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PROVIDENCE HOUSE, INC. VOLUME XXI. NO.1 February 2006
Providence House Heartline
Forging New Directions By Sister Janet Kinney, CSJ, Executive Director
T he beginning of a New Year
always gives one pause, and
the perennial questions and
reflections seem to surface: What have
I accomplished, wished I had done
differently? Where do I see myself in
the months ahead – where might I put
my best energy in 2006?
Looking back at the past 12
months, certainly our world saw
tremendous challenges – national
disasters across the globe and in our
country, the continuation of the war in
Iraq, the consequent escalation of
energy costs and the ever present need
for affordable housing. The women and
children served by Providence House
have been particularly affected by this
last challenge – the search for a place
they can call home. With the decline of
housing subsidy programs available, it
has become increasingly difficult to
find safe and affordable apartments, yet
Providence House in this past year has
been successful in stabilizing the living
homeless and/or have incarceration
histories. An on-site service team of
professionals will assist these women
as they make the transition to
independent living. More on this new
direction will follow as the work
progresses!
We know that many more
programs like this are needed to bridge
the widening gap for affordable and
supportive housing, and we were
heartened to hear this past fall that
Mayor Bloomberg & Governor Pataki
have committed themselves to a new
New York/New York III agreement, a $1
billion pact to finance and develop
9,000 new units of supportive housing
in New York City. It couldn’t have
happened sooner!
With your support, Providence
House will remain true to its mission
and continue to be “part of the
solution.” Thank you for joining us in
our quest!
NEW PROGRAMS IN PARK SLOPE
Y ou may recall that 3 years ago, we were looking for a
new location for Providence House II, which was then
located in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford
Stuyvesant. Through a most providential conversation we
became acquainted with Sister Kathleen Toner, IHM the
Director and Founder of Samaritan House of Park Slope, an
organization with a mission very similar to our own. Sister
Kathy was looking for an agency that would be interested in
renting one of Samaritan House’s three buildings for the
purpose of providing transitional housing to women and their
families.
We all know the happy ending for Providence House
to this story – several conversations later, and with some quick
renovations and a complete interior paint job, the Sisters, staff,
women and families of Providence House II moved to
Prospect Avenue, Park Slope, just days before Labor Day in
2003. Sadly for all who knew her, Sister Kathy, who had been
battling a serious medical illness for many years, passed away
that November.
After her death, the Board of Directors of Samaritan
House grappled with how best the work that Sister Kathy had
begun could continue and be administered. Because of the
many similarities in our mission and work, this past fall of
2005, the two organizations forged an agreement whereby
Providence House would assume the management of the
programs of Samaritan House. In addition to the house at
Prospect Avenue where Providence House II relocated, two
additional houses in Park Slope that provide permanent
housing for 5 tenants are also being managed by Providence
House. Providence House was pleased to honor the memory
of Sister Kathy Toner at its People of Hope Celebration in
June 2005, recognizing her many years of ministry and service
to the care of women and children. We were delighted that
Sister Maureen Cryan, IHM and Sister Kathy’s family could
be present to accept the honor in her memory.
situations of 157 women and 136
children, helping them to secure needed
services and jobs, and ultimately move
into their own apartments.
While we have prided ourselves
on the quality of the transitional and
permanent housing we have been able to
provide to these women and hundreds
others in years past, we know we need to
do more to address the growing re-
housing challenge in the New York
metropolitan area, especially for the
women who are transitioning from
prison.
As Providence House looks
ahead to where to put “our best energy
in 2006” we have committed ourselves
to being part of the solution for these
women as they search for suitable
apartments. With the full support of the
Board of Directors, Providence House is
in the development stage of a supportive
permanent housing program comprised
of 45 apartments that will serve 35
single women and 10 families who are
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
T hank you for your prayers and support in
sponsoring my run for Providence House in the
2005 ING New York City Marathon—26.2
Miles for 26.2 Years of Service.
Your generous response to my Marathon
Appeal helped raise more than $13,000 for the women
and children we shelter.
GRANTS
RTS Family Foundation $50,000
Fidelis Care $45,076
Switzer Foundation $6,000
Hyde & Watson Foundation $5,000
Lifeline Ministry Fund $5,000
D’Angelo Family Foundation 5,000
Vogler Foundation $3,000
Many thanks to the foundations
corporations, donors, friends and families
who continue to support Providence House
in its mission to serve homeless women and
children.
