COMMUNITY HOUSING INNOVATIONS INC

SUFFOLK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, DUTCHESS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, NYC DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES, AND NYC HUMAN RESOURCE ADMINISTRATION. THROUGH THE SUFFOLK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, CHI OPERATED NY STATE TIER II CERTIFIED, 8 CONGREGATE SUPERVISED SINGLES RESIDENCE (SESS), ONE WHICH IS CERTIFIED TIER I BY NYS, AND 2 SUPERVISED ADULT SHELTERS, WITH A CONCENTRATED POPULATION ON ADULT FAMILIES. SESS HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. THROUGH ON-SITE CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE HOMELESS PERSONS ARE ASSISTED IN BECOMING PERSONALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE SEARCH FOR PERMANENT HOUSING IS THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR ALL SHELTER RESIDENTS AND CHI PROMOTES AND ASSISTS THEM WITH THE HOUSING SEARCH. PARENTS, SINGLE INDIVIDUALS, AND CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED WITH A SAFE HOME AND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES BASED UPON THE GOALS THEY SET FOR THEMSELVES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES REFERRALS TO RESOURCES FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES, HISTORIES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, AND OTHER SPECIALIZED NEEDS. CHI HAS IMPLEMENTED A TUTORING INITIATIVE FOR PARENTS WORKING TOWARDS A GED AS WELL AS HOMEWORK TUTORING FOR CHILDREN. WITH CONSISTENT INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION BY HIGHLY QUALIFIED SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER STAFF, SHELTER RESIDENTS ARE HELPED TO SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING OR OTHER APPROPRIATE RESIDENCE IF THEY ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. PARENTS ARE COUNSELED AND CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND SCHOOL AND COMPLETE HOMEWORK. AT THE FAMILY SHELTER LOCATIONS, CHILDCARE AND RECREATION ARE PROVIDED TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. SUMMER CAMPS AND FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES ENHANCE THE RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE. WORKSHOPS ARE FREQUENTLY PROVIDED OFFERING GUIDANCE IN AREAS SUCH AS NUTRITION, BUDGETING, AND PARENTING. THE SERVICES PROVIDED DURING THE SHELTER STAY ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS WITH FINDING AND RETAINING APPROPRIATE PERMANENT HOUSING. CHI ALSO OPERATES SMALLER BUT SIMILAR SERVICES IN DUTCHESS, ORANGE, AND NASSAU COUNTIES: 1 EMERGENCY FAMILY SHELTER IN BOTH ORANGE AND DUTCHESS COUNTY, 1 EMERGENCY HOUSING SHELTER FOR SINGLE MEN IN BOTH ORANGE AND DUTCHESS COUNTY, 1 EMERGENCY SHORT TERM SHELTER FOR SINGLE MEN ON PAROLE IN DUTCHESS COUNTY, 1 MIXED USE FACILITY (COMBINED TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING) IN ORANGE COUNTY, AND 1 SINGLE MALE EMERGENCY HOUSING SHELTER IN NASSAU COUNTY. A SECOND SINGLE MALE EMERGENCY HOUSING SHELTER IN NASSAU COUNTY WAS TRANSITIONED FROM FAMILIES TO A SINGLE MALE POPULATION IN 2020. 717 PEOPLE INCLUDING 151 FAMILIES AND 269 SINGLES WERE ASSISTED BY CHI SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN DUTCHESS, ORANGE, AND NASSAU COUNTIES. DUTCHESS COUNTY SERVED: 332 INDIVIDUALS, COMPOSED OF 93 SINGLES AND 85 FAMILIES VANDERBILT: 85 FAMILIES, 239 PEOPLE - 31 FAMILIES MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING ROSE ST.: 51 MEN - 12 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING NORTH HAMILTON: 42 MEN - 6 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING ORANGE COUNTY SERVED: 284 PEOPLE IN 119 SINGLE AND 53 FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 44 GRAND: 119 MEN WERE HOUSED. 30 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING. 9W: 47 FAMILIES, 145 PEOPLE WERE HOUSED - 11 FAMILIES MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING. PORT JERVIS: 6 FAMILIES, 20 PEOPLE. 