Community Housing Innovations Inc

CHI'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES THAT SUPPORT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.

SUFFOLK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AND DUTCHESS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. THROUGH THE SUFFOLK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, CHI OPERATED 2 CONGREGATE SUPERVISED FAMILY RESIDENCES (SFRS), WHICH ARE NY STATE TIER II CERTIFIED, 10 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. SFRS AND 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. 764 PEOPLE INCLUDING 217 FAMILIES AND 204 SINGLES WERE ASSISTED BY CHI SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN DUTCHESS, ORANGE, AND NASSAU COUNTIES. DUTCHESS COUNTY SERVED: 245 INDIVIDUALS, COMPOSED OF 76 SINGLES AND 77 FAMILIES VANDERBILT: 77 FAMILIES, 169 PEOPLE - 21 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING ROSE ST.: 37 MEN - 8 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING NORTH HAMILTON: 39 MEN - 13 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING ORANGE COUNTYSERVED: 176 PEOPLE, 133 INDIVIDUALS AND 59 FAMILIES 44 GRAND: 131 MEN - 44 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING 9W: 56 FAMILIES, 168 PEOPLE - 13 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING PORT JERVIS: 3 FAMILIES, 8 PEOPLE - 1 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING NASSAU COUNTY SERVED: 177 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 60 FAMILIES JERUSALEM AVE: 9 SINGLE MALES AND 26 FAMILIES, 111 PEOPLE 4 FAMILIES MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING CORNELL ST.: SERVED 34 FAMILIES, 75 PEOPLE - 7 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING

WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, CHI'S EMERGENCY HOUSING APARTMENT PROGRAM (EHAP) PROVIDES SCATTERED-SITE TEMPORARY HOUSING IN TRADITIONAL APARTMENTS. THE EHAP PROGRAM WAS MODIFIED AND PUT OUT FOR RFP IN 2017 FOR SPECIFIC CATCHMENT AREAS OF THE FOUR LOCAL WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS) OFFICES; PEEKSKILL, WHITE PLAINS, YONKERS, AND MT. VERNON. CHI SOUGHT AND WAS AWARDED FIVE ONE-YEAR RENEWABLE EHAP CONTRACTS FOR THE MT. VERNON AND NEW ROCHELLE CATCHMENT AREA. THE 2021 CONTRACT TOTAL AWARD WAS $2,815,020 TO PROVIDE UP TO 90 EMERGENCY HOUSING UNITS (EHUS) LOCATED IN COMMUNITY RENTAL BUILDINGS IN THE TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 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. IN 2020, COVID SLOWED BOTH MOVE OUTS AND REFERRALS. IN TOTAL, 94 FAMILIES WERE HOUSED IN THE CHI EHAP. 13 FAMILIES MOVED ON TO PERMANENT HOUSING THE TOTAL AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 747 DAYS, JUST OVER TWO YEARS. (TYPICAL OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.) IN 2021, 74 FAMILIES AND 213 PEOPLE HOUSED IN THE CHI EHAP 65% OF THOSE WHO MOVED OUT WENT TO PERMANENT HOUSINGO 17 - MOVED OUT TO HOUSING, AVERAGE LOS 954 DAYSO 9 - RETURNED TO SHELTER, AVERAGE LOS 923 DAYS 6 -MOVE INS, ALL IN LAST QUARTER OF 2021 THE TOTAL AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 998.

THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) AND AFFORDABLE PERMANENT HOUSING. CHI HAS TWO NYS OMH FUNDED SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAMS IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY. IN 2021, THE MODERN SERVED A TOTAL OF 22 PEOPLE IN 22 BEDS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WITH OPERATING FUNDING FROM OMH. IN 2020, CHI WAS AWARDED EMPIRE STATE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INITIATIVE (ESSHI) FUNDING FROM THE NYS OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) TO CREATE 20 UNITS OF HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN WHITE PLAINS AT THE MAYFAIR APARTMENTS FOR HOMELESS SINGLE ADULTS WITH A DISABILITY OVER THE AGE OF 62. IN JULY 2021, THE BUILDING OPENED AND 22 PEOPLE MOVED INTO A NEW APARTMENT.CHI ALSO OPERATES 90 AFFORDABLE RENTAL APARTMENTS IN SUFFOLK, NASSAU, AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES. ALTHOUGH CHI DOES NOT PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THESE UNITS, CHI PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THESE TENANTS TO ENABLE THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING.

CHI OPERATES OTHER SMALLER PROGRAMS TO HELP LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. FOR MANY YEARS CHI HAS OFFERED A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR HOMEOWNERS. CHI HELPS BOTH FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS AND CURRENT HOMEOWNERS FACING DELINQUENCY & FORECLOSURE. THESE PROGRAMS WERE IMPACTED IN 2020 BY COVID. MANY CLIENTS WERE PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY COVID, FACING HEALTH ISSUES AND ECONOMIC ISSUES INCLUDING LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT AND REDUCED INCOME. THOSE WHO PURSUED A HOME PURCHASE FOUND THE REAL ESTATE MARKET ALL BUT CLOSED FOR MUCH OF 2020 DUE TO COVID. WHILE POTENTIAL FORECLOSURE CLIENTS BENEFITTED FROM A NATIONAL FORBEARANCE AND FORECLOSURE MORATORIUM, MANY DELAYED SEEKING COUNSELING AND FORECLOSURE ASSISTANCE. COURTS WERE CLOSED FOR MOST OF 2020 BY COVID. SOME FORECLOSURE CLIENTS BENEFITTED FROM A SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CHI OFFERED, FUNDED BY WESTCHESTER COUNTY. ADDITIONALLY, CHI OFFERED A WESTCHESTER COUNTY-FUNDED FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING PROGRAM; CHI HELD 6 SESSIONS AIMED AT CURRENT SHELTER RESIDENTS AND DESPITE COVID, 42 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED. PERFORMANCE STATISTICS IN 2020 - HOMEOWNERSHIP & FORECLOSURE PREVENTION COUNSELING SERVED 1,746 PEOPLE - PROVIDED HOMEBUYER COUNSELING TO 283 INDIVIDUALS - PROVIDED THE E-HOME ONLINE COURSE TO 224 INDIVIDUALS - PROVIDED ORIENTATIONS TO 1,424 PEOPLE - ENABLED THE PURCHASE OF 15 HOMES WITH DOWN PAYMENT AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS - ENABLED THE PURCHASE OF MORE THAN 80 HOMES THROUGH EDUCATION, COUNSELING, AND GRANT ASSISTANCE - PROVIDED FORECLOSURE PREVENTION COUNSELING TO 54 HOUSEHOLDS & SECURED 5 LOAN MODIFICATIONS - PROVIDED FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING TO 42 INDIVIDUALS