Project Renewal Raises More Than $1.7 Million for Homeless Services and Supportive Housing at 31st Annual Benefit and Auction

Project Renewal raised more than $1.7 million at its annual Renewal For New York benefit and auction on May 11 at Manhattan’s Pier Sixty.

Hosted by Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, the event honored Dr. Talya Schwartz, President and CEO of MetroPlusHealth, New York City’s quality and affordable health plan. Dr. Schwartz was recognized for her commitment to working in and with New York City communities to address the social determinants of health and closing the gap to access to care for all New Yorkers.

L to R: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary; Eric Rosenbaum, President and CEO of Project Renewal; Geoff Proulx, Chair of Project Renewal’s Board of Trustees; Dr. Talya Schwartz, President and CEO of MetroPlusHealth. – CREDIT: Ann Billingsley

James, who found lasting stability at Project Renewal’s Geffner House supportive housing program, spoke alongside Robin Kahan-Berman, Director of Occupational Therapy

Appointed President and CEO of MetroPlusHealth in 2019, Dr. Schwartz is an experienced health plan management and operations leader. During her tenure, MetroPlusHealth has achieved a 20% growth in membership, a five-star rating from New York State’s Consumer Guide, and overall net worth. Dr. Schwartz’s ongoing commitment to addressing the social determinants of health among New York City’s historically marginalized and underserved communities is the pinnacle of her leadership, actively ensuring that MetroPlusHealth remains at the forefront of supporting its members through holistic, field-based care.

“As New York City grapples with a homelessness crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic, Project Renewal’s front-line staff continues to deliver innovative health, homes, and jobs programs to our neighbors most in need. We are grateful to our benefit and auction attendees whose generous support will help us expand our important work, including the development of more critically needed supportive housing,” said Eric Rosenbaum, President and CEO of Project Renewal. “Project Renewal is proud to honor Dr. Schwartz, whose visionary leadership has made MetroPlusHealth our stalwart partner in providing holistic health care to thousands of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness each year.”

“It is a tremendous honor to accept the Community Leadership Award from Project Renewal, said Dr. Talya Schwartz, President and CEO of MetroPlusHealth. “At MetroPlusHealth, we are more than a health plan. For us, health is housing, and housing is health. In addition to addressing the physical and mental needs of our members, we believe that addressing their social determinants of health, such as housing, food insecurity, economic stability, and equitable access to quality, affordable health care, is essential to living healthy lives.”

Returning to an in-person format for the first time since 2019, Project Renewal’s 31st annual benefit and auction drew over 700 attendees who enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and a live auction presented by Lydia Fenet, Managing Director and Global Director of Strategic Partnerships at Christie’s. Project Renewal trustee Richard Kronick and Elizabeth Maruggio—both of Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel—chaired the festivities.

The event celebrated Project Renewal’s nine supportive housing programs which provide permanent homes and services to nearly 800 New Yorkers impacted by homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorder, and justice involvement. The program featured a video highlighting the story of an older adult named James who found lasting stability at Project Renewal’s Geffner House supportive housing program in Midtown West following a decades-long cycle of incarceration and homelessness.

Earlier this year in the Bronx, Project Renewal opened its newest affordable and supportive housing development, Bedford Green House, home to individuals and families leaving shelter and low-income tenants from the community. The LEED-certified building features on-site health and social services, and a rooftop green house and aquaponics farming system, among other amenities that support environmental and individual wellness. Construction will soon begin on the second phase of Bedford Green House, adding a medical clinic for the community, The Molly B. Kronick Library and Learning Center for residents, and more housing for a total of 234 units. Across all its programs, Project Renewal served more than 8,500 New Yorkers last year.

Many organizations generously sponsored the benefit and auction, including Morgan Stanley, GFP Real Estate, MetroPlusHealth, Arrow Security, Cushman & Wakefield, Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, DPC, and SterlingRisk Insurance.

Give the Gift of Health This Holiday Season

This holiday season, Project Renewal’s supporters can help provide lifesaving health care to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

Homeless New Yorkers live an average of 20 years fewer than those who are housed. Chronic conditions, mental illness, trauma, and now COVID-19, take a severe toll—but the root of the problem is a lack of access to trusted, reliable health care.

Project Renewal’s mobile medical program meets patients where they are, delivering primary care to thousands of New Yorkers who would otherwise have to turn to crowded emergency rooms or go untreated. Five days a week, at more than a dozen locations throughout the city, our doctors and nurses earn the trust of the people we serve, so that they keep coming back.

Your support will helps deliver quality health care to those who need it most. Plus, Project Renewal’s generous Board of Trustees is matching donations, so your gift can double your impact. Learn more and donate here.