1 FAMILY MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING. NASSAU COUNTY SERVED: 90 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 26 FAMILIES. JERUSALEM AVE: 35 SINGLE MALES, 8 SINGLES MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING CORNELL ST: 26 FAMILIES SERVED, 55 INDIVIDUALS, 8 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING THROUGH THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES, CHI OPERATES 2 EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAMS - ONE FOR HOMELESS MIGRANT FAMILIES AND ONE FOR HOMELESS SINGLE MEN. UNDER THE PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES, CHI OPERATES 65 HOTELS LOCATED IN MANHATTAN AND BROOKLYN WITH TOTAL ROOM CAPACITY OF 362 HOUSEHOLDS CONSISTING OF OVER 1,140 INDIVIDUALS DAILY. THESE SITES ARE STAFFED 24/7 PLUS CONTRACTED SECURITY, INCLUDING A SOCIAL SERVICE TEAM TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, BENEFITS ADVOCACY, LINKAGES TO HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, ON-SITE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, LEGAL SUPPORT FOR ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES, AND ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING AND MOVING TO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE SITE IS ALSO STAFFED WITH TRANSLATORS AS MOST RESIDENTS SPEAK SPANISH ONLY; AND A LIAISON FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSIST SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WITH ENROLLMENT, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER EDUCATION-RELATED NEEDS. CHI PROVIDES 3 MEALS A DAY, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND LAUNDRY SERVICES FOR PERSONAL ITEMS.UNDER THE PROGRAM FOR SINGLE MEN, CHI OPERATES 3 HOTELS AND 1 CONGREGATE SETTING FACILITY WITH TOTAL BED CAPACITY OF 584 TO SERVE 584 SINGLE MEN DAILY. CHI EMBRACES A HOUSING FIRST MODEL, AND ALL SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO FACILITATE SHELTER EXIT INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. THESE SITES ARE STAFFED 24/7 PLUS CONTRACTED SECURITY, INCLUDING SOCIAL SERVICE TEAMS TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, REHOUSING ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, BENEFITS ADVOCACY, LINKAGES WITH HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUBSTANCE USE MANAGEMENT AND CARE SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THEIR DAILY LIVING NEEDS AND THEIR PATH TO INDEPENDENT LIVING. CHI STAFF ORGANIZE ONSITE ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS AROUND HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTHCARE, AND GENERAL RECREATION. CHI PROVIDES 3 MEALS A DAY, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND FUNDS FOR PERSONAL LAUNDRY. THROUGH THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION, CHI OPERATES TWO AFFORDABLE PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS UNDER THE MASTER LEASE MODEL. THE PROGRAMS, LOCATED IN THE BRONX, CONSISTS OF 81 APARTMENTS AND 64 APARTMENTS. CHI ALSO PROVIDES ONSITE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES. CHI AS THE MASTER LEASE HOLDER ACCEPTS REFERRALS FROM THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES AND ENTERS ONE YEAR SUBLEASES WITH THEM, COORDINATES REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES, AND COLLECTS RENT FROM TENANTS AND RENT SUBSIDIES FROM ISSUING AGENCIES. CHI'S ONSITE CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM PROVIDES HOUSING STABILITY SUPPORT AND SERVICES INCLUDING RENT PAYMENT TOOLS AND ASSISTANCE, LEASE RENEWAL ASSISTANCE, BENEFITS ADVOCACY, CONFLICT MEDIATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS, AND LINKAGES TO COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR HEALTHCARE, EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPORT.

IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, CHI'S EMERGENCY HOUSING APARTMENT PROGRAM (EHAP) PROVIDES SCATTERED-SITE TEMPORARY HOUSING IN TRADITIONAL APARTMENTS. THE EHAP PROGRAM WENT TO RFP IN LATE 2022. CHI WAS AWARDED FIVE ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS FOR 2023-2027. IN 2024, THE CHI EHAP BUDGET TOTAL WAS $2,547,600 TO PROVIDE UP TO 66 UNITS OF EMERGENCY HOUSING UNITS (EHUS) LOCATED IN MT. VERNON AND NEW ROCHELLE RENTAL BUILDINGS. THE CONTRACT IS FOR ONE YEAR WITH FOUR ONE-YEAR RENEWALS. DSS'S CASE MANAGEMENT UNIT DOES THE FULL FAMILY HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT TO WORK WITH THE FAMILIES IN THE EHAP REGARDING THEIR NEEDS (ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL, MENTAL HEALTH, TREATMENT, ETC.). CHI EHAP STAFF ARE HOUSING SPECIALISTS WHO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON ASSISTING FAMILIES TO SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING. THEY ASSESS THE FAMILY'S HOUSING NEEDS AND BUDGET, TEACH FAMILY MEMBERS HOW TO MAINTAIN THE UNITS, TO SELF-ADVOCATE WITH THE BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT, AND PROVIDE CRITICAL SKILLS NEEDED AS THEY SEEK PERMANENT HOUSING. THEY CALL AND ADVOCATE FOR THE CLIENTS WITH LANDLORDS, DO ROLE-PLAYING WITH FAMILIES FOR HOUSING INTERVIEWS, ASSIST IN OBTAINING NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO OBTAIN HOUSING AND MOVES, MEET WITH LANDLORDS, AND CONDUCT HOUSING QUALITY STANDARD REVIEWS OF EHUS AND PERMANENT HOUSING UNITS. A CHI MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN FULFILLS UNIT MAINTENANCE REPAIR REQUESTS, CLEANS, AND PREPARES UNITS FOR RE-OCCUPANCY, SETS UP FURNITURE, ASSESSES BUILDING NEEDS, AND COORDINATES WITH SERVICE STAFF. A CHI OPERATIONS DIRECTOR ORDERS FURNITURE, MANAGES THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN, AND COLLABORATES WITH PROPERTY OWNERS. CHI EHAP PROGRAM IN 2024: O 60 FAMILIES WERE HOUSED 158 PEOPLE (62 ADULTS, 96 CHILDREN) O THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR ALL FAMILIES SERVED IN 2024 INCLUDING MOVE OUTS - 512 DAYS O THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR FAMILIES ACTIVE IN THE PROGRAM IN DECEMBER 2024 - 414 DAYS O 20 FAMILIES MOVED INTO THE EHAP PROGRAM O 22 FAMILIES LEFT THE PROGRAM 2 FAMILIES RETURNED TO A CONGREGATE SHELTER 20 FAMILIES MOVED OUT TO HOUSING O 3 UNITS WERE ADDED TO THE ROSTER O 2 UNITS TAKEN OFFLINE AND RETURNED TO THE LANDLORD RENTAL SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM (RSP)RENTAL SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM (RSP) PROVIDES RENTAL SUPPLEMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT CHILDREN, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FACING IMMINENT LOSS OF HOUSING, REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS. ELIGIBILITY FOR CHI'S RENTAL SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM WILL BE LIMITED TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS MAKING NO MORE THAN 50% MFI. REFERRALS COME FROM THE LOCAL DSS AND THE COC.IN SEPTEMBER 2022, WCDSS AWARDED CHI THE RSP. THE SECOND (23/24) AND THIRD (24/25) CONTRACT RENEWALS WERE HELD FLAT FOR THE ONE YEAR BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1 - MARCH 31 WITH 87% OF THE $3,029,533 BUDGET ALLOCATED FOR DIRECT RENTAL SUBSIDIES. THE BUDGET HAS REMAINED FLAT FUNDED. ON 12/31/2024, 147 HOUSEHOLDS WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE WC RSP.IN 2024, CHI WAS ALSO AWARDED A RSP CONTRACT IN SUFFOLK AND NASSAU COUNTIES. SUFFOLK COUNTY RSP CONTRACT, WHICH TOTALS $1,181,249, HAS A PRIORITY FOR HOMELESS SINGLE PEOPLE WITH INCOME OR ON DISABILITY. THE NASSAU COUNTY RSP TOTALS $304,243 AND FOCUSES ON FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.