To Learn More on How You Can Support
Providence House, Please Visit our
Website:
www.providencehouse.org
THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS
DRIVE PARTICIPANTS
Holy Family School
Long Island University- HEOP Program
Mary Louis Academy
Our Lady of Guadalupe School
Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing
Resurrection Montessori School
The College of New Rochelle
St. Athanasius School
St. Bernadette School/Church
St. Charles Borromeo School
St. Columba’s RC Church
St. Edmund Preparatory High
St. Francis Cabrini
St. Joseph’s College
St. Joseph’s High School
St. Kevin School
St. Luke’s School
St. Mark’s Parrish
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church
St. Robert Bellermine School
St. Rose of Lima School
Limited Brands
Rabbi Laurie Phillips and the
Mandel Center for Jewish Education
Myra Peters
The Cody Family
Many thanks for all the joy you bring to us during the Holiday Season!
WOMEN SPEAK
PROVIDENCE HOUSE, INC.
703 Lexington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11221 Website: www.providencehouse.org Email: info@providencehouse.org (718) 455-0197 phone (718) 455-0692 fax
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID BROOKLYN, NY 11256
PERMIT NO. 84
P rovidence House
welcomed Jose
Ortiz as its Director
of Development in
September 2005. Jose has
had extensive experience in
the nonprofit arena, most
recently as a Development
Officer at the Cancer Research Institute,
and prior to that in the Office of
Development of the Archdiocese of New
York where he worked on special projects
and endowment efforts. With this issue,
Jose’s column, Development Notes will
keep you updated on Providence House’s
fundraising efforts as well as suggesting
small but significant ways that you can help
advance our mission of serving homeless
and formerly incarcerated women and their
children.
Remember Providence House in your Will
A bequest does not have to be large and is a meaningful way of ensuring Providence House’s future. We encourage you to talk to your attorney about making or updating your will. Providence House is grateful for any gift you can make through a bequest, no matter the amount.
Let Us Know If You Move Please remember to drop a note if you move. It will ensure that you get the Providence House newsletter in a timely manner and it will help us save on unnecessary postage costs.
Contact Jose Ortiz, Director of Development
718-455-0197, ext. #19 or email at ortizj@providencehouse.org
NEW ADDITIONS TO PROVIDENCE HOUSE STAFF
Tell a friend about Providence House You are our best fundraiser because you k n o w o f P r o v id e n c e H o u s e ’ s accomplishments in helping homeless women and their families get back on their feet. Tell a friend about us, share this newsletter and encourage them to consider helping Providence House. If you need additional newsletters or donation envelopes, contact our Development office.
Matching Gifts Does your place of employment offer an Employee Matching Gift Program? Your gift to Providence House can be doubled or even tripled – Find out! You can check if your company matches gifts by visiting the following website: http://www.case.org/ and click on the Matching Gifts section.
Taking Step to A Better Life
By, Tiffanylee Adorno
G rowing up
in a life of
struggles is
hard. I’m about to
hit my 20th birthday
and hitting a few
bumps in the road. I
live with my son Devin in Providence
House. It was a sign of relief when I found
out I was eligible for temporary housing. At
least I knew I had a place to stay for a while
with my son while I get some help in
getting my life situated. In July of 2005, I
took a step forward and asked for temporary
housing. I ended up at the EAU and then I
was sent to a hotel overnight.
The next morning I was taken to
Providence House. I was greeted by many
nice smiles. I didn't know what to expect,
but I was given a beautiful 1 bedroom
apartment. I received a box filled with basic
apartment needs and food until I was able to
open my public assistance case. Angela
Sims, the Housing Specialist and Shahara
Marerro the Case Manager, have been very
helpful to me. I am receiving assistance
with finding housing, jobs, and information
on other programs that will be helpful to
me. My son also goes to the Providence
House Child Care Center.
God has blessed me with Providence
House. I feel safe and am realizing that I
can become a stronger person for myself
and family. I am in the processing of
looking for colleges to attend so that I can
earn a degree, so that when I leave
Providence House I can be prepared for
what’s ahead of me.
I’m grateful for everything that has
happened here. Without Providence House I
would not know where I would be today.
S ylvia Samilton-
Baker, MA is the
new Program
Director at Providence
House 4 in New Rochelle.
She brings many years
of experience in the area of
human services and social work. She has
experience in many areas, including
substance abuse, immunology (HIV/AIDS),
homelessness and has worked with diverse
populations throughout the years. She is also
a yoga practitioner with over 20 years of
experience.
D E V E L O P M E N T N O T E S