LANTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES INC

LANTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES (LANTERN) CREATES PATHWAYS TO STABILITY FOR NEW YORKERS IMPACTED BY HOMELESSNESS. TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN SECURING AND MAINTAINING STABLE HOUSING, WE PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN 20 SITES ACROSS MANHATTAN, THE BRONX, BROOKLYN, AND QUEENS. ACROSS ALL RESIDENCES, OUR WRAPAROUND SERVICES HELP THOSE WE SERVE MOVE FORWARD FROM HOMELESSNESS AND BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR LASTING INDEPENDENCE.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)1. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING:LOCATED ACROSS MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, AND THE BRONX, LANTERN OPERATES 17 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RESIDENCES TOTALING 1,061 PROGRAM UNITS FOR SINGLE ADULTS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS YOUNG ADULTS WHO AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE. THESE RESIDENCES COMBINE PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH VOLUNTARY AND FLEXIBLE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SUCH AS HEALTH EDUCATION, FOOD PROGRAMS, THERAPEUTIC RECREATION, SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS, AND GUIDANCE FOR SECURING STABLE INCOME. 2. SHELTER PORTFOLIO:LANTERN OPERATES THREE SHELTER PROGRAMS IN QUEENS. AS OF THE END OF FY25, LANTERN'S SHELTER PORTFOLIO CONSISTS OF:- LAUREL HALL IN OZONE PARK, QUEENS A MEN'S SHELTER FOR HOMELESS SINGLE ADULTS.- LCS FAMILY SHELTER IN FAR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS SHELTER FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.- LIBERTY PLAZA IN JAMAICA, QUEENS A MEN'S SHELTER FOR HOMELESS SINGLE ADULTS.LANTERN OFFERS ON-SITE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND LINKAGES TO RESOURCES IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY THAT HELP RESIDENTS PROGRESS TOWARD INCREASING SECURITY, STABILITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE PERSONALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING STABILITY SUPPORT, AND AN ARRAY OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND SKILL-BUILDING.3. FOOD AND NUTRITION:1) FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES:THROUGHOUT FY25, LANTERN CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS ACROSS 13 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SITES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE SHELF-STABLE PANTRY SERVICES, COMMUNITY-STYLE MEALS, AND FRESH FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION (FRESH PRODUCE, EGGS, AND GRAINS).THROUGH LANTERN'S FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES, THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTED:- FRESH FOOD BOXES PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 680 UNIQUE RESIDENTS, AVERAGING 450 MONTHLY PARTICIPANTS.- 2,000 HOT MEALS PROVIDED MONTHLY IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. - SHELF-STABLE PANTRY ESSENTIALS TO OVER 300 RESIDENTS, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 120 MONTHLY PARTICIPANTS.2) SKILL-BUILDING AND EDUCATION:THROUGHOUT FY25, COOKING AND NUTRITION CLASSES WERE HELD BIWEEKLY ACROSS 10 RESIDENCES, INCLUDING HANDS-ON LESSONS IN COOKING TECHNIQUES, RECIPES, AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION. LANTERN'S FOOD 4 JUSTICE PROGRAM COMPLETED ITS THIRD YEAR, TEACHING ADULT PARTICIPANTS ABOUT NUTRITION. THROUGH THE JUNIOR CHEF PROGRAM, LANTERN ENGAGED 40 YOUTH AGES 816 FROM FOUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SITES IN WEEKLY COOKING CLASS THAT BUILDS CULINARY SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND TEAMWORK. TWO SIX-WEEK COHORTS OF THE JUNIOR CHEF PROGRAM CULMINATED IN GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS ATTENDED BY THE YOUNG CHEFS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND PROGRAM STAFF. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, WE OFFERED WEEKLY OR BIWEEKLY GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING CLASSES ACROSS SIX SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RESIDENCES.4. HEALTH PROGRAMS1) HEALTH EDUCATION & PEER LEADERSHIP:THE SUCCESSES OF LANTERN'S RESIDENT-DRIVEN MODELS SPURRED A LASTING ORGANIZATIONAL SHIFT TOWARD PEER-DRIVEN HEALTH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. MOST NOTABLY IN FY25, LANTERN'S NEIGHBOR 2 NEIGHBOR PROGRAM PROVIDES COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TRAINING, SUPPORTED INTERNSHIP, AND CERTIFICATION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RESIDENTS. WITH FUNDING BY THE MOTHER CABRINI HEALTH FOUNDATION, NEIGHBOR 2 NEIGHBOR EMPOWERS RESIDENT PEER HEALTH EDUCATORS TO LEAD INITIATIVES AT LANTERN SITES FOR HEALTH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND LINKAGE TO ON- AND OFF-SITE RESOURCES. IN COLLABORATION WITH RESIDENT PEERS, THE HEALTH PROGRAM PROVIDED OVER 40 WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS LIKE OVERDOSE RESPONSE, CHRONIC ILLNESS TESTING AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, AND SAFE SEX. LANTERN ALSO BROUGHT HEALTH SERVICES ON-SITE, OFFERING 20 CLINICAL EVENTS FOR SERVICES INCLUDING VACCINATION CLINICS AND STI TESTING, AS WELL AS DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 70 HIV SELF-TESTING KITS.2) OVERDOSE PREVENTION:LANTERN IS A CERTIFIED OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION PROGRAM THROUGH THE NYC AND NYS DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH. LANTERN STAFF ARE TRAINED TO ADMINISTER AND DISPENSE NARCAN, INCLUDING PROVISION OF KITS AND TRAINING TO RESIDENTS. LANTERN IS ALSO A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE INITIATIVE TO PREVENT FENTANYL-RELATED OVERDOSES.IN FY25, APPROXIMATELY 2,380 NALOXONE KITS, 3,600 FENTANYL TEST STRIPS, AND 2,600 XYLAZINE TEST STRIPS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO LANTERN RESIDENTS. 5. RESIDENT LEARNING:FORMERLY THE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT, RESIDENT LEARNING PROGRAMS SUPPORT ADULTS WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY, INCOME STABILITY, TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, AND PURSUING GOALS LIKE EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS FAMILY SERVICES FOCUSED ON PARENTING, SUPPORT CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND SUPPORT CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS.IN FY25, RESIDENT LEARNING ENGAGED 120 ADULTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED SKILL-BUILDING AND GROUP WORKSHOPS. GUIDED BY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS ACROSS SITES, THE DEPARTMENT FOCUSED ON ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, LIFE SKILLS, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. WORKSHOPS COVERED TOPICS SUCH AS DOCUMENTATION AND RESOURCE ACCESS, HYGIENE, HEALTHY EATING ON A BUDGET, FIRST AID, EMPLOYMENT READINESS, AND GOAL SETTING. FOUR SITES OFFERED WORKSHOP COURSES TO HELP RESIDENTS OBTAIN THEIR REAL IDS. FAMILY-ORIENTED PROGRAMS INCLUDED PARENTING AND FAMILY SKILL-BUILDING SESSIONS, AS WELL AS CREATIVE ACTIVITIES LIKE VISION BOARD AND ART TABLE WORKSHOPS. APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS RECEIVED BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THE 2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR, AND HOLIDAY GIFTS WERE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS OUR FAMILY AND YOUNG ADULT SITES, WITH OVER 100 GIFTS PROVIDED BY THE NEW YORK CARES' WINTER WISHES PROGRAM. 6. ARTS AND CULTURE:LANTERN'S ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM PROMOTES ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, CREATIVITY, STRESS RELIEF, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING. THIS YEAR, SERVICES EXPANDED ONGOING CLASSES, OUTINGS, AND EVENTS, INCLUDING:- REGULAR ART THERAPY, MOVEMENT CLASSES, MOVIE NIGHTS, AND GAME NIGHTS.- 17 COMMUNITY OUTINGS, INCLUDING APPLE PICKING, BOWLING, CONCERTS MUSEUMS, BROADWAY SHOWS, AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTING EVENTS.- 20 CELEBRATIONS PER SITE, INCLUDING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, JUNETEENTH, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, THANKSGIVING, VALENTINE'S DAY, PRIDE, MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY, AND MEMORIAL DAY.