Green House a reality.”

“We’re thrilled to break ground on Phase II of Bedford Green House, which will bring the same level of attention to energy efficiency, supportive services, and resident amenities as Phase I of the project which we celebrated earlier this year,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Thanks to Project Renewal and our partners at the state for sharing our commitment to expanding the supply of high-quality affordable housing, particularly for the most vulnerable among us.”

“The Bedford Green House II in Fordham Heights is an exemplary supportive housing development that will offer affordable housing to the Bronx and amenities to benefit the surrounding neighborhood,” said New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “This 116-unit development will give low-income families, seniors, and unhoused New Yorkers a place to call home, support residents with serious mental illness or substance use disorder, and offer beautiful community spaces for Bronxites to enjoy. I commend the state and Project Renewal for working together to invest in critical housing projects for the Bronx.”

"Bedford Green House II will provide a safe, modern home to over 100 families, individuals, and seniors in Fordham Heights, while also ensuring that 70 households have critically needed services to achieve stability,” said Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “The inclusion of a new medical clinic expands access to affordable, quality healthcare for the surrounding community. Thanks to Project Renewal and our other partners, the Bronx will soon benefit from this remarkable development, and continue to do so for years to come."

"The second phase of Bedford Green House will help respond to our community's urgent need for safe, affordable, and supportive housing with access to vital mental health services,” said Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. It will offer seniors and families the supportive services and assistance they need to live independently, right here in Fordham Heights. Governor Hochul's commitment to supportive housing is helping to ensure that vulnerable New Yorkers have access to affordable, safe and stable homes."

“CSH congratulates Project Renewal on breaking ground on Bedford Green House Phase II,” said Jen Trepinski, director of loan originations, Corporation for Supportive Housing. “We are proud to be an early-stage funding partner of Project Renewal and this project that will create a healthy, affordable, and vibrant community where its residents can thrive.”

“Bedford Green House will provide individuals and families with permanent housing and easy access to the services they need to stabilize their lives and thrive in their community — all within an innovative and therapeutic setting,” said New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz. “We are proud to once again be collaborating with Project Renewal and our state and local partners on such an innovative project that promises to be transformative for the entire Bronx community.”

“Bedford Green House II is the culmination of the addition of a superb new community asset for the Jerome Park neighborhood of the Bronx,” said Andrew Knox, FAIA, partner, ESKW/Architects. “By building two structures with a common shared park between them, an oasis is created which will bring the residents together. This space will foster community for the development as well as provide an easy way to offer residents services that Project Renewal offers and that they need. The expression of the building reinforces the common height brick façades of the neighboring Jerome Avenue residential buildings. There is a change of material as the building rises above that height looking to the north across the Bronx all the way to the Hudson Highlands.”

Bedford Green House II’s development team is led by Project Renewal, with Olive Branch Consulting serving as Owner’s Representative. Bruno Frustaci Contracting, Inc. is the general contractor. Architectural design services are provided by Edelman Sultan Knox Wood (ESKW) Architects, with structural engineering by Rosenwasser Grossman, MEP engineering by Allen Rosenthal, geotechnical engineering by Mueser Rutledge, landscape design by Starr Whitehouse, and LEED design by Steven Winter Associates. Rockabill Consulting provided pre-development consulting services.

Financing for Bedford Green House II includes $5.7 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $34.6 million in equity, $12.05 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal, and $11.3 million in subsidy from New York City Housing Preservation and Development. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance contributed $6 million through the Homeless Housing and Prevention Program. OMH will provide $1.7 million annually for services and operating costs on the 70 ESSHI units. Additionally, OMH will provide $343,000 in a program development grant to cover some start-up costs. The New York City Council provided a $1.2 million grant, and the Office of the Bronx Borough President provided a $300,000 grant.

Project Renewal Taps DHS Veteran Doreen Thomann-Howe as Chief Operating Officer

- Former DHS deputy commissioner joins homeless services nonprofit that provides shelter, housing, health care, and employment programs to thousands of New Yorkers each year –

(New York, NY) – Project Renewal, the New York City homeless services nonprofit founded in 1967, has hired New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) veteran Doreen Thomann-Howe as the organization’s new Chief Operating Officer. Thomann-Howe will oversee Project Renewal’s programs and services, including shelters, supportive housing, health care, workforce development, and the social-purpose catering company City Beet Kitchens. 

