Agency Spotlight: Homeward NYC

Projects With Care’s partner agencies play a critical role in our services to the children and families we serve. Each of our partner agencies are unique, and we’ll be introducing you to each of them through our newsletters. Our featured partner agency for this edition of the PWC Newsletter is Homeward NYC.

Formerly known as West End Intergenerational Residence HDFC, Homeward NYC began in 1989 with one of the first mixed-age residential shelters in New York State, a converted Upper West Side building that is transitional housing for homeless young mothers and their children and long-term affordable housing for low-income and homeless older adults. Today, Homeward NYC has locations in West and Central Harlem and the Bronx, in addition to its original Upper West Side location. The Harlem and Bronx locations focus on supporting homeless LGBTQ+ young adults, chronically homeless single adults with diagnosed mental illness, and those who are aging out of foster care by offering non-time limited young adult supportive housing. Since its founding, Homeward NYC has helped transform the lives of more than 12,700 clients, including 7,500 toddlers

Projects With Care has partnered with Homeward’s Upper West Side (UWS) intergenerational residence for nearly 20 years through our Stockings With Care program. Each year, our generous Santas purchase 3 gifts that the children have wished for. Through additional donations for Homeward UWS, we also purchase a winter coat and pajamas for every child in the residence.

This year, one of the families our Stockings With Care program benefitted was Cristy and her two children Geovany and Nharley. Geovany, age 7, asked for a basketball, soccer ball, and a fire truck. His 1 year old little sister, Nharley, wished for a baby doll, baby stroller, and an alphabet book. Our generous Santa, Keith, ensured that Geovany’s and Nharley’s wishes were fulfilled, and beautifully wrapped. The gifts were then given anonymously to the mother, Cristy, so that she could celebrate the magic of Christmas with her family. This act of generosity is reproduced for every family in the Homeward UWS residence year after year.

The residents at Homeward UWS are referred by either The City of New York Department of Homeless Services (DHS) or The Department of Youth and Community Development: Runaway & Homeless Youth Services. For the young families, applicants must be women ages 18 to 24 who are pregnant or single mothers with up to 3 children under the age of 7. The single mothers who find themselves in this shelter are the youngest heads of household in the shelter system. In addition to suffering the trauma of homelessness, two-thirds are survivors of domestic or family violence. Many young mothers struggle to avoid unhealthy relationships, and to break the cycles of violence and homelessness in their families. 45 percent of the young mothers at the UWS site lived in a shelter during their own childhood. At Homeward UWS, they gain access to safe and supportive housing where they can build skills, set goals, and achieve permanent housing for their young families. There are currently 52 young mothers and 74 children living at Homeward’s UWS site.

One of the biggest obstacles to young mothers at the UWS site is finding stable work. Before a mother can even contemplate finding a job, she must be able to secure childcare. No single mother can work without childcare. After helping its residents find childcare, Homeward helps young mothers find work through job trainings and referral programs. Many of the mothers experience difficulties finding work because a lot of them do not have a GED or high school diploma. In these cases, Homeward assists mothers in completing their education.

As for the senior residents living at the UWS site, many of them too are survivors of domestic or family violence. They have a history of chronic homelessness and have experienced their own cycles of poverty. Like the young families, the senior residents are also referred to Homeward through the City of New York DHS. There are currently 40 seniors at the UWS site, with the average age being 71 years old.

The intergenerational model of Homeward’s UWS site allows for unique opportunities. The seniors often act as mentors for the young mothers. These relationships rebuild the trust that many young mothers lose when they experience homelessness and domestic or family violence. In turn, the seniors get a sense of companionship, which many are deprived of at that age. Together, the residents of Homeward’s UWS site come together as one big family as they share communal meals and get to participate in group activities that foster connectedness both within the building and in the larger community as a whole.

All residents at Homeward UWS are given their own studio apartment, some with their own private bathroom, while others use shared ones in the hallways. The average length of stay for the UWS residents is approximately one year long. Most young families transition to permanent homes when leaving the UWS site, while others reunite with family after building healthier relationships. Recently, Homeward began its new aftercare program where they check in with their past residents to ensure their continued success in their new aspect of life.

Critical to the success of Homeward’s residents are the building staff and social workers who offer their constant encouragement and support. The UWS site has approximately 26 staff workers and many of them have experienced homelessness in their own lives. This equips them with not only empathy and compassion for their residences, but a shared bond as well. They are true role models for the residents they serve.

Leslie McCalla, Director Tier II Family Services at Homeward Upper West Side

At Projects With Care, we work very closely on Stockings With Care with Director of Tier II Family Services, Leslie McCalla. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Leslie has been working at Homeward NYC’s UWS site since 2018. Leslie describes her residents as, “resilient and hardworking. They want to get out of the shelter system,” she says. Typically, Leslie spends her day collaborating with her team to address the needs of the young families in the shelter. She also, meets one-on-one with young mothers to discuss their progress and next steps for transitioning from family shelter to a permanent home.

When asked how she’d describe her job to someone who’d never heard of it, Leslie smiled and said, “I help some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers during the most traumatic time of their lives find a sense of self-determination and home, all while being given grace.”

To learn more about Homeward NYC, you can visit their website at https://homeward.nyc