"A Second Chance at Life"

Childhood trauma led Andy down a path of substance use and incarceration. After his release from prison, he lost contact with his daughter, and experienced homelessness for four years.

Determined to make a change, Andy began his recovery journey in a residential treatment program, where he spent two and a half years. In early 2021, he was referred to Project Renewal’s Next Step workforce development program to help him secure a job.

Though the market was especially challenging due to COVID-19, Andy thrived in our virtual classes, developing his resume, honing his interview skills, and building job readiness.

With help from Next Step, he secured a role in maintenance at Project Renewal’s St. Nicholas House, and he has his sights set on becoming a substance use counselor. “Project Renewal gave me an opportunity when I really needed it,” he says, “And it was like a second chance at life.”

Job stability has given Andy the chance to reconnect with his daughter, who has been his north star. “I’m really proud because she is a great daughter,” he says. “She’s my motivation to keep going.”

Randy's Redemption

Growing up in Brooklyn, Randy was a promising student who planned on enrolling in college. But an untreated mental illness led to substance abuse, and he dropped out. Randy then spent many years in and out of prison while battling his addiction. He feared he would never break the vicious cycle of substance use and incarceration.

In 2009, Randy learned about Project Renewal’s Parole Support and Treatment Program (PSTP) as he was being released from prison.

PSTP is the only program to combine transitional housing with targeted support services for parolees with mental illness. PSTP provided Randy with an apartment, which gave him a safe place for a fresh start, and with psychological counseling from Project Renewal staff, he found stability for the first time in his adult life.

Randy credits Robert Blocker, PSTP Director, for guiding him through his recovery. “Project Renewal and Program Director Robert Blocker helped me in a way nobody had before,” he says.

Randy has lived with his partner in Brooklyn for over 10 years, and has a successful career in social services helping others —just like Project Renewal helped him.

Project Renewal's Veteran Supports Saved Steve's Life

Steve Palmer is a 59-year-old Marine Corps veteran who faced challenges adjusting to civilian life after leaving active duty. He struggled with substance use disorder and depression, and became homeless. He entered our Third Street shelter, where he participated in recovery services and received mental health support. He has been thriving in an apartment in our In Homes Now supportive housing for the past 17 years.

Steve shares his experience in this opinion piece in BKReader:

Veterans Support Services Saved My Life

By: Steve Palmer, Marine Corps Veteran

New York City has taken homelessness prevention for veterans seriously, and it shows. In 2015, New York became the largest city in the country to be certified by the federal government for effectively ending chronic veteran homelessness.

But support for the men and women who have served our country must not end with simply keeping them off the streets. Oftentimes, veterans have trouble adjusting to civilian life, struggling to find the stable housing, jobs, and health care they need to truly thrive. I would know, because I was one of those veterans.

I began serving in the Marine Corps at the age of 18. In six years of service, I achieved the rank of sergeant and received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. But, due to a chronic leg condition, I was honorably discharged.

As a civilian for the first time since high school, I was depressed and directionless, feeling like I had lost the only job where I fit in. I started drinking and using drugs, and ended up homeless. I spent time in and out of psychiatric wards and lost touch with family and friends.

Fortunately, the City funds and partners with nonprofits that help veterans like me. I was able to connect with one such organization, Project Renewal, through a counselor at a drop-in center. I moved into Project Renewal’s Third Street Men’s Shelter, which was different from other shelters I had been to because it offered much more than just a place to sleep. Under the same roof, Project Renewal provided me with medical and mental health care, as well as substance use treatment at an on-site outpatient clinic. For those who are able to work, they provide job training, too.

I soon learned about one of Project Renewal’s permanent housing programs, called In Homes Now, which helps people live on their own in apartments throughout the city, with continued counseling and other support services. I was able to move into one of those apartments 17 years ago—and I have not looked back.

Today, I am drug-free and alcohol-free, living independently in an In Homes Now apartment in Brownsville, Brooklyn. I still talk to my psychiatrist every day, and I take comfort in the fact that expert help is always available, 24/7, if I need it. These services help me navigate life’s challenges and stay on my feet. I’m now at a place where I can give back to people who struggled like I once did. I’m active with my church ministry, doing outreach to homeless people, helping them find housing assistance, a hot meal, or even a simple haircut.

I hope that my story helps New Yorkers better understand the challenges that veterans face. While ending chronic veteran homelessness was a great achievement, we must continue to call on our city to fund proven programs, like Project Renewal’s, that address the complex needs of those of us who have sacrificed for our country,

There are still too many veterans struggling to get by. We need to make sure they can all access the kinds of services that saved my life.

