Care For the Homeless

The current administration has continuously targeted federal benefit programs important to low-income Americans for drastic cuts. A new effort follows suit by proposing a change to how the ‘poverty threshold’ is to be calculated, which will decrease the number of people eligible for important federal benefit programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. This would affect millions of extremely low-income individuals and families. The current measurement called the “consumer price index (CPI)” has been used for a long time to set the annualized increases in the official poverty threshold. The administration is considering using what is known as “the chained CPI”, a different inflation measure that would result in a slower annual increase of inflation over time. “Chained CPI” assumes that as the prices of goods go up, individuals substitute less expensive items, thereby reducing their overall expenses. Why is this important? The proposed change wou...

Care For the Homeless, in partnership with Broadway Community Inc., will hold its sixth annual Summer Solstice Celebration recognizing the success stories of New Yorkers who have overcome incredible obstacles while experiencing homelessness. The celebration will be held on Thursday, June 20 th , at Broadway Presbyterian, 601 West 114th Street in Manhattan, beginning with a meal at 4:30 p.m., followed by the program at 5:30 p.m. Join us as we recognize the success of our friends and neighbors in their achievements in obtaining and maintaining stable housing, overcoming health obstacles and reaching outstanding advocacy achievements in the campaign for better policies and programs to fight, prevent and end homelessness. We will also recognize our incredible CFH clinicians who work with our clients to achieve health successes all year around. We will also be announcing the winner of CFH’s annual Short Story of Success Essay Contest. The celebration is free and open to all. ...

Care For the Homeless is opposing a proposed rule published by the Trump administration and urging all advocates to consider filing an official comment in opposition to the rule that would evict 25,000 immigrant families from public housing, including over 55,000 children. On May 10, 2019, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a draft rule that would significantly change HUD’s regulations by restricting eligibility for federal housing assistance based on immigration status. It would also impose new documentation requirements for U.S. citizens and individuals 62 years of age or older who will be at risk of eviction and homelessness if they cannot prove their citizenship. The proposed rule prohibits “mixed status” families from living in federally subsidized units. “Mixed status” families are households made up of members that are eligible and not eligible to receive housing subsidies through HUD based on their immigration status. "Mixed status" f...

Victor's Story Nothing but a man doing what he loves. Music is Victor’s life. He’s partial to jazz, jump blues, R&B, and classic soul, but is up for any style as long as he can play the drums. As a successful freelancer, Victor has shared his talents with a number of different groups at a number of different venues. However, for the past three years, he’s played consistently at the famous Red Rooster Restaurant in Harlem, NY. Coincidentally, it was also three years ago that Victor first visited Care For the Homeless’ (CFH) Health Center at the Living Room/Safe Haven Shelter in the Bronx, NY. “I was on heroin for 25-years before I came to the Living Room,” said Victor. “Since then I’ve been on Suboxone, which I take three times a day.” Victor’s condition began all those years ago while he was out on tour. He recalled, “It was the 80s and I was on tour with a major artist at the time. Whether we were all just hanging out or travelling on the tour bus, there were...

Addressing the Whole Person Dr. Littleton with a Patient The streets outside the Care For the Homeless (CFH) Health Center (located at the Living Room/Safe Haven Shelter) rattle with a rhythm that should be familiar to most New Yorkers. Semi-trucks blow by, footsteps patter on the sidewalk, and the nearest park teems with laughing children. Across the street, a Dominican monastery stands as tall and proud as the day it was built in 1891, adding a touch of history to the area. Conversely, the rhythm inside the halls of the shelter and health center are anything but familiar. Located in the Bronx, the Living Room/Safe Haven a is a 24-hour, open access drop-in site, meaning anyone experiencing street homelessness is welcome to come in and spend time off the streets. CFH site partner BronxWorks offers hot meals, showers, laundry, and housing services to compliment the medical services provided by CFH. Despite the similarities it shares with other CFH sites, the Living Ro...

We are constantly inspired by the stories of real life heroes who have overcome obstacles in the fight against unstable housing. CFH is holding its sixth annual “Stories of Success” writing contest and we are looking for a 300-word story about success in overcoming a health challenge, in finding and maintaining stable housing or in advocating for better policies to fight, prevent or end homelessness. Contestants may also submit an essay about what they think success would look and feel like.   If you have a story of success – or know someone who does – please consider submitting it into our contest. All entries must be submitted with the author’s name and contact information. Submissions may be e-mailed to policy@cfhnyc.org or can be mailed or delivered to Nathalie at, 30 E. 33rd Street, 5th floor, New York, NY, 10016 by Friday, May 31 st . One winner will be selected by Care for the Homeless, will receive a prize and be asked to read their winning story at the CFH Su...

