The supportive Housing Network of New York recently hosted the 2004 Supportive Housing Awards honoring leaders from the business, government and non-profit sectors that have made tremendous contributions to the field of supportive housing.

supportive housing combines affordable rental housing for low-income and formerly homeless individuals and families with on-site support services such as mental health care, substance abuse counseling and employment programs. Over the past decade, the supportive housing movement has grown from 4,000 units of housing to over 25,000 throughout New York State. It is widely recognized as the cost-effective solution to ending homelessness.

Honorees included the successful Housing First! Affordable Housing for All New Yorkers Campaign, an initiative created to increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing in New York; Gerald J. Flannelly, Principal MMA Financial (formerly Lend Lease R.E.I.); and the Housing Development Team at the New York State Office of Mental Health.

"Supportive housing enables individuals and families who are homeless or living with mental illness, AIDS or other disabilities achieve housing stability, independance and hope," said Maureen Friar, Executive Director of The Network. "Thanks in part to the efforts of our honorees, thousands of low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers now have a safe, affordable place to call home."

Two outstanding supportive housing tenants, Steven Fernandez, a resident at The Times Square in Manhattan, and Anna Sezenias, a resident at the YWCA of Binghamton & Broome County, were also honored. The tenants were selected based on their contributions to the community and their courage to overcome obstables such as domestic violence and substance abuse while living in supportive housing.

The event, which was held at the Prince George, a former welfare hotel that has been transformed into permanent affordable housing, raised over $200,000. Proceeds from the Awards will support the Network's advocacy and educational programs aimed at increasing New York's stock of supportive housing.

The Supportive Housing Network of New York represents nonprofit agencies that build and manage supporrtive housing across the state, setting the standard for the growth of supportive housing across the nation. Through advocacy, training, technical assistance and public education, the Network strives to increase the supply of supportive housing with the gal of ending homelessness in New York. For more information, please visit www.shnny.org.