Steve Palmer is a Marine Corp Veteran currently living in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

Job Training Helps Joyce Overcome Homelessness

Joyce was excelling in her UPS job and pursuing a social psychology degree—until she was struck by an SUV and badly injured. The accident left her unable to work. With bills and rent piling up, she was forced to drop her classes and she became homeless. Joyce was fiercely determined to get her life back. She learned about Project Renewal’s Next Step Internship Program (NSIP) and saw it as a path to a career and stability. NSIP provides unemployed New Yorkers with classroom and on-the-job training in homeless services work.

As an NSIP intern at our Ana’s Place shelter, Joyce thrived. When COVID hit she volunteered for extra shifts. Joyce’s coworkers admired her work ethic, and she was hired as a full-time Residential Aide. “My colleagues at Ana’s Place are so supportive,” she says. “It’s rewarding to work here and help people who are experiencing some of the same challenges that I’ve faced.”

During the pandemic, with unemployment surging, NSIP has created job opportunities for New Yorkers who need them the most. And the program continues to provide shelters with a vital source of well-trained frontline workers. Joyce has achieved many of her goals. She secured a job, paid off her credit card and medical bills, and saved money.

As a result of her stable employment, she recently moved into her own studio apartment. More than anything, she is proud to be able to support her adult daughter for the first time in several years. “It feels so good,” she says.

Project Renewal Statement in Support of Shams DaBaron

Project Renewal President & CEO Eric Rosenbaum issued the following statement in response to reports that private investigators working for Upper West Side shelter opponents stalked Ramone Buford (who also goes by Shams DaBaron), a Project Renewal client and former resident of the emergency shelter that we operate at The Lucerne Hotel.

“We are truly disheartened by this violation of Shams DaBaron’s privacy and dignity in his own home. Actions like this exacerbate the trauma that people who have experienced homelessness struggle with every day. DaBaron has been a tireless advocate, mobilizing support for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and helping to ensure that their voices are heard. This attempt to intimidate him shows that the true motives of the people who directed and paid for this action have nothing to do with helping homeless individuals achieve independence.”  

For more information about the emergency shelter program at The Lucerne Hotel, click here.

Good Neighbors, Good Work

At the direction of the City of New York, we have temporarily moved many of our clients from congregate shelters to hotel rooms to limit the coronavirus’ spread. We brought our comprehensive support services to these settings and, at one hotel, we created a brand-new program that is benefiting both the men we serve and the neighborhood.

Project Renewal’s Good Neighbors Program, launched in partnership with fellow nonprofit Goddard Riverside at The Lucerne Hotel, is a new way to engage clients in meaningful activities and contribute positively to the Upper West Side community.

Clients receive paid on-the-job sanitation training—sweeping sidewalks, bagging litter, and removing filled trash bags from corner receptacles. We proudly pay participants the full $15 minimum wage and provide vocational counseling toward permanent job placement.

So far, we have enrolled 25 clients with a waitlist of 14 who are eager to join. The program is a hit with our neighbors too. Several local groups, including block associations, have asked us to expand our services.

Joseph is making the most of his opportunity in the Project Renewal Good Neighbors Program. He worked in food service, which helped him maintain his sobriety, but he lost his job when COVID hit.

Living at The Lucerne, he was eager to find new work. The pandemic limited his job options, but when we started Good Neighbors in November, he was the first to sign up—and he has been an exemplary employee ever since.

“I’m grateful for this job because it keeps me busy and keeps my mind occupied,” says Joseph, who is also working with one of our vocational counselors to find longterm employment. “It makes me feel like a better person and it has helped me stabilize myself and find purpose.”

Project Renewal Frontline Hero Wins Battle With COVID

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Project Renewal’s frontline team has worked heroically around the clock to keep the New Yorkers we serve housed and healthy. While our strict safety protocols have helped limit infections among our staff, Jamel Robinson, a shift supervisor at our Fort Washington Men’s shelter, contracted COVID-19 in April, during the darkest days of the pandemic in New York City. He was bedridden in his apartment, unable to keep down food or water.

Jamel is back at work at our Fort Washington shelter after battling COVID

Two weeks in, Jamel’s condition took a turn for the worse. He could no longer even walk to the bathroom, and he was rushed to the hospital. Jamel had developed a COVID-related blood clot in his leg that might have proven fatal. He spent a month in the hospital recovering. 

Fortunately, as a part of our annual effort to sign our newer employees up for medical coverage, we had helped Jamel register for health insurance several weeks before his ordeal began. The benefits kicked in right when he entered the hospital, and all of his medical expenses were covered. 

Our staff kept in contact with Jamel throughout his hospital stay, texting him regularly and making sure he was getting proper medical treatment. Now, Jamel is back at Fort Washington, and fully recovered. He’s working to keep shelter residents safe and healthy during the pandemic. 

