difference the
Care for the Homeless
spring newsletter 2013
because of you,
families find strength, support & hope
W
hen Raz’s husband passed away, she was a young mother who fell into depression and turned to drugs for comfort. “I had a history of addiction. My drug of choice was heroin, but after he died, I started smoking crack,” says Raz. While in a recovery program, she met someone and became pregnant. “I got diabetes during the pregnancy and was very overweight, over 200 pounds,” she continued. The small family moved from one homeless shelter to another. Her long journey to recovery began with a visit to Anisha Perez-Miller, medical case manager for Care for the Homeless. “It took me a while to realize I could be more.” says Raz. “I felt like Anisha was one of the first and few to believe me and now I believe in myself—for me and family. Today I participate in my life,” says Raz. After overcoming her addiction to drugs and leaving an abusive relationship, Raz said Anisha inspired her to work on her depression and her weight. Going Raz and her family graciously shared their story of survival for this to the gym and working out lifted her spirits, and in time, she publication. Thanks to you, Raz and thousands of families like hers regained her physical health and strength. Last fall, she started have hope for the future. a 12-step program as part of her long-term recovery plan. She asthma, for regular check-ups and critical still visits Anisha regularly and sees Dr. Salim and Dr. Toussaint in the clinic. in january 2013 prescriptions. When asked what the clinic means to her, Raz says: “I have people. Even A busy mom with two children, ages 5 and if there’s a problem with the Medicaid, it’s 3, Raz has goals for the future. “I want to like you won’t be turned away. The clinic was get out of the system—not just the shelter always here for me and my kids.” system, out of food stamps, out of Medicaid. of nyc kids or Extraordinary care—the kind New York’s What I would really like to do is focus on my homeless individuals and families count on at education and getting out on my own two feet. Care for the Homeless clinics, the kind that I’m looking at schools for radiology. One day, integrates medical and mental health with a I want to become an x-ray technician.” focus on those most vulnerable, the kind that The Wall Street Journal reported in March slept each night changes lives, providing hope, healing and 2013 that “more than 21,000 children - an in a city shelter. recovery—is only possible thanks to donors unprecedented 1% of the city’s youth - slept -Wall street journal, march 4, 2013 like you. In 2012, Care for the Homeless each night in a city shelter in January” and served 8,432 homeless men, women and “homeless families now spend more than a children at over 30 sites throughout the city, year in a shelter on average, for the first time providing critical care regardless of a person’s ability to pay or since 1987.” With record numbers of individuals and families insurance coverage. experiencing homelessness in New York City, the Care for the Homeless mission is more important than ever. Click HERE for more in The Care for the Homeless clinic is open two days a week our Storytelling series. in Raz’s shelter. She brings her youngest, who has severe
1%
21,000
we are the only health care organization dedicated exclusively to serving homeless people of all ages in nyc.
caring ending
for homeless new yorkers
C
the cycle of homelessness
are for the Homeless’ services are provided in more than 30 service sites throughout New York City to between 8,000 and 10,000 homeless men, women and children every year. In addition to the clinics throughout New York, we operate Susan’s Place, a 200-bed shelter in the Bronx for mentally ill and medically frail homeless women. Our staff numbers 100 employees, which is three times larger than five years ago. Our growth is possible because of your support. “I choose to work with the homeless. It’s different than any other job because their problems are so challenging. I’m seeing patients who are coming from serious situations. They have no health insurance and haven’t been to see a doctor in years. They are coming from sleeping in the subways, from domestic violence, from Sandy. I’m the first person they come across at the shelter. I can lend a listening ear, give them a hug, and treat them. I feel like I’m truly able to make a difference, one person at a time.” - Fiona Smith-Cambry, Nurse Practitioner
100
employees
health shelter/housing administration management
51 27 12 10
$16
million budget
$
$.86 of every dollar donated funds direct program costs
33,627 8,432
clients served in 2012
visits in 2012 to more than
30
clinics
Executive Director BobbY Watts addresses the crowd at a rally in washington D.C. during the national health care for the homeless conference in march.