Thomann-Howe has dedicated her career to addressing the citywide challenges of poverty, mental illness, and homelessness, including seven years at DHS. Most recently, as the Deputy Commissioner of Family Services, she oversaw the City’s provision of shelter and services to families with children experiencing homelessness, with thousands of families able to move out of shelter into permanent housing during her tenure.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a passion to positively impact the lives of people caught in cycles of poverty and homelessness, to give them the best opportunities to realize their dreams,” said Thomann-Howe. “I have long admired Project Renewal’s high-quality, innovative programs which have earned the organization a reputation as one of New York City’s leading providers of homeless services.”

“We are excited to have Doreen help lead Project Renewal as we continue expanding our services and developing new programs to address our city’s evolving homelessness crisis,” said Eric Rosenbaum, President and CEO of Project Renewal. “Doreen’s expertise and proven ability to help New Yorkers experiencing homelessness get back on their feet will be tremendous assets to our organization.”

In a previous role with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Thomann-Howe co-directed a citywide initiative that focused on New Yorkers living with serious mental health concerns and re-engaged them when they fell out of care. In addition to her work in City government, she has worked at Harlem United Community AIDS Center, the Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy, and Gouverneur Hospital. She received her BA in Psychology from City College of NY, her MSW from the NYU School of Social Work, and is a licensed clinical social worker.

Thomann-Howe joins Project Renewal as the organization continues to expand its housing and services, including the following:

• Earlier this year, Project Renewal opened the first phase of Bedford Green House in the Bronx with 117 affordable and supportive apartments, including units set aside for New Yorkers with histories of homelessness, families impacted by mental health concerns and substance use disorder, and low-income households. The LEED-certified building features on-site health and social services and a rooftop aquaponics greenhouse.

• Construction will soon begin on the second phase of Bedford Green House, adding 116 additional apartments, a community medical clinic, a gym, and The Molly B. Kronick Library and Learning Center.

• In Midtown Manhattan, the organization is redeveloping its New Providence women’s shelter, replacing the old building with a new 21-story tower that will feature 130 permanent supportive housing units, 171 shelter beds, and a primary care clinic to serve women living in the building and the surrounding community.

• Project Renewal is developing a 200-bed men’s shelter it will operate as part of a new development at the old Greenpoint Hospital site in Brooklyn. The shelter will include a medical clinic, occupational therapy, workforce development, and mental health services.

• The organization will launch its fifth mobile medical van later this year, accompanying its five shelter-based medical clinics.

About Project Renewal
Project Renewal is a New York City-based nonprofit organization that works to end the cycle of homelessness by empowering individuals and families to renew their lives with health, homes and jobs. Project Renewal’s innovative programs are designed to end the revolving door of emergency rooms, jails, shelters and the streets. For 55 years, Project Renewal’s pioneering approach has created uniquely integrated and comprehensive programs that are replicated around the nation, helping even beyond the thousands of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness that Project Renewal serves every year. www.projectrenewal.org

Gerri's Journey

On paper, Gerri had it all. She was an executive at a global investment bank, living in a high-rise apartment and traveling internationally.

But the stress of her job, coupled with the death of her parents, led to mental health challenges. To cope, Gerri turned to alcohol and her life started to unravel. She lost her job, her apartment, and everything she owned. She eventually entered a homeless shelter. “I didn’t know life could be that low,” she says.

In 2007, after receiving support through detox programs and Alcoholics Anonymous, she secured an apartment at Project Renewal’s Geffner House supportive housing residence. Gerri has now been stably housed at Geffner for 15 years. She meets regularly with her case worker, who helps her arrange doctor appointments, manage her medication needs, and set healthy goals.

She has also found community and a social life through Helping Older People Engage (HOPE), Project Renewal’s on-site occupational therapy group. “As I was coming out of shelter, I was just trying to survive,” recalls Gerri. “When I got to Geffner, I slowly got comfortable, and I realized there were things to smile about again.”

Planting Roots at Bedford Green House

Alexis and NYC Mayor Eric Adams in front of Bedford Green House

During her year-long stay at a Bronx family shelter, Alexis routinely walked by the construction site for Bedford Green House, Project Renewal’s newest affordable and supportive housing development. She dreamed of living in the new building with her five-year-old son, Cairo. Today, Alexis’ dream is a reality. In February 2022, she and Cairo were among Bedford Green House’s first tenants to move in, and they have flourished ever since.