“For me to still be alive is a blessing,” Jamel says. “I want to get my story out, to raise awareness among all those I work with, and everyone else out there, of how serious this virus is.”

Throughout the pandemic, Project Renewal has remained committed to the wellbeing of our staff. In addition to implementing measures to protect their physical health, we offer our team  regular mental health sessions to ensure they are supported as they continue their courageous and lifesaving work. 

Lasawn Finds Stability and Purpose with Project Renewal

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Lasawn lost her job. 

She worried about how she would care for her elderly father, who lives with her in the Bronx. He suffered two strokes just before the pandemic began, and needed support. 

As Lasawn struggled to find a new job, she began to fear she and her father might lose the roof over their heads. She felt helpless. 

Then, Lasawn heard about our Next Step program, which provides individualized education and employment services to low-income and homeless adults. Her Next Step counselor helped her find a job with City Beet Kitchens, our social purpose catering company that provides thousands of meals every day to residents of shelters and transitional housing across New York City.

Lasawn prepares meals for New Yorkers in need at City Beet Kitchens

Lasawn’s job provided her with stability during this tough time. Thanks to her new job, she can keep herself and her father housed, while giving back. 

“It's fulfilling for me to be able to help those in need,” she says. “It's so important for us to look out for the less fortunate among us, especially now."

To support Project Renewal’s programs that employ New Yorkers like Lasawn, click here. 

Project Renewal Launches Campaign to Feed and Employ Homeless New Yorkers During the Pandemic

This holiday season, Project Renewal has launched a fundraising campaign to feed and employ homeless and low-income New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased food insecurity, hitting already-vulnerable communities the hardest. Unemployment has also skyrocketed, reaching levels not seen since the Great Depression.

Project Renewals social-purpose catering company, City Beet Kitchens, has stepped up to meet the growing demand. We've more than doubled our reach to provide over 7,300 nutritious meals every day to residents of shelters and transitional housing across New York City.

Project Renewal also creates jobs—and livelihoods—for New Yorkers in need. Next year, we aim to enroll 100 formerly homeless or incarcerated adults in our award-winning culinary arts program. And, we will hire many of our graduates, adding to our staff of 90 full-time chefs, food service workers, and delivery drivers.

Your support will help us provide warm meals, culinary training, and stable jobs during the pandemic and beyond. 

Our generous Board of Trustees is matching every donation. Learn more and donate to the campaign here.

Workforce Programs Offer Hope in COVID-19 Economy

Rebecka at Project Renewal’s Ana’s Place Shelter

As our city continues to reopen, Project Renewal’s suite of workforce development programs are providing employment opportunities for New Yorkers in need—and helping our economy get back on track.

Our workforce programs have placed 190 people in jobs since mid-March, even while shifting to remote support and facing a tough economy. Many of the placements have been essential to keeping our city going, in fields like maintenance, package handling, and food delivery.

Participants are eager to support our city and themselves—60% of those who enroll have personally experienced homelessness.

Our Next Step Internship Program (NSIP), which provides on-the-job training in homeless shelter work, has been especially important during the COVID-19 crisis. NSIP connects out-of-work adults to essential jobs and produces well-trained graduates to serve homeless New Yorkers and keep them safe from the virus.

After building a successful career in insurance and IT, Rebecka ended up in an abusive relationship. She began using drugs and served time in prison. Upon her release, she was referred to NSIP—and has thrived ever since.

She interned at our Ana’s Place shelter and was quickly offered a job. “Project Renewal made me feel like there was hope again,” she recalls. After a year, she secured a new position as a Resident Advisor for young women at a youth shelter.

Once the pandemic hit, our team maintained contact with Rebecka to ensure she remained employed. We are also helping her explore online higher education options so she can continue to advance her career in social services.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Rebecka feels hopeful about her future. “I love my job,” she says. “I love supporting young people and making a difference, especially during these tough times.”

Project Renewal recognizes Juneteenth

Today is Juneteenth, the oldest regular US celebration of the end of slavery. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when slaves in Galveston, Texas were told of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Juneteenth is still not recognized as a federal holiday, and it has often been overlooked by non-Black Americans.

Project Renewal commends the Black New Yorkers and those who have stood with them to make their voices heard over the past several weeks. Our city has had enough of police brutality, and the structural racism that continues to plague every area of our society.

We recognize that racism is insidious, even in organizations committed to equity and justice. We are dedicated to embracing and integrating our commitment to anti-racism throughout the culture of Project Renewal.

Learn more about Juneteenth from this Vox article.

3rd Street Beat Newsletter on Black Lives Matter

"I realize that there is so much more work to do beyond putting down a drink, getting a place to live, and paying taxes. I have to do my part to change the world of systemic poverty, oppression and racism that has negatively affected my life," says Sham, one of the contributors to this month's “3rd Street Beat.”