“Homelessness is a solvable problem. Public policy choices created modern-day homelessness, and different policies can end homelessness as we know it... “When I ask students for some reasons why people become homeless, the list usually centers around the individuals’ shortcomings—there’s mental illness, substance addiction, they are unemployed, or don’t make enough to afford rent. Consider homelessness, though, from a public policy point of view: We don’t have enough mental health services. Our educational system doesn’t prepare people for work. Our minimum wage isn’t a living wage. Society has not decided to make housing affordable for everyone... “We know which policies work to end homelessness. For too long we have accepted the unacceptable and tolerated the intolerable. We can change policies now and end homelessness.” -G. Robert Watts, MPH, MS, Executive Director, Care for the Homeless
The message above are excerpts from Mr. Watts’ address to 800 attendees at the National Health Care for the Homeless Conference in Washington DC, March 2013. Read more—including Mr. Watts’ recent New York Times Letter to the Editor—and join our fight to end homelessness HERE.
Care for the Homeless needs your voice. Become an advocate. Homelessness is preventable.
new initiative
young leadership group raises funds and awareness
In January, Care for the Homeless launched our Leadership Council, a group of diverse young professionals in their 20s and 30s who promote and support CFH through social, educational, leadership, and fundraising activities and events. For more information on the Leadership Council’s upcoming events and volunteer projects, please friend us on Facebook. Interested Members of the 2013 CFH Leadership Council include (l-r) Arlene Ellis, Farah in applying for next year’s Council? Sheikh, Shuchi Agarwal, MD, Madeline Dolgin, Fatima Sheikh, Shani Penn, Dominiq S. Williams, Caroline Pocock and Aimee Uchytil, RN and (not pictured) Maggie Please contact Dawne Bell, Director of Development, at dbell@cfhnyc.org or Connors, Jessica Cohn, Lauren Newcorn, Amaka Nneji and Shauna Perlman. (212) 366-4459 for more information.
how you can help CRITICAL NEEDS: Travel-sized toiletries Gently used and new children’s books Sunscreen Socks (new, adult and children’s sizes)
partnership ali forney center hit hard by hurricane sandy
The day after the Hurricane Sandy, all but one of Care for the Homeless’ 30+ service sites opened on schedule to meet increased needs. Our clinic at The Ali Forney Center, a nonprofit partner that serves homeless LGBT youth, was destroyed by the storm. “What happened next seemed like a miracle,” according to The Ali Forney Center
Looking for a fun, easy way to give back? Organize a collection drive at your office, church or synagogue, school or home! We’ll give you posters, ideas and support. Sign up with Ryan Brinson by calling (212) 366-4459 or emailing rbrinson@cfhnyc.org today. To donate, drop off items at our administrative offices at 30 E. 33rd Street, on the fifth floor (between Park & Madison) during business hours.
Executive Director Carl Siciliano. “Another nonprofit quickly offered a new space for their drop-in center and our clinic in Harlem and donations followed. Services are now operational and both our organizations look to the future with plans to expand hours and respond to growing needs among runaways and homeless youth.” Care for the Homeless was very fortunate. This storm was a wake-up call, and we continue to improve our emergency preparedness plans for when disaster strikes. Even before the storm, our city faced a homelessness crisis. Now more than ever, your support of Care for the Homeless’ mission to prevent, ameliorate and end homelessness is critical.
Our mission: Care for the Homeless fights homelessness by providing high-quality and clientcentered healthcare, human services, and shelter to homeless individuals and families and by advocating for policies to ameliorate, prevent, and end homelessness. We print four publications a year. If you prefer to receive Care for the Homeless news electronically, please email Ryan Brinson at rbrinson@cfhnyc.org or subscribe online at www.careforthehomeless.org. Care for the Homeless does not sell or share its mailing list with any third party.
every dollar counts! Our 2013 Annual Campaign is underway. This year, your gifts will support:
expanding dental clinic services for adults and children in queens purchasing and renovating a mobile medical clinic increasing mental health services and wellness workshops at more sites Giving online is easy, secure and quick. Just click here to donate!
Care for the Homeless is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN 13-3666994) Contact us by email at info@cfhnyc.org or by phone at (212) 366-4459
volunteering is the gift anyone can afford. be a part of changing someone's life today.
last night, nearly 50,000 homeless men, women and children slept in a new york city shelter.
new yorkers deserve better.
together we can solve this. Care for the Homeless 30 E. 33rd Street Fifth Floor New York, NY 10016 212-366-4459 www.careforthehomeless.org