Project Hospitality

1. Project Hospitality Staten Island, New York July 8-13, 2012

2. Project Hospitality is an interfaith effort feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and caring for people with HIV/AIDS • For More Information Check out their website at www.projecthospitality.org What is Project Hospitality?

3. 1982- Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen • 1983- Opened its first overnight emergency shelter for homeless men • 1984- Added a church based women’s shelter and men’s shelter became year round and was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. • 1985- Opened a trailer at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal for emergency and referral services. How did Project Hospitality get started?

4. HIV/AIDS Services • Housing and Shelter Services • Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Vocational Services • Family Services • Food and Nutrition Services • Community • Outreach Services Offered

5. Project Hospitality has a number of mental health, substance abuse and counseling programs, each focused on a different community’s needs within the population of folks who are HIV+ as well as substance abuse. • Services offered include: Mental Health and Supportive Counseling Services, Women Empowering Women, Geriatric Mental Health, and Recovery Programs. Counseling and Vocational Tech Services

6. HIV Mental Health program provides crisis stabilization, medication management, and individual therapy for dually or triply diagnosed (HIV, Mentally Ill, Chemically Abusing) individuals. HIV Supportive Counseling program is a mental health wellness program for HIV individuals and families who are coping with their HIV/AIDS diagnosis. Individual and group work services enable participants to remain connected to health care and promote family stability. Women Empowering Women program uses “Seeking Safety” curriculum, for HIV+ women and families who have a history of, or current exposure to traumatizing life events coupled with substance use/dependence. • intensive supportive services • trauma counseling • case management • coping skills • maintenance of good health • freedom from substance use/abuse Counseling and Vocational Tech Services (2)

7. Geriatric Mental Health • linked to mobile food pantry services. • mental health assessment • substance use screening • medical assessments • health and nutrition related group education Recovery Program • medically supervised outpatient chemical dependency treatment program • cognitive-behavioral model. • Includes • Mentally Ill/Chemically Abusing treatment • family treatment • vocational services • computer training, • employment services • outreach/treatment for homeless individuals. Counseling and Vocational Tech Services (3)

8. The HIV Harm Reduction Program • for individuals with HIV/AIDS using substances or in early recovery • individual counseling • support groups • recovery readiness counseling • threshold alcohol and drug counseling • to minimize the harmful effects of chemical dependency • refer to safe syringe/disposal or syringe exchange programs • counseling/HIV testing services • (if test HIV+, confirmatory testing, linkage to care) Counseling and Vocational Tech (4)

9. Services are provided to individuals and families across the entire borough of Staten Island. Homeless outreach teams are available sixteen hours per day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year to engage persons living in places not meant for human habitation. The Outreach teams assess and refer homeless persons and families to a range of services that best meet their immediate needs. The Outreach teams provide transportation to the Emergency Assistance Unit for homeless families and work with hospitals, treatment providers, and the Drop-In Center to ensure appropriate placement and care for single adults. Mental health and psychiatric treatment is available. Homeless Outreach for Adults and Families

10. The Drop-In Center The Drop-In Center is a 24-hour center for homeless men and women ages 21+. It is the only entry point for shelter for homeless men and women on Staten Island. In addition to shelter, the Center offers basic services such as food, clothing, entitlement advocacy, and extensive on-site case management, mental health counseling, psychiatric care, nursing services, referral for chemical dependency treatment, and placement in a variety of housing settings. An on-site psychiatrist and nurse practitioner help to facilitate early intervention and treatment. • Interfaith Shelter Network The Drop-In Center oversees the emergency faith-based shelter program providing overnight beds in churches and synagogues. Current churches in the network are Olivet Presbyterian, St. Andrew Episcopal, St. Joachim & St. Ann, New Directions Baptist, Unitarian Church of Staten Island, St. Philip's Baptist, The Church That Never Closes (Prince Bay Reformed Church), Shailo AME Church, and Holy Rosary. Single Adult Shelter & Housing Services

11. Hope Housing Hope Housing is a state funded NY/NY III program for chronically homeless adults with histories of addiction to alcohol and/or other drugs.  This transitional apartment program has beds for 25 clients.  Participants must be homeless and approved for housing through the HRA 2010e application process.  For referral information, contact the Program Director. •  Neighborhood Homes This program, located in two townhouses in the community, offers transitional housing to 12 men in recovery from substance dependence. Residents are offered basic supportive counseling, case management, recovery support and recreational programming. They are assisted in applying for services to meet their concrete needs, including permanent housing. Residents of Neighborhood Homes also participate in outside clinical/medical programming as needed. The length of stay is up to 9 months, and individuals must be referred from a homeless service setting. Single Adult Housing and Shelters (2)

12. O'Callaghan House O'Callaghan House is a 23-bed, licensed New York State Office of Mental Health, NY/NY, Level II, congregate transitional residence for mentally ill homeless men and women with histories of chemical dependency. Services include daily living skills, relapse prevention, anger management, medication management, and communication skills. External referrals are made for day treatment and self-help groups. The length of stay is a maximum of two years. •  Carpenter House Carpenter House serves thirty homeless men and women, most of whom come directly from the streets into this program.  Case management, medical and psychiatric services, vocational rehabilitation, housing placement planning and concrete services are offered on-site.  Persons may stay up to nine months to receive what is needed to halt their cycle of homelessness.  The program’s environment is spacious and welcoming.  Opened in March, 2008, Carpenter House is one of the agency’s newest residential sites. Single Adult Housing and Shelters (3)