The newsletter is produced by clients at our Recovery Center, offering a creative outlet and platform for self-expression. Check out the full issue, which focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement, and past issues of the newsletter here.

A statement from Project Renewal on the killing of George Floyd

We acknowledge and mourn another horrific act of irreversible violence committed against a Black person by the police—the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Heartbreakingly, Mr. Floyd has now been added to a long list of police killings of Black people. These tragedies are devastating and shameful, and those responsible must be held accountable.

These acts of racial violence are unjust, unacceptable, and painful. Our sorrow is further deepened by the fact that we know so many in our community are deeply affected by systemic racism. Throughout Project Renewal’s 53-year history, we have seen homelessness and poverty disproportionately impact the Black community. As an organization, we are committed to fighting systemic racial injustice and its many manifestations in housing, healthcare, and employment disparities. 

Project Renewal stands with you and is working to be part of the solution. We are grateful to our staff, volunteers, Board of Trustees, Junior Board, and supporters for their dedication to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness—and to creating a just future for our city.

COVID-19 Q&A: Doug Warn, LCSW-R, Director of Clinical Practice

What are some of the mental health challenges that Project Renewal staff members are facing during COVID-19?

Project Renewal has staff on the front lines in every program area. From doctors, to case workers, to maintenance, they are dedicated heroes who are showing up to work every day despite personal risk. We are committed to providing mental health support for our team to help them get through this crisis.

Unsurprisingly, some of the common issues people are reporting include anxious and depressive thoughts. I provide resources to help redirect that energy into self-nourishing activities. 

What are you doing to help team members cope?

Our case conference meetings are educational seminars focused on helping staff on the front lines address what the clients are dealing with, and how to best manage their interactions with clients during this time of increased stress. 

Secondly, in our self-care seminars, we are helping staff identify signs that they may be burning out, and provide tools for coping. The guidance is provided within a crisis and trauma framework, and we help them bring themselves to calm. This is an overwhelming time, and the group seminars validate and normalize the experiences of our team members, reminding them that they are not alone. 

How often are you hosting the seminars?

Since the middle of March, I have been hosting the self-care seminars twice a week, with about 25 to 30 people participating in each session. When people are acutely stressed, it’s harder to process information, so I encourage folks to attend more than once if they can. We also schedule the seminars at varying times to fit a range of schedules. For example, by hosting some sessions at the end of the week, our staff gain tools they can use over the weekend as they recuperate and recover. 

What are some examples of the tools you’re providing?

We provide exercises to help participants de-stress. For example, one intervention is called “5-4-3-2-1.” You take a deep breath and exhale to a count to six, which slows the heart rate down. Then you look around the room and name five things you see, followed by another breath and release. Then you name four things you are touching, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you taste. The exercise encourages people to engage each of their five senses in higher levels of attentiveness and concentration in order to redirect attention away from anxious thoughts.  

While our support for our staff doesn’t change the fact that these are exceptionally stressful times, we hope it will make the work feel more manageable and mitigate some of the long-term mental health implications of this traumatic time. 

About Douglas J. Warn, Director of Clinical Practice
Douglas J. Warn, LCSW-R, is Project Renewal's Director of Clinical Practice and has been with the agency since 2002. He has previously served as the agency's Director of Outpatient Addiction Services. In addition to his work with Project Renewal, he has been an adjunct lecturer at the Columbia School of Social Work. He is also a psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in the treatment of addictions and complex trauma.

COVID-19 Q&A: Barbara Hughes, Executive Director, City Beet Kitchens

How is Project Renewal’s food service program helping during the pandemic?

We’re feeding New Yorkers in need. We deliver daily meals to 31 nonprofit sites, including shelters and drop-in centers. Our impact is two-fold—we’re employing nearly 80 essential workers across our food programs, and we are providing healthy meals to vulnerable New Yorkers at a time when it’s more important than ever for people to have regular access to nutritious food. 

Have you been able to meet the increased demand for meals?

Due to the state of the economy, our nonprofit catering clients are seeing an increase in demand for meals. Several have increased their orders, so we’ve expanded our service by 275 meals a day since the end of March. We are serving about 5,000 meals a day. I’m really proud that we haven't experienced any disruption to our service. We’ve even added three new clients to our roster. It’s a testament to our team’s dedication to feeding New Yorkers in need.

Barbara Hughes, Executive Director of Project Renewal’s City Beet Kitchens

Project Renewal’s social enterprise catering company, City Beet Kitchens, also caters events. How has that part of the business changed? 

