About Homelessness
Poverty and Homelessness
Who lives in poverty in NYC?
1 in 5 NYC Residents
1 in 3 Family Households with One Adult
*Most recent data available is for 2016 (published in April 2018) – report here
Who is homeless in NYC?
In Shelter:
61,000 People
15,000 Families
22,000 Children
*These numbers underestimate the total number of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, as they do not include people who are unsheltered or living on the street
The number of New Yorkers sleeping in homeless shelters is
76% higher than
10 years ago.
Homelessness is not an identity marker; it is a temporary economic circumstance that hundreds of thousands of New York families have experienced because their incomes do not keep pace with the rising cost of housing in our city. When a family that is already working hard and struggling to make ends meet is faced with a rent increase, domestic violence, illness, or an unexpected emergency, they are often left on the brink of disaster. It leaves them with no other option left than to live on the streets or in the shelter system.
We intervene to keep people in their homes and out of homelessness. You can help.
Here’s how:
Join The Partner For Home Campaign
Mission
The Partnership for the Homeless is committed to building a just and equitable society and creating lasting community change through solution-oriented programs and policy initiatives that will eliminate the root causes of homelessness.
Prevention. Intervention. Support.
Vision
We are striving to create a world where housing is embraced as a human right.
The Partnership for the Homeless has always based its work on the core belief that homelessness is an unacceptable and preventable part of the urban landscape. Founded nearly three decades ago to provide emergency shelter through public-private partnerships, our work has evolved over the years to include an array of prevention services for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, at risk for homelessness, or who are rebuilding their lives after leaving shelters.
Our “home in the community” two-pronged strategy provides crisis services for New Yorkers facing eviction, fleeing violence or leaving shelters, and, once safely housed, provides wraparound services and community integration to help ensure long-term housing stability.
Our Work
The Partnership serves people throughout the five boroughs through two offices, one in midtown Manhattan, and one in East New York, Brooklyn.
Our Services Include:
Homelessness prevention is our key guiding principle and informs the work we do every day. Safe and stable housing is an absolute prerequisite for rebuilding one’s life. Our housing services include:
- Eviction prevention
- Housing placement
- Financial and legal assistance and referrals
- Mediation
- Access to housing vouchers
- Landlord outreach and relations
- Housing inspections
Our wraparound services help people build critical life skills, including health and well-being, and financial empowerment. Through direct supportive services, referrals and connections to community organizations we provide:
- Crisis intervention
- Casework
- Income support and benefit access
- Education supports for children
- Health and mental health treatment
- HIV support services and housing
- Support groups
- Skills building and training
The Partnership strengthens community building and empowers individuals to access peer and local support through the following groups:
- Client Advisory Group
- Women’s Group
- HIV Support Group
- Client Peer Program
A Real Impact
The support you give to help us reach our goal, really does make a difference. Check out Mallory’s story below
Mallory’s 17-Month-Old Daughter Saved Her Life.
While undergoing routine medical tests during her pregnancy, doctors discovered Mallory had thyroid cancer and began treatment immediately. Tending to her health, and recovering from treatment, didn’t allow for Mallory to continue her job as bookkeeper and contract administrator for a construction company. She lost her job....
Tragically, while Mallory healed, her husband was in a car crash and suffered a spinal injury. He too was now physically unable to work.
Medical bills mounted. Rent increased. Mallory fell behind on payments.
She went to eviction court. They lost their apartment.
Mallory and her family moved into shelter.
Immediately, Mallory and her husband began looking for affordable places to live. Navigating NYC’s complex housing market isn’t easy and is exponentially more difficult when trying to use a housing voucher.
At this point, Mallory reached out to the Partnership. Working with our Housing team, Mallory discovered that what she was experiencing was called Source of Income Discrimination – and it is illegal. Mallory learned what questions to ask when calling about an apartment, how to record what realtors and landlords said, and which legal tools are available to her to fight back.
It wasn’t easy but Mallory is an action-oriented woman and she quickly and effectively became her own advocate. With the resources and support of the Partnership, she found the perfect apartment for her family.
Tonight, she will watch her daughter run down the hallway of their apartment, she’ll lie in her bed and relax, and before drifting off to sleep, get one more moment to rejoice in her blessings.
Who We Are
Board of Directors
Jeremy Feigelson (Chair)
Partner
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Jennifer Cohan
President, NY
Edelman
Andrew Crawford
Managing Director
General Atlantic
Jennifer Mantini
Partner
Transaction Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Beth Shinn
Professor, Department of Humanties & Organizational Development
Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
David J. Woll
Of Counsel
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Áine Duggan
President and CEO
The Partnership For The Homeless
Staff
Áine Duggan
President and CEO
Edgar Vanegas
Maintenance
Mercedes M. Jennings
Housing Supervisor
Alexander Katsman
Director of Finance
Fadil Sabanovic
Accountant
Nicole Alcime, MPA
Housing Program Manager
Ariel Miles
Creative Arts Therapist
Felix Bermudez
Front Desk Manager
Pierre Cheron
Housing Specialist
Billie McDowell
Director of Human Resources
Robin Lowery De Jesus
Senior Housing Specialist
Camille Williams
Program Assistant
Joel Gil
Housing Specialist
Simone Ford
Housing Specialist
Chris Mann
Supportive Services
Program Manager
Joi Harris
Executive Assistant
Solange Sanchez Cuellar
Health Specialist
Davis Garner
Maintenance
Keisha J. Sprott
Health Specialist
Tiffany Ommundsen
Development and Communications Manager
Deana Murtha
Vice President of Development
Malin L. Bergman, Ph.D.
Director of Foundation and Corporate Giving
Tony Lino
Housing Specialist
Dwight Jacas
Accountant
Mario McMichael, MSSA
Director of Programs and New Initiatives
Wanda Manigault
Office Manager
Volunteers and Interns
Jaime Suarez-Ayala
Peer Educator
Peterly Louis
Peer Educator
Jona Jeffreys
Peer Educator
Mark Zavrl
Development and Communications Intern
Emeriti
Arnold S. Cohen
President and CEO
Donald H. Layton
Board of Directors (Chair)