13. Outreach & Housing Placement Services are provided to individuals and families across the entire borough of Staten Island.  Homeless outreach teams are available eight hours per day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year to engage persons living in places not meant for human habitation.  The Outreach teams assess and refer homeless persons and families to a range of services that best meet their immediate needs with the goal of placing persons from the street directly into transitional and permanent housing. The Outreach teams provide transport to the Emergency Assistance Unit for homeless families and work with hospitals, treatment providers, and the drop-in center to ensure appropriate placement and care for single adults.  Mental health and psychiatric treatment is available.  Referrals to the team can be made directly to the Program Director. •  Supported Apartment Programs (NY/NY and Non NY/NY) These programs contain 30 residential beds and provide long-term housing in single and double occupancy apartments throughout Staten Island for individuals with histories of mental illness, chemical dependency, and homelessness (for NY/NY beds). Program services include rent subsidy, case management, and social services. External referrals are made where appropriate. This is a Level I housing program. In order to be eligible, individuals should able to function independently in the following skill areas: money management, medication management, self-care, Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and travel. Individuals work to develop vocational skills and work readiness or find part/full-time employment. Single Adult Housing and Shelters (4)

14. Tier II Homeless Family Shelter/Hospitality House This is the only homeless family shelter on Staten Island. Hospitality House is a congregate facility housing 46 homeless women, men and up to 105 children at any given time. The goal of Hospitality House is to stabilize the functioning of families and prepare them for independent living in the community. A variety of case management and counseling interventions are used to accomplish this goal. Referrals to Hospitality House come from New York City's Emergency Assistance Unit (EAU) in the Bronx. This program works collaboratively with the Legal Aid Society to assist domestic violence victims at Hospitality House and across the agency. •  Family Supported Housing Program This is an apartment program for ten families with heads of household who have diagnoses of serious and persistent mental illnesses or MICA diagnoses. The program provides long-term, in-home clinical and support services in order to allow families to maintain residential stability. The estimated length of program participation is 2-3 years. Family Shelter and Housing

15. Housing Placement Assistance (HPA) This program provides 100 emergency, transitional, and permanent housing placements for singles and families with HIV/AIDS. Referrals are accepted from other community-based organizations, hospitals, and HASA. Services include housing search, lease negotiation, relocation assistance, home visits, referral services, and housing-specific case management. Program staff facilitate Housing Readiness Services at Project Hospitality's S.H.I.N.E. Center. •  PHS Emergency/Transitional Shelter This is a 21-bed congregate emergency/transitional housing program for homeless single men and women with HIV/AIDS. Referrals are accepted from the Drop-In Center, HASA hotels, and Project Hospitality's Case Management programs or the HPA program. Services include life skills training, structured socialization activities, support groups, and meals. The average length of stay is approximately nine months. The overall goal is to place consumers living with HIV/AIDS into permanent housing. Most of the beds are located in Project Hospitality's  congregate residence. Alternate beds exist in local hotels / motels. HIV Adult Housing and Shelter

16. HASA New York New York III This is permanent housing for singles with an AIDS diagnosis. Referrals are received directly from the HASA Housing Unit. Leases are held in Project Hospitality’s name and the apartments are fully furnished. Clients pay a monthly program fee equal to 30% of the net household income. Program services include intensive case management, service coordination, home and hospital visits, residence maintenance, transportation, and recreational activities.  There are 10 Scatter Site apartments. Clients must be approved through the HRA 2010e application process. •  Scatter Site Program The Scatter Site Program provides permanent housing for singles and families with an AIDS diagnosis which includes 40 housing units. Referrals are received directly from the HASA Housing Unit. Leases are held in Project Hospitality's name, and the apartments are fully furnished. Individuals may pay a monthly program fee, which is generally no greater than 30% of the net household income. Program services include intensive case management, service coordination, home and hospital visits, residence maintenance, transportation, and recreational activities. HIV Adult Housing and Shelter Services (2)

17. Transitional and Permanent Housing Program (TAP) The Transitional and Permanent Housing Program (TAP) assists 51 homeless individuals and or families living with HIV/AIDS to end their homelessness by providing transitional and permanent housing and treatment and support services (e.g., mental health services, counseling, treatment adherence, harm reduction) to help them achieve residential stability. Nine of the transitional units are located in a congretate residence. The remainder are located in scatter site apartments throughout Staten Island. •  New Beginnings The "New Beginnings" Housing Program provides 24 permanent scatter-site housing units for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to their medical diagnosis, 66% of participants have a co-occurring diagnosis of serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI)/serious emotional disturbance (SED) for children, and/or a substance dependence diagnosis. Scatter-site apartments are located on Staten Island; however, referrals to the program may come from citywide organizations and HASA. Individuals learn skills in negotiating tenant-landlord relations and in being good community neighbors, access medical services to promote efficient management of health care and corresponding medication regimens, and begin to normalize the use of mental health and psychiatric care, thus reducing the harmful effects of stigmatization. Services include service planning and coordination, apartment finding, apartment viewing and lease negotiations, permanent housing placement, counseling and assessment and service planning for adults and families. HIV Adult Housing and Shelter Services (3)