Event catering has changed dramatically. All of the events we had lined up for March, April, and May have been cancelled. But Charmaine Landicho Baechle, our Director of Events, has been adapting diligently and creatively. She launched Grateful Giving, an initiative where Project Renewal Board of Trustees and Junior Board members can donate our meals to health care workers at local hospitals like Mount Sinai and Weill Cornell.

As our city begins to open back up, we will continue to assess how we can pivot. In addition to coming to us for excellent service and delicious food, we hope people who are seeking catering will be drawn to our mission to employ New Yorkers who have experienced homelessness, incarceration, substance use disorder, and other challenges. Providing employment opportunities for low-income New Yorkers is more important than ever in our current economy, and we think that will resonate with customers. 

How is your team responding?

The commitment of our team is inspiring. They wake up early and travel to our Industry City kitchen to do their jobs and feed people in need. We count our blessings—we still have jobs as essential workers, and we have a fantastic support system from Project Renewal leadership and the Board of Trustees. Many of our team members have been through immense challenges in life, from poverty to homelessness. They are very resilient and are motivated to get through this. 

Beyond that, we’re working hard to stay up-to-date on the food world, including best practices and strategies for getting through this crisis. We are part of Catalyst Kitchens, a network of social enterprise businesses, and they have been great about sharing resources. As our industry evolves, we want to be sure we have our finger on the pulse and can adapt as needed.

Project Renewal’s Culinary Arts Training Program (CATP) prepares low-income New Yorkers for careers in the culinary field— how has that program adapted? 

Our new class of CATP students was starting just as our city was shutting down, so we had to adjust quickly. John DeSimone, our lead CATP instructor, quickly set up daily live video classes using Zoom in tandem with Google Classrooms to create an immersive experience. He does cooking demonstrations and students submit videos of their own work for review. We have been pleased with the level of engagement from students and are striving to give them an experience that is as close to our regular classroom as possible.

How can people support your work?

We need all the help we can get, and we are so grateful that donors and supporters have stepped up at every level. Individuals can donate to Project Renewal or consider using us for events as restrictions are lifted. As corporations open back up, we would also love to help with their catering needs. We have been fortunate to receive grants and foundation support, including a generous donation from the Anahata Foundation to help feed vulnerable community members. We are grateful to the New York City Council, including Speaker Johnson, Council Member Deutsch, Council Member Cornegy, Council Member Powers, Council Member Levin, and Council Member Rivera, who have been incredibly supportive of our programming, and we hope they can continue to provide funding even during these difficult times.

About Barbara Hughes, Executive Director of City Beet Kitchens Ms. Hughes has been with Project Renewal since 1992, serving first as an instructor for the award-winning Culinary Arts Training Program. She later moved on to help launch Comfort Foods Catering in 1997 (now rebranded City Beet Kitchens), a social enterprise catering company employing formerly homeless individuals and preparing foods for both shelters and other organizations across the city. Ms. Hughes has more than 30 years of experience in the New York City restaurant industry and has spent much of her life as an activist for the HIV/AIDS community. She is currently the President of the Board of the Treatment Action Group, an independent AIDS research and policy think tank. Ms. Hughes earned a BA in Music from Chester State College.

Thank you to our supporters amid the COVID-19 crisis

Our supporters are stepping up amid the COVID-19 crisis, especially to help protect our frontline staff. We have received generous donations of funds, personal protective equipment, food, and other essentials from:

• Abandoned Little Angels

• Anahata Foundation

• Laura Barbata

• Bill and Carmen Biddle

• Alex and Sofia Curran

• Direct Relief

• eyeLure Boutique

• Greystone

• Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

• Benny Jiang

• David Josef

• Council Member Ben Kallos

• Michelle Kars

• Mask A Hero NY

• Morgan Stanley

• Med Supply Drive

• Anna Nachamie

• The New York Community Trust

• PDT Partners

• Quantum Leap Restaurant

• Rent the Runway

• Robin Hood Foundation

• Shake Shack

• Tembo

• TRAC Intermodal

• Trinity Church

• Chas Tyson

• The Wanderlust Fund

• The Harry and Jeanette Wienberg Foundation

• Heidi Woo

• World Central Kitchens

COVID-19 Q&A: Allison Messina, VP of Workforce Development Services

Allison Messina, Vice President of Workforce Development Services, Project Renewal

How are Project Renewal’s workforce development programs contributing in the larger battle against COVID-19 in NYC?

Project Renewal is providing a critical service to the community amid this crisis by connecting out-of-work New Yorkers with essential employers who are in desperate need of quality candidates. We are helping to fill that gap by connecting them to our workforce trainees who need jobs. 

