The Network

Recent Accomplishments (2007)

The year 2007 was perhaps the Network’s most effective year ever. Working with our members, allies and government partners, the Network promoted supportive housing’s proven effectiveness and advocated to expand resources for supportive housing development and services in a number of areas:

State Advocacy: The Network worked closely with the administration of newly-elected Governor Eliot Spitzer to achieve increased funding for successful supportive housing development programs and innovative ways to expand access to housing, including:

Allocating $307 million in new Office of Mental Health (OMH) capital funding to build 1,000 new CR/SRO units and complete financing of hundreds of units in the pipeline, the largest one-year appropriation for supportive housing in State history.
Authorizing 1,000 OMH Supported Housing rent and services vouchers to fund 1,000 new scattered-site apartments for people with mental illness.
For the first time, fully funding in the Executive Budget Supported Housing for Families and Young Adults (SHFYA) at $5 million, and increasing SRO Supportive Services funding by $3.5 million to cover all new units coming on line in 2007.
For the first time, including supportive housing units in projects financed by the State Housing Finance Agency (HFA).
Establishing a first-ever $3 million supportive housing set-aside in the State’s Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) for federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Research: The Network devoted significantly more of its resources to increase its research and analysis in 2007, including:

Refining the Process: Suggestions for the Supportive Housing Section 8 Program, a research report that addressed inefficiencies and assisted HPD to resolve longstanding problems to New York City Section 8 procedures.
A one-year survey of intake and placement data from 26 providers that identified strengths and weaknesses in housing referral procedures.
An analysis of community benefits provided to neighborhoods by supportive housing.
Preparation of the first State of Supportive Housing Report; an annual publication providing information and analyses of supportive housing production, tenant populations, funding, costs and need in New York.

Federal Advocacy: In 2007, the Network:

Led more than 50 visits to Capitol Hill to educate Legislators about supportive housing, some as State Captains of New York’s delegation at the annual National Alliance to End Homelessness conference.
Played a key role advocating for increases to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program, resulting in $115 million and $144 million more for supportive housing in the FY07 and FY08 budgets.
Campaigned for a national affordable housing trust fund, reauthorization of McKinney-Vento legislation and funding increases to housing-based service and operating funding streams.

City Advocacy: In 2007, the Network worked with City agencies to:

Maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the supportive housing model.
Ensure successful implementation of the NY/NY III Agreement.
Help lead the New York City Task Force on Domestic Violence and Permanent Housing, leading to a Mayoral commitment to provide permanent housing and services to domestic violence survivors.

The Good Neighbor Initiative: A comprehensive education campaign aimed at increasing public understanding of, and support for, new supportive housing residences, the Good Neighbor Initiative educates elected officials, community boards, opinion leaders and the general public about the benefits of supportive housing – for tenants, taxpayers and the community. Activities included:

Creating new resources and materials for providers to explain supportive housing in paper and electronic versions.
Developing a database to provide community-specific information for members developing new residences.
Conducting an outreach and education effort introducing key opinion leaders to supportive housing through tours, meetings and presentations.
Training nearly 100 providers in advanced techniques for building support for and minimizing community opposition to supportive housing with national expert Debra Stein of GCA Strategies.
Providing direct one-on-one assistance to thirteen providers and projects.

Conference/Trainings: In 2007, the Network:

Held its seventh and largest annual statewide conference at the Hilton New York, with over 770 attendees (a 40% increase), three new State commissioners, as well as 21 workshops by experts from the nonprofit, government and financial sectors.
Co-sponsored with LISC/NEF and CPC the first-ever Western New York Symposium on Supportive Housing in Buffalo, attended by more than 100 people.
Collaborated with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to produce three regional workshops to improve providers’ contract and program performance.
Initiated an asset management training series for 2007-2008, and conducted the first two trainings in the series.