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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday more than $40 million has been awarded for 11 supportive housing projects for homeless New Yorkers, including $3.7 million for Lakeview Health Service, Inc. in Ithaca. The projects will create a total of 276 supportive housing units for veterans, survivors of domestic violence and individuals with mental illness. The awards, made available through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, will help fund supportive housing projects in Albany, Bronx, Niagara, New York, Ontario, Suffolk and Tompkins counties.

"These projects will provide some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers with the resources they need to stabilize their lives," Cuomo said. "This administration is committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to safe, decent, affordable housing and to ending the homeless crisis once and for all."

Nine of these projects have already received support from the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative. Funding awarded through the initiative can be used to provide support services and operating funds.

"My mother was an advocate for victims of domestic violence in the 1970's, long before many of the protections we now have were put in place," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "I'm proud to carry on her legacy by giving a voice to the voiceless with New York leading the nation in our fight against domestic violence, holding offenders accountable and protecting victims. We've aggressively invested in services and programs to support our most vulnerable New Yorkers, including victims of domestic violence, our brave veterans, and individuals with mental illness. This housing funding will help to ensure an affordable, quality place to live and continue our efforts to combat homelessness across the state."

Organizations receiving Homeless Housing and Assistance Program funding include:

St. Catherine's Center for Children, Inc., Albany County - $5.6 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the construction of 20 permanent supportive housing units in the City of Albany for homeless youth and families where the head of household is diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder. The total project cost is $6 million.

Rehabilitation Support Services, Inc., Albany County - $2.5 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the construction of a three-story building with 10 units of permanent supportive housing in Albany for homeless individuals with a serious mental illness. This is part of a 20-unit project that will also have 10 affordable housing units. The total project cost is $5.4 million.

Albany Housing Coalition, Albany County - $1.8 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the rehabilitation of three buildings on Clinton Avenue in Albany at Clinton Avenue Veterans Apartments. The project will create nine units of permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans. The three existing townhouses will each contain three one-bedroom units. The total development cost is $2.1 million.

New Destiny Housing Corporation, Bronx County - $5.7 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the development of 37 units of permanent supportive housing in the Bronx for homeless families headed by survivors of domestic violence coming from a shelter. This will be part of a 62-unit project which will also include 25 affordable housing units. The total project cost is $35 million.

Unique People Services, Inc., Bronx County - $5.5 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the development of 55 units of permanent supportive housing in the Bronx for 30 homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS and 25 homeless adults living with a serious mental illness. This is part of a 93-unit project that will also have affordable housing units. The total project cost is $52 million.

CAMBA Housing Ventures, Bronx County - $7.5 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the development of 87 units of permanent supportive housing in the Bronx for formerly homeless families and singles with a serious mental illness, with a preference for veterans. This is part of a 288-unit new construction project that will also have 200 affordable units and two supers' units. The total project cost is $135 million.

YWCA of Niagara Frontier Inc., Niagara County - $1.4 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the rehabilitation and conversion of a former YMCA service agency building into permanent supportive housing units. The project will provide eight units for homeless single women who are survivors of domestic violence. There will be four additional affordable units for low-income single women. The building will also house administrative offices and commercial space. The total development cost is $3.5 million.

Odyssey House, New York County - $1.6 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the development of 15 units of permanent supportive housing on 126th Street in East Harlem in New York City for homeless single adults with a serious mental illness. There will also be six affordable housing units. The proposed project includes demolition and new construction. The total project cost is $12 million.

Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy, Inc., Ontario County - $1.9 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the development of two buildings with nine units of permanent supportive housing in Canandaigua. Five of the units will be reserved for individuals with a history of substance abuse and four will be for homeless seniors over age 55. This is part of a 30-unit project with 21 affordable housing units. The total project cost is $9.5 million.

Mercy Haven, Suffolk County - $3.2 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the rehabilitation of three houses in Suffolk County. The project includes eight units of permanent supportive housing for families who are survivors of domestic violence. The total project cost is $3.2 million.

Lakeview Health Service, Inc., Tompkins County - $3.7 million
This funding, when combined with other sources, will support the development of 18 units of permanent supportive housing in the West End Heights neighborhood of Ithaca for 10 homeless individuals living with serious mental illness and eight homeless individuals living with substance abuse and/or HIV/AIDS. This is part of a 60-unit project that will also include 20 units licensed by the Office of Mental Health, as well as 22 units of affordable housing. The total project cost is $21.7 million.

These projects are part of Cuomo's $20 billion, five-year Homelessness and Affordable Housing Action Plan, which was announced in 2016. The plan aims to make housing more accessible and combat homelessness by building and preserving more than 100,000 units of affordable housing and 6,000 units of supportive housing. The plan is a comprehensive approach to statewide housing issues and includes multi-family and single-family housing, community development and rent stabilization.

Office of Temporary and Disability Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts said, "New York State has led the nation in the advancement of the idea that supportive services are needed to effectively provide housing for the more vulnerable members of society. Cuomo recognizes the importance of supportive housing to help those in need get back on their feet and work toward becoming self-sufficient."

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