They are in high demand—we have placed 33 people in jobs in the past month. Our workforce development clients are working in essential roles throughout New York City and are putting themselves in harm’s way every day. They are on the front lines providing support in homeless shelters, cleaning buildings, delivering food and packages, and stocking grocery shelves. Their work keeps the city running and helps those of us sheltering at home to stay healthy and safe. 

What role will Project Renewal’s workforce programs play in the recovery, once the economy starts to open back up?  

In my 20 years of experience in workforce development, I’ve seen the critical role that these programs play in getting our city back on its feet after tragedies and challenges, including the September 11 attacks, the Great Recession, and Hurricane Sandy. The recovery after this crisis will be no different—Project Renewal’s workforce development programs will connect employers to qualified out-of-work New Yorkers to help get our economy back on track.

How is your team adapting to support your participants amid COVID-19?

I have been so proud of how quickly our team has adapted to these unprecedented challenges. In addition to helping our trainees with resumes, interview skills, and other traditional job search needs, our staff has stepped up in new ways. They are providing a lifeline by counseling clients about COVID-19 and referring them to resources through Project Renewal and other providers for food, medication, mental health support, and more. 

We have also had to adjust to challenges posed by working remotely. Our initial efforts have been focused on contacting every client via phone, video, text, or email. Thus far, we have reached over 75% of our clients and are diligently working to contact the remaining folks who may not be stably housed or otherwise lack access to a phone or technology. 

How has the job market for workforce development participants changed?

Our interns and graduates of the Next Step Internship Program (NSIP) are in particularly high demand. The program prepares out-of-work New Yorkers, including formerly homeless individuals, for careers in homeless services. New York City shelters are in dire need of talented frontline workers right now, and we’re even starting to see some service providers increase their compensation for these staff members.

In other ways, the job market hasn’t changed drastically for the New Yorkers we work with. Long before this crisis, our clients have helped our city run by working in essential positions. We continue to help our clients get jobs in social services, health care, transportation, and warehousing. Some industries are completely closed off, but there are a lot of opportunities out there right now for anyone willing and able to work. Sadly, many of these jobs are minimum wage positions. If anything good comes out of this horrendous pandemic, hopefully our society sees the immense value of our essential workers and provides these unsung heroes with better wages. 

Why is it so important for people in NSIP to have regular work and a paycheck—especially now?

Many of our clients live paycheck to paycheck and need the income to support themselves and their families. Beyond that, many of the New Yorkers we work with are eager to help amid this crisis. They want to have meaning in their day and contribute in any way they can. It’s inspiring.

Can you give an example of how NSIP helped an out-of-work New Yorker land a full-time job in an essential position?

A Next Step intern at Project Renewal’s Fort Washington Men’s Shelter has been such a valuable contributor to the facility and the shelter residents that he was offered a full-time position several weeks before NSIP graduation. Our interns at all sites have been asked to take on additional shifts and have been indispensable in supporting our city’s most vulnerable residents throughout this pandemic. 

How do you see your workforce development programs adapting as the coronavirus crisis evolves?

We’ve already made significant changes. At the start of this crisis, we immediately reduced the classroom training for our NSIP interns. This allows our interns to work additional hours at the shelter sites to help with critical staff shortages, and in turn, provides our interns with invaluable on-the-job experience. We are currently working on a plan to provide remote training to the next NSIP cycle.

More broadly, technology plays a huge role in how we adapt our program during this crisis. All of our work with clients has to be done remotely right now. While we’ve been able to provide individual services to most of our clients via phone and video, we need to ramp up our ability to provide training workshops and groups online. This poses a unique challenge to the New Yorkers we work with. Many of our clients have limited phone access, no computer or internet, or a lack of digital skills. We need to get creative about how we engage our most vulnerable clients.  

As this evolves, we will take the lessons we’ve learned from implementing technology to better serve our trainees and employers. Many of our services have the potential to be provided through online platforms, including informational sessions with potential clients, one-on-one interview practice, job readiness workshops, employer recruitment events, and job retention services. Remote services would supplement the in-person services that we provide.

How can individuals, the government, foundations, and employers/corporations help support Project Renewal’s workforce development programs—now and in the future?

There is a critical need for funding to support workforce development programs, particularly for the most vulnerable New Yorkers. We would love to see our government and other funders invest more in workforce development to bolster our economy as it recovers. One way that funders and government can play a meaningful role is to invest in subsidized employment programs, which offer temporary paid jobs that help New Yorkers meet their basic needs, gain meaningful work experience, and build workplace skills. These programs will help businesses reopen and staff up quickly while minimizing costs and risks, create job opportunities for the unemployed, and stimulate local economies. Given the growing unemployment rate, Project Renewal’s employment services will be in high demand and we’ll need funding to support program growth. With substantial direct funding, Project Renewal can run a subsidized employment program. 