“Moving here is one of the best things that ever happened to me,” says Alexis. “I’ve never felt such stability and happiness as I do at Bedford Green House.”

With the help of Project Renewal’s mental health and occupational therapy programming, Alexis is working through past traumas. She enjoys participating in on-site art, music, and mindfulness groups. At Bedford Green House’s rooftop greenhouse and aquaponics farm, she grows vegetables and herbs that she uses to create healthy meals in her own kitchen.

As Cairo begins kindergarten, he is thriving. “He has his own bedroom, comes to the group activities with me, and can’t get enough of the playground in the front courtyard,” Alexis shares.

From Project Renewal’s case managers and therapists, to the building’s maintenance workers and fellow residents, Alexis and Cairo have built a strong community. Thanks to the stability of their home, Alexis is now able to pursue her goal of becoming a nurse. “Bedford Green House has changed my life.”

Bedford Green House Ribbon-Cutting

On July 14, we were joined by Mayor Adams to celebrate the opening of the first phase of Bedford Green House, our new supportive and affordable housing development in the Bronx. The LEED-certified building provides 117 units of housing to formerly homeless individuals, families impacted by mental health concerns and substance use disorder, people living with HIV, and low-income New Yorkers. 

It includes innovative design elements, amenities, and services that support residents’ health and long-term stability, including a rooftop greenhouse and aquaponics farm that allows residents to grow fresh vegetables year-round. Our multidisciplinary team provides wraparound, on-site services, including case management, occupational therapy, horticultural therapy, and entitlement support. 

Learn more about Bedford Green House from 6sqft, Affordable Housing Finance, CityLand, News 12 Bronx, PIX11 News, The City Life, and Univision. 

Read the full announcement from the Office of the Mayor:

MAYOR ADAMS, PROJECT RENEWAL OPEN 117 SUPPORTIVE, AFFORDABLE HOMES WITH AQUAPONICS FARMING IN THE BRONX 

Bedford Green House Is Home to New Yorkers Formerly Experiencing Homelessness,

Families Impacted by Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder, People Living With HIV/AIDS 

Phase II of Project Will Include Homes for Low-Income Seniors, Community Medical Clinic, Library, and Learning Center 

Project Follows Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors” Blueprint to Get New Yorkers Into Safe, High-Quality, Affordable Homes

 NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and homeless services nonprofit Project Renewal, today opened the first phase of Bedford Green House — a project that will bring 117 affordable and supportive homes to the Bronx. The project includes 71 apartments set aside for New Yorkers who previously experienced homelessness, families impacted by mental illness and substance use disorder, and people living with HIV/AIDS; with the remaining 46 apartments for low-income households earning up to 60 percent of area median income. Project Renewal is providing on-site wraparound social services, including horticultural therapy utilizing the greenhouse and aquaponic urban farming system on the building’s roof. 

“Affordable housing, homelessness, public health, and our environment are all connected, and Project Renewal demonstrates the kind of creative thinking we need to tackle all of them together,” said Mayor Adams. “My administration is laser-focused, not on simply creating housing on paper but on getting New Yorkers into the safe, high-quality, affordable homes they deserve, while helping fight climate change and creating our own nutritious food. We are doing that today in the Bronx at Bedford Green House, and we will continue doing it all across the city”

 “Bedford Green House helps meet our city’s urgent need for supportive and affordable housing and embodies Project Renewal’s mission to empower individuals and families to renew their lives with health, homes, and jobs,” said Eric Rosenbaum, president and CEO, Project Renewal. “More than just an apartment building, Bedford Green House’s design and programming brings residents together, from children to seniors, around shared activities that support healthy living. As we celebrate the opening of this first phase, we look forward to the second phase, bringing more housing and services to more formerly homeless New Yorkers and the wider community.”

 Bedford Green House reflects the goals of Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors” blueprint for getting New Yorkers into safe, high-quality, affordable homes. The first city housing plan to cover the entire spectrum of New Yorkers’ housing needs and options, the blueprint includes a commitment to accelerate the creation of supportive housing and complete the 15,000 supportive homes promised by 2030, two years ahead of schedule. 

Project Renewal’s multidisciplinary team will provide wraparound, on-site services, including case management, occupational therapy, horticultural therapy, and entitlements support. Later this year, construction will begin on a second phase with 116 additional apartments, nearly half of which will be reserved for low-income seniors; a 2,400-square-foot medical clinic; a gym; and The Molly B. Kronick Library and Learning Center for residents. The medical clinic in phase two will offer primary care, pediatrics, podiatry, digital radiology, and other health care services to the whole community. 

