The Latest from United We Dream ... Breaking Ground ... Coalition for the Homeless

The families of five Hudson Valley men are heading to Washington today to highlight their ongoing detentions by ICE. A press release from United We Dream states that families of Jorge Sarango, Manuel Armando Arpi, Manuel Zhinin, Cristobal Paute and Jose Saeteros have been detained for months. The families plan to lobby Republican lawmakers against two immigration bills that are slated to come up for a vote on Thursday.

A big deal is in the making for Breaking Ground. Curbed New York reports that the homeless services provider and affordable housing developer is about to lock down a property near the Brooklyn waterfront previously owned by the Kushner Companies, which along with LIVWRK sold its stake in 90 Sands to RFR Realty a year ago for $135 million.

The nonprofit plans to begin a year-long renovation of the former Jehovah Witnesses building early next year, Curbed reports. The 30-story building currently has 507 apartments, 380 of which are studies with an additional 127 one-bedroom apartments. Apartments post-renovation would be available for low-income people and families, and formerly homeless individuals.

The New York City Department of Homeless Services was quick to tout a decrease in street homelessness, but this 6 percent drop in the New York City street homeless population is besides the point, according to Giselle Routhier, policy director for the Coalition for the Homeless. Her comments came after the release this week of the latest Homeless Outreach Population Estimate by the city. Here’s what she said in a June 19 statement:

“The city’s annual estimate of the number of homeless people living on the streets is more PR than substance. Instead of celebrating a small decrease in this notoriously inaccurate count, the City should focus on the only thing that will really make a difference: permanent affordable housing.

If the Mayor wants to reduce the number of people living on our city’s streets, he needs to make sure that 10 percent of the 300,000 units being built or preserved under his affordable housing plan are specifically set aside for homeless New Yorkers – including 24,000 new construction units – and needs to further accelerate the number of supportive housing units coming online.

Real housing solutions and robust homelessness prevention, together with safer and better shelter conditions, are the formula for solving street homelessness.”

Golf drove a record fundraising haul in Muttontown, Long Island for an annual event benefitting SCO Family of Services. The $89,000 raised on June 18 at the 38th annual golf tournament will go towards helping young and adult women deal with trauma at a facility in Long Island, according to the press release.

The event also recognized Jackie Tyree Kos and Al Kos of Farmingdale for their contributions to those efforts. Jackie has been involved with the organization for 40 years as a charter member of the Madonna Heights Ladies Auxiliary. She also brought in her husband Al who over the years has fulfilled tasks such as annual performances as Santa Claus.

The Arc Westchester also has doubled down on golf fundraisers. A press release states that more than $260,000 was raised at its 18th annual Golf for Kids event in Mamaroneck. The money will benefit children with autism, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. More than 110 golfers took part this year.  

Send your press releases, photos, and word of your latest happenings to reporter Zach Williams at zwilliams@nynmedia.com.