On a smaller scale, we also need funds to invest in technology to support our evolving program model, and we need to provide our clients with devices such as smart phones and laptops. Any donations or partnerships that support getting New Yorkers back to work are welcome.

About Allison Messina, Vice President of Workforce Development Services
Allison joined Project Renewal in 2014 and oversees all Project Renewal workforce development programming, including our Next Step and Culinary Arts Training Program.  In this position she provides strategic, financial and operational management of the department and ensure high quality services and outcomes. Prior to joining Project Renewal, Allison spent fourteen years at FEGS Health & Human Services, where she held several management roles in workforce development programs before becoming Assistant Vice President of Employment Initiatives. As Assistant Vice President, Allison managed a $6M portfolio that served individuals in need throughout New York City and Long Island. Allison has an M.P.A. from Baruch College and a B.A. from Hunter College.

COVID-19 Q&A: Dr. Allison Grolnick, Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Allison Grolnick, Chief Medical Officer

Why are Project Renewal’s health care programs crucial in the larger battle against COVID-19 in New York City?

Project Renewal is keeping people out of emergency rooms, which is saving hospitals valuable resources. We’re providing care in out-patient settings for people with COVID-like illness and chronic conditions associated with homelessness. These are patients who have nowhere else to go and would otherwise end up in the ER. 

What do Project Renewal’s health care and housing providers need most—and how can people help?

We’re most in need of surgical masks—though we can also use N95 masks—as well as gloves, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. There isn’t enough to go around right now. The media is focused, appropriately, on the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals. But our health care and shelter staff desperately need PPE too, in order to stay safe, keep stabilizing people, and limiting hospitalizations. To donate PPE, email Kelsey Petrone at Kelsey.Petrone@projectrenewal.org.

How is Project Renewal’s mobile medical van program helping fight COVID-19?

Ours is one of the only mobile medical van programs in the region that continues to operate. We’re committed to it because it serves not only our own programs that don’t have on-site health care, but also partner agencies that serve vulnerable people. We regularly see patients with COVID-like symptoms on the van now, but we’re able to prevent many of those with mild or moderate symptoms from going to the hospital. In some cases, we connect them to one of the NYC Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS) 500 isolation beds. But the van is a confined space, so we need more PPE to protect our staff and ensure the program continues through the pandemic.

Why is the shelter system high-risk for COVID-19?

Shelters are congregate settings, so physical distancing is challenging. These are City-owned buildings with small spaces, narrow hallways, and clients sleeping in dorms—not ideal for being six feet apart at all times. Additionally, people experiencing homelessness are much more likely to have underlying medical conditions that place them at higher risk, as well as mental health and substance use disorders that can affect their adherence to guidelines, like distancing.

Despite those challenges, what is Project Renewal doing to try to limit coronavirus transmission at its shelters?

We’re enabling physical distancing as much as we can. We’re limiting programming that keeps people congregated, disseminating information through flyers and individual meetings, and staggering mealtimes to reduce numbers eating at one time. We have created isolation spaces where clients who exhibit symptoms can wait comfortably while we facilitate their transfer to a DHS isolation bed.

How else is Project Renewal helping shelter clients and housing residents get through this crisis? 

We’re coming up with activities people can do without congregating, since boredom can add to agitation. Our occupational therapy department is doing mindfulness activities, especially targeting those with mental health issues and substance use disorders who would benefit most from stress management. We’ve created lists of clients with high-risk medical conditions that increase their chances of severe illness if they were to contract COVID, and we’re working with housing staff to ensure they’re being seen preemptively by our health care team.

How has Project Renewal adapted its mental health services in response to COVID-19?

We’re now doing psychiatric evaluations and medication management by tele-psychiatry. Ensuring that we can continue to provide these services uninterrupted is another way that we are stabilizing and treating people with mental illness, so they don’t go to the ER for things like medication refills. With tele-psychiatry, we are able to continue these services while many of our psychiatry providers are in quarantine or self-isolating. We originally had three providers doing tele-psychiatry or telephonic visits; now we have 16.

About Dr. Allison Grolnick:
Dr. Grolnick is Project Renewal’s Chief Medical Officer and has been with the organization since 2007, previously serving as Medical Director of Psychiatric Services and Medical Director of the Mobile Psychiatric Outreach Program. She currently oversees Project Renewal’s Healthcare Services Department, which includes primary care, addiction and substance use, psychiatry, and nursing services—supported and delivered by about 200 staff members. Dr. Grolnick earned her medical degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/R.W. Johnson Medical School and completed a Psychiatry Residency Training Program at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Following residency, she went on to complete a Public Psychiatry Fellowship at the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University Medical Center.