Care For the Homeless

Guanita is one of the 46,000 homeless people, more than 19,000 of them children, who sleep in the city’s shelter system every night – 30% more than only five years ago. But now, Care for the Homeless is helping Guanita find shelter…and hope. After a series of medical setbacks, including multiple surgeries on her foot, Guanita’s medical expenses became too great and she was unable to pay her rent.    She ended up seeking shelter through public assistance, moving from shelter to shelter in New York. After a heart attack forced her into an extended hospital stay and ultimately to Susan’s Place, the 200-bed shelter for medically frail and mentally ill women that Care for the Homeless operates in the Bronx. Guanita was in need of a medically capable facility and the clinic at Susan’s Place was a perfect solution.  “I feel more confident,” Guanita said about being at Susan’s Place. “It’s better having a clinic here. Since I’ve come here, I haven’t had as many ...

In order to earn the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, Michaela O’Connell, a sophomore at Croton Harmon High School in Croton, NY, came up with a project to help the residents of Susan's Place.  Her project, entitled  “Housewarming for the Homeless," will equip residents with a box of items to furnish their new apartment when they move into permanent housing. Michaela is a member of Croton Senior Girl Scout Troop 1234 which is part of the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson.  Led by Troop Leaders Regina Hertl, Stacey Herron and Susan Vierczhalek, she visited Susan's Place for focus groups with residents to discover what items were needed when they move into their own apartments. Michaela rallied her community to gather the desired household goods. She then recruited residents of Susan's Place to help her sort through sheets, towels, pillows, laundry detergent and kitchen items. The items were packed into a "house warming box," read...

The Job Readiness program at Susan's Place takes homeless health care a step further. By offering a 12-week program to teach skills that will equip residents for obtaining future employment. Care for the Homeless partners with the staff of the New York Public Library’s Grand Concourse Branch (155 E 173 rd St., Bronx), and the Davidson Community Center (2038 Davidson Ave., Bronx) to provide training to program participants. Participants learn adult literacy (reading, writing, and math skills), basic computer skills, job preparation necessities (resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, job searching) and life management skills (strategizing, coping and stress management). Participants also intern at Susan’s Place Monday through Thursday for 12-15 hours per week, Monday-Thursday. Intern positions include Sales Associate at Classic Re-Runs, our non-cash boutique of donated clothes; Dining Hall Assistant, who maintains a clean and organized dining area; a...

--> --> At the HELP Supportive Employment Center on Wards Island, Care for the Homeless Medical Case Manager Anisha Perez-Miller works with homeless men. Most of these men have recently left prison to find themselves alone and without jobs. These men arrive with barely any belongings and are in need of the mental health counseling that Anisha can give them. “I have an open door policy,” Anisha says. “I’m available. I see the men whether they’re coming out of prison or from Bellevue and I give them a needs assessment regarding mental health services. The men usually want psyche evaluations done and I link them up to one of our psychiatrists. I link them up to medical services, help them with their education about Medicaid and do supportive counseling.” As she works with the men, Anisha has found that one way to engage the clients is through distributing toiletries and other personal care items as incentive for coming to meet with her.   “It’s really very simpl...