Integrated throughout the LEED-certified building are innovative design elements, amenities, and services that support residents’ health and long-term stability. A 1,500-square-foot rooftop greenhouse and aquaponics urban farming system allows residents to grow fresh vegetables year-round. A green exterior façade features plantings that will grow to cascade from the top floors to the ground, reducing the building’s energy use and removing airborne pollutants in a borough where children are hospitalized by asthma at a rate 21 times higher than more affluent areas of New York City. Bike storage and a playground encourage active lifestyles for all ages.

 “Bedford Green House is what climate and housing justice looks like,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Project Renewal is giving low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers a new outlook on life with the opening of Bedford Green House. This development is a model for housing New Yorkers with dignity, while providing the services needed to live healthy lives. Thanks to Project Renewal, our partners at the city and state, and the entire development team for making this innovative and sustainable project a reality.”

 “With critical on-site supportive services, sustainable design features, and a host of community-focused programming and amenities, Bedford Green House offers low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers security, peace of mind, and a place to call home,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “I’d like to thank all of our partners and elected officials for their work to bring holistic solutions to support our city’s affordable housing needs at a time it’s needed more than ever.”  

 “This administration’s comprehensive plan for addressing homelessness and housing insecurity prioritizes the creation of supportive housing while also strengthening and expanding access to these critical opportunities for our most vulnerable communities,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins. “We are making vital investments, implementing strategic reforms, and working tirelessly to support our low-income communities and New Yorkers experiencing homelessness in ways that position them for long-term housing stability. The Bedford Green House exemplifies the kind of innovation, sustainable models, and quality of services we envision as we continue to find more impactful ways to support New Yorkers in need, and we are grateful to our incredible partners for bringing this project to life.”

 Studies showing the mental and physical health benefits of exposure to the natural world inspired Bedford Green House’s design, including the interior green wall in the lobby and exterior living green facade. In addition to removing pollutants, the vines will reduce the building’s energy usage by absorbing solar radiation during the summer months. During winter months, the vines will shed their leaves and allow sunlight to warm the building. Meanwhile, Bedford Green House’s high-performance building envelope has continuous exterior insulation, which lowers energy usage and operating costs and significantly reduces its carbon footprint.

The aquaponics farming system in the rooftop greenhouse contains fish, vegetables, herbs, and micro greens growing in a symbiotic ecosystem. The fish live in large tanks connected to a bio-filter that breaks down fish waste and carries nutrients to the plant roots, while the plants clean the water for the fish. The space outside the greenhouse will be used for organic farming in planter boxes to grow vegetables that are less suited to aquaponics. Residents will work with Project Renewal’s horticultural therapist to grow their own food year-round, alongside their neighbors. Access to these green and light-filled spaces is especially beneficial during winter months when cold and darkness can contribute to depression.

Additionally, Bedford Green House creates an inviting streetscape through landscaping along the sidewalk frontage, seats at the setbacks, the playground, and public art that encourages residents and neighbors to engage with the building.

 Bedford Green House’s construction was financed by HDC, HPD and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance through their Homeless Housing and Assistance Program. Bank of America served as tax credit investor as well as providing the construction letter of credit. Additional grant funding was provided by the Harold and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, TD Bank, and Deutsche Bank Foundation. Operating funding is provided by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and New York City Human Resources Administration. A pre-development loan was provided by the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

 “Addressing the challenges posed by serious mental illness or chronic disease can be daunting in the most stable of settings, but overwhelming for those who are unhoused,” said New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz. “Project Renewal’s Bedford Green House will provide individuals and families permanent housing and the supportive services they need to stabilize their lives and thrive in their community – all within an innovative and therapeutic setting. Like the many other projects funded through the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, this development will provide struggling New Yorkers with permanent housing and the opportunity to thrive in an independent setting.”

 “The Bedford Green House will provide low-income and vulnerable Bronxites including formerly homeless individuals, families impacted by mental illness and substance use disorders, and people with HIV/AIDS, with a much-needed affordable place to live," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “I want to thank Project Renewal, Mayor Adams’ administration, and all participating public and private partners for investing in a project that will increase the number of affordable and supportive housing units in my district while integrating access to healthy activities including a greenhouse and an innovative urban farming system.”

