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With significant funding from the Gannett Foundation, Gannett House opened in January, 1984 as a 19 unit homeless shelter for families and individuals. In the last ten years, Gannett House provided emergency shelter and supportive services to nearly 5,000 individuals. In 1986, we adopted the Dutchess County Coalition for the Homeless. DCCH was formed by a group of volunteers from local churches who began an overnight shelter. Their 5-bed shelter was completely run by volunteers who looked to HRH for staffing and administrative support. In 1988, we were designated a Neighborhood Preservation Company by New York State’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal. This designation provides us with administrative support to carry out housing and community development related activities in the City of Poughkeepsie. In 1991, we built two side-by-side townhomes on a vacant parcel on Smith Street in the City of Poughkeepsie. The homes were sold to first time homebuyers for $42,000 each. This demonstration project was remarkable for the “pride in homeownership” displayed by the owners, evidenced by the landscaping, decking, fencing and other amenities they did themselves. 1992 was a busy year for our agency. Recognizing the need to expand housing for the homeless beyond emergency shelter we developed new transitional housing for homeless adults, Hillcrest House. At a cost of $2.6 million, HRH substantially renovated the building creating 55 units of transitional housing for homeless adults. Residents live at Hillcrest House for up to two years, receiving case management support to regain self-sufficiency and control over their lives. Hillcrest House became the new home of the DCCH overnight shelter, expanding from 5 to 12 beds in the south wing of the building. Our DCCH overnight shelter is a marvelous demonstration of community and volunteer support – each night, two volunteers from the community spend the evening at the shelter. Currently 26 organizations, primarily churches, adopt a night or provide meals for the shelter guests. Last year, the shelter housed over 359 individuals. The screening site for the shelter is located at the First Congregational Church on Mill Street. Hudson River Housing also purchased and rehabilitated four buildings in the City of Poughkeepsie in 1992, creating 12 permanent rental apartments for homeless families. Known as our Maximize program, families receive case management support in these affordable rental units. In addition to the units we own and operate, we provide case management services for the City of Poughkeepsie’s Section 8 Family Self Sufficiency program. Up to 25 existing Section 8 families are eligible to participate in this program. We also operate a Shelter Plus Care program that provides ten units of rental housing for homeless families for whom at least one family member has a severe mental illness. Families receive both the rental subsidy and case management support. In 1995, we partnered with the Regan Development Corporation along with the City of Poughkeepsie to build ten, two-family homes on scattered, vacant lots in the City. Each home was sold to a first time homebuyer. In 1996, we conceived the Garden Street Revitalization Project, a two-phase comprehensive plan to restore Poughkeepsie’s worst residential block. Phase I, in partnership with Ken Kearney, has been substantially completed, creating 25 rental units and a commercial store. Today, we are happy to report that 25 new families are living on Garden Street. Phase II, the rehabilitation of the Queen Row structures in the middle
of Garden street was completed in 2003, creating We sponsor Anchor Based Neighborhood Revitalization, a revitalization strategy for the three-block area surrounding the Garden Street project. Our building conditions survey made clear that the area had more than its share of blight, yet it was surrounded by large, anchor type institutions with the potential to contribute to neighborhood restoration. ABNR continues to support initiatives in this area. In 1997 we began work on our Ten Home Initiative project by taking over and rehabilitating a house on North White Street. We took over this project from YRDC in 1997 and sold this completely renovated two family house in 1998. HRH also restored a single family home at 145 Mansion Street and sold it to Aintoinette McKenzie, a first time homebuyer. Ms. McKenzie completed our First Home Club program, an education and support program for first time homebuyers, and received $5,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank to assist her with down payment and closing costs. These two projects were instrumental in New York State’s decision to fund our Ten Home Initiative – a project to restore up to 10, one and two family abandoned houses for homeownership. This project received the full support of the Poughkeepsie Common Council in a resolution to transfer up to ten city owned properties. In 2002 we completed the restoration and sale of 134 Mansion Street and 149 Mansion Street as the next two houses in the Ten Home Initiative. Additional homeownership projects are slated for Mansion Street and North Hamilton Street in the City of Poughkeepsie. As mentioned, Hudson River Housing is providing first time homebuyers the education and access to financial assistance to overcome barriers to homeownership. To date, 382 families have participated in our Home Club program. 267 have graduated and 53 families have already successfully purchased their first home! We plan to expand our Homeownership Education Programs with the addition of employer based programs. Future plans also call for Landlord Training, and additional Community Organizing activities. In 1999 the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation selected Hudson River Housing to become a NeighborWorks chartered member. Established by an act of Congress in 1978, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation’s mission includes the revitalization of declining neighborhoods, particularly by improving and expanding affordable housing. In 2000 we purchased 313 Mill Street, an abandoned office building, to serve as our new administrative office. The site allowed us to relocate to the City of Poughkeepsie where so much of our activity occurs. Also in 2000, Hudson River Housing adopted River Haven, an existing program that had been serving runaway and homeless youth since 1980. The integration of River Haven's services with those of HRH created a more comprehensive and seamless continuum of services for homeless people of all ages. River Haven's emergency shelter is located at 45 Catharine Street in Poughkeepsie, and its transitional housing program is located at 305-307 Mill Street. In 1997, HRH was the sole respondent to the City of Poughkeepsie’s Request for Proposals for the re-development of Harlow Row. Long vacant and abandoned, Harlow Row is a crown jewel among city architecture. Architect and former mayor, William Harlow, built it in 1874. Hudson River Housing completely restored this beautiful building in just over one year. Reopened in fall of 2002, this national historic landmark now consists of eight completely renovated low-income rental units, as well as four commercial office suites on the first floor. The project has already won an award from the Dutchess County Planning Federation, and has been nominated for both State and National awards. With the restoration complete, we have significantly contributed to the process of building on the City’s investment in Soldiers Fountain and expanding upon the restoration of the southern gateway to the City of Poughkeepsie. In 2003 HRH began operation of its newest venture; a traditional motel
featuring daily and monthly rates, and an Also added in 2003, LaGrange House, case management services based out of 313 Mill Street, will serve formerly homeless individuals and families whose present living conditions are not permanent. Staff will assess the client's strengths, weaknesses and ability to obtain and retain permanent housing. At that point new housing will be sought. Today, Hudson River Housing is responsible for over 287 units of rental housing with more on the way. This year we expect to house 3,000 individuals. We have grown to a staff of close to 100 people and our budget this year is $4.5 million dollars. Our partners and collaborators are too numerous to mention, but we recognize that our work would not be possible without them. Hudson River Housing is proud of its past accomplishments and we are eager to face today’s challenges. We must continue to strengthen our continuum of care for homeless men, women and children in Dutchess County by constantly assessing the needs of this fragile population, and by seeking innovative and effective ways of providing services. We must continue our work in the City of Poughkeepsie on community revitalization, increasing the homeownership rate, creating affordable rental housing, eliminating blight and restoring deteriorated properties. The challenges are great. Our approach is both straightforward and grassroots.
Under the leadership of our board of directors, we seek to build upon
and strengthen our relationship with the City of Poughkeepie at all levels
– with its residents, staff and elected officials. Through dialogue,
collaboration and partnership, together, we are making a difference!
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