Join us on Thursday, June 20 th , at Broadway Presbyterian, 601 West 114 th Street in Manhattan, as Care for the Homeless (CFH), in partnership with Broadway Community, Inc., holds its sixth annual Summer Solstice Success Celebration recognizing the “ success stories” of New Yorkers who have overcome incredible obstacles while experiencing homelessness. The celebration will start with a meal at 4:30 p.m. followed by the program at 5:30 p.m. The event will recognize the achievements of New Yorkers who have obtained and maintained stable housing, overcome health obstacles and had outstanding advocacy achievements in the campaign for better policies to fight, prevent and end homelessness. We will also recognize our incredible CFH providers who have worked with our clients to achieve success. Also, the winner of CFH’s annual Short Story of Success Essay Contest, will read their submission. Join us for a celebration recognizing the success of our friends and neighbors. The c...

One factor that has increased the number of people experiencing homelessness in New York City is the eviction of low-income tenants from their homes. Historically, a low-income tenant facing an eviction proceeding in Housing Court was at a serious disadvantage compared to their landlord because of one very important factor, landlords always had legal representation. To counter this imbalance, in 2017, NYC became the first city to adopt the Right to Counsel (RTC), also known as Local Law 136, that established a right to free legal counsel in eviction cases. This major step forward in protecting low income tenants came after many years of advocacy by dedicated organizations and individuals supporting the rights of tenants facing the potential loss of housing. RTC provides tenants with household incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, $50,200 annually for a family of four , with no cost access to attorneys. Legal representation for an individual facing an eviction ...

Brooklyn Councilmember Antonio Reynoso joined CFH Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Regina Olasin, in touring our health center located at Peter Jay Sharp in April during our HIV Awareness Carnival. Councilmember Reynoso and Dr. Regina Olasin spoke about the health challenges that people experiencing homelessness face and what CFH does to address those challenges. Those efforts include a highly successful citywide Peer Outreach program that trains and employs currently or formerly homeless peers to locate unstably housed individuals not currently accessing health care services and provide them with the information and aid necessary to increase proper utilization. Councilmember Reynoso also took the opportunity to speak to CFH Staff, including our very own Peer Outreach Specialist, Crystal Santana, who spoke of the positive impact that the outreach program has in communities where people face incredible challenges accessing quality lifesaving services.  At CFH we provide primary medic...

You can Help Support People  Experiencing Homelessness in NYC. Here's How! Summer is almost here and while many will enjoy the warm temperatures, cool swims, and other luxuries, our homeless neighbors will continue to struggle. Care For the Homeless is currently collecting items to create Personal Care Kits. Your generous donation will help support the essential needs of so many New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Date: April 15 - June 1 What We Need: Soap/Body Wash Shampoo/Conditioner Toothpaste Toothbrushes Deodorant Sunscreen Wet Wipes Feminine Care Products *Full Size Products are Preferable Drop Off Location: Care For the Homeless 30 E. 33rd St. 5th Floor New York, NY Other Ways You can Help Care For the Homeless: 1. Host/Organize a personal care kit drive at your office, community group, place of worship, or your friends. We can help you organize this! For any and all assistance, please contact Brian Myers at ...

Sahira's Story Sahira getting her heart rate checked by Joy. No more than 4 months ago, Sahira P. came to Care For the Homeless’ (CFH) Susan’s Place Health Center in the Bronx for a routine check-up. However, there was something else on her mind aside from taking her blood pressure and checking her resting heart rate. It turned out she had been struggling with a Percocet addiction. As is the case with many CFH patients, Sahira was (at first) apprehensive about telling her story, despite her intense desire to do so. “I was dying to tell somebody my story,” she commented. “But, I was afraid someone would judge me.” Judgement is just one of the many legitimate concerns CFH patients have when seeking medical services. Negative past experiences and financial insecurities lead patients to believe that they’ll also be, either turned away by providers or treated poorly by them. These complex concerns yield a litany of negative consequences. Perhaps the most severe ...

Empowering Patients, Forging Relationships Care For the Homeless Nurse Practitioner Joy Favuzza Care For the Homeless’ (CFH) Jackson Health Center sits comfortably in the eastern sector of the Bronx’s Mott Haven neighborhood. Amidst the vibrant activity on the streets and sidewalks, is the hustle and bustle of the Bruckner Expressway and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, both of which are within viewing distance. Down below the pavement, the 6-train echoes loud and clear. To the building’s side is a colorful, lightly worn playground. Its many slides, bridges, and ladders provide the perfect setting for any kid’s imagination to run wild. But, on a morning as cold as March 13th, it was understandably empty. But, now as the weather begins to warm, it’s easy to envision those slides and ladders overrun, and teeming with laughter. The CFH Health Center is co-located in the Jackson Family Residence, a living space for homeless families. The site is operated by CFH site partner...