 “At a time in which housing insecurity is an all-time high, it is imperative that we provide affordable, permanent, and supportive housing to our most vulnerable residents.” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to applaud Mayor Eric Adams and Project Renewal for the opening of the first phase of Bedford Green House in the Bronx and for their commitment to decreasing homelessness in our borough. With on-site wraparound services, case management, occupational therapy, and other holistic amenities, this project will not only support our communities` physical needs but also their emotional and mental ones as well.”

"Today, I am proud to join the ribbon-cutting of Project Renewal's new development, Bedford Green House, which will provide 117 sustainable and affordable housing units in District 14,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “Project Renewal has continuously supported vulnerable New Yorkers in the Bronx. This development will provide a range of onsite supportive social services and provide the community with year-round, environmentally conscious programming and resources. Housing is a human right, and every one of us deserves to live in a stable, healthy, clean home and environment. The Bedford Green House development is an example of investment in sustainable development in the Bronx while creating community spaces and programming.”

"CSH congratulates Project Renewal on the grand opening of Bedford Green House, realizing its beautiful vision for 117 safe, sustainable, affordable, and supportive homes where New Yorkers can thrive," says Jennifer Trepinski, director, loan originations, CSH. "These new homes are part of the city's efforts to recover from the pandemic and increase affordable and supportive housing inventories."

 "The rock on this site withstood the force of a glacier one mile thick that came from the north as far as the eye can see. We wanted to bring to the clients that live here that strength and resilience so that they too can thrive as a community in the face of the forces that our society throws at them," said Andrew B. Knox, FAIA. Partner, ESKW/Architects.

###

Q&A: Latoya Thomas, Director of Social Services, Marsha’s House

Before Project Renewal opened Marsha’s House in 2017, LGBTQI+ young adults experiencing homelessness in New York City did not have a shelter tailored to their needs. Five years later, Marsha’s House is still New York City’s only shelter for LGBTQI+ young adults, ages 18 to 30. As Pride Month kicks off, we spoke with Latoya Thomas, Director of Social Services at Marsha’s House and a proud member of the LGBTQI+ community herself. 

What does Pride Month mean to the Marsha’s House community? 

Pride is such a big deal here. In addition to the fact that we serve the LGBTQI+ community, we are named for Marsha P. Johnson, whose activism at Stonewall helped launch the first Pride celebrations. Stonewall, as well as other events, were always a way for the LGBTQI+ community to express to everyone how to include us in the conversation. It’s so important and affirming to have events and ideas around Pride because Marsha was a pioneer. She was about trying to bring humanity to individuals that are super marginalized. She opened her home and her heart to people trying to find their way and I think that’s why it’s so important to have that Pride highlighted here at Marsha’s House. 

What does Marsha’s House have planned for Pride Month? 

We are helping clients attend Pride events throughout the city. We also have several different agencies who will come celebrate and provide services to our clients, including Montefiore Medical Center and other partners. Our job is to facilitate and orchestrate how our clients can navigate these support systems and enter the warm embrace of other service providers. By doing this, we’re giving them the tools they need to be able to utilize these resources when they are no longer residents at Marsha’s House, when they transition into their own housing, whether it be independent or supportive. 

What are some of the services that Marsha’s House staff provides to clients? 

If you look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, you know that shelter is everything, so that’s the most important thing we provide initially. Next, we offer access to mental health services. We know that a high propensity of our clients have mental health challenges or traumas, and Marsha’s House is one of the first places where they obtain a psychiatric diagnosis and get mental health treatment. We also offer vocational services and are always trying to keep our clients abreast of information and training that happens across the city. That’s where you can see clients blossom and begin to support themselves. 

What makes working at Marsha’s House so fulfilling for you? 

I’m proud of the work we do at Marsha’s House. For someone like me in the LGBTQI+ community, I didn’t have a place like Marsha’s House to come to when I needed it. I often think about how having resources and a space which is affirming and supportive could have helped me, and now my work can change the trajectory of someone else’s life. Because of that, when I come

into work every day, my mission is to be what I needed at the time and what other people in the community need now. Recently, we had a client move into permanent supportive housing which we helped them to secure. And now that they are in a supportive space, they haven’t returned to Marsha’s House, and they are thriving, and that makes me proud to be a part of this community.