18. Youth Drop-In Center Our Drop-In Center for runaway, homeless and at risk youth provides access to needed resources along with an array of services including crisis counseling, referrals to mental health and drug treatment services, on site education (math and literacy workshops), life skills building, self-efficacy and self-esteem building, health education, youth empowerment and anti-violence and career workshops. • Youth Crisis Bed Program This program provides transitional housing for homeless youth in a “home-like” setting. Social services, information and referral are the critical components of moving youth and young adults towards independence, including acquiring good coping skills for permanent independent living. Youth Housing and Shelter Services

19. Single Stop Help Center • The goal of the Single Stop Help Center is to provide consistent access to social services, entitlements and job development opportunities for unstably housed individuals and families and for those experiencing hunger prior to the crisis of homelessness. The center provides online access to food stamp and Medicaid registration. The site also provides free tax preparation services each year for Staten Islanders making $35000 or less in gross annual income. The program is centrally located at our Community Services Center, near the ferry, train and bus service to give all people access to services. In addition, the Single Stop Program facilitates onsite Legal and Financial counseling. Legal services include: Housing eviction prevention, debt resolution, back wages, small claims court, custodial issues, family court, domestic violence, immigration questions and answers (no representation). The single stop site is the home of the College of Staten Island citizenship and immigration law center on Staten Island. • Immigrant Services Family Services

20. Domestic Violence Collaborative • Project Hospitality collaborates with the Legal Aid Society to provide legal services to domestic violence victims. Project Hospitality staff make referrals to the Legal Aid Society for legal assistance, provide direct counseling services, and help survivors develop up-to-date safety plans. The Legal Aid Society provides legal clinics for clients. •  Healthy Heart Family Services (2)

21. Food and Nutrition Services

22. Statistics are from the New York City Coalition Against Hunger’s 2011 Hunger Survey • 13,031 people in Staten Island are facing food insecurity • More need: 90% of food pantries & kitchens surveyed in Staten Island reported serving more people in 2010; 80% reported that number of people served increased greatly over the previous year. • Dwindling Resources, Challenges to Meeting Growing Need : 70% of Staten island food pantries & kitchens reported having to turn away clients, limit portion sizes, or reduce service hours. 100% of these agencies reported cuts in their funding from government sources. Hunger in Staten Island

23. Who is experiencing hunger the most?

24. Project Hospitality General Food and Nutrition Services

25. The New York City Health Department reported that there were 107, 1777 New York City residents living with HIV/AIDS during reporting period of the first six months of 2009. • 75% of those living with HIV/AIDS were 40 and over. • 81% were Black or Hispanic. • 75% were men. HIV/AIDS in New York City

26. Project Hospitality HIV/AIDS Food Services

27. People can still experience stigma for being HIV + or having AIDS. So, respecting confidentiality is important. • People taking certain medications or receiving other treatments can experience nutritional side effects. • Food should be visually appealing, flavorful to encourage people to eat. Decrease in appetite can happen when you have a critical illness. • Food Bourne Illnesses Can Have a More Serious Impact in those living with HIV/AIDS because many have compromised immune systems. Therefore, food safety is critical. Special Considerations when Feeding People Living with HIV/AIDS

28. If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.--Isaiah 58:10 NSRV

29. Project Hospitality staff speak to congregations, schools, & community groups about • PH's mission & work • focusing on specific issues or • provide peer educators with firsthand experience with the issues Community Outreach and Education

30. El Centro del Inmigrante • multi-service storefront center • PH lead agency in collaboration with • Latino Civic Association & St. Mary's of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church • serving undocumented immigrant community in Port Richmond, Staten Island • workshops on immigration and immigrant rights • health education • labor law • job center • women's group • housecleaning services • food pantry • free meals Outreach (2)

31. Moooove to Milk campaign • Pouring on the Pounds campaign • Youth Drop-In Center for runaway, homeless and at risk youth Outreach (3)

32. For two years now, I have been with Project Hospitality. I must say that I am grateful for the many positive changes in my life. I have come clean from drugs like heroin and crack, and I have detoxed from methadone since coming to Project Hospitality. I have also learned that I am not worthless and that there is hope. I had been homeless and depressed, just walking around picking up cans and wanting to die. I was alone then. Now, I have learned to share my feelings with many other recovering addicts. I feel part of my depression has lifted. I have learned that I can live a better and normal life, clean and drug-free. I have learned patience and tolerance. With my mental health so improved, I have set goals with the help of my counselor. I am now ready to attend college and look at getting a meaningful job. I also have attended New York City Technical College in the summer and did well. During my stay at Project Hospitality, I have learned about art and poetry, and I have learned the feeling of joy. I have learned to laugh and to ask for help. I am somebody today. I have learned I'm not insane and today... I have support. — P. Testimonials