FY24 Annual Report
Letter from the CEO
Dear Partners,
Thank you for saving the homes of 5,600 New Yorkers this past year.
Because of you, The Partnership was able to expand its reach by 80% in FY24, intervening to make our programs – rental arrears payments, benefits support, rapid rehousing, counseling, casework and training – available to thousands of families, preventing them from losing their homes at a fraction of the cost of shelter. Your impact this year translates to a savings of $216M in public spending on shelter.
Instead of a life defined by the traumatic instability of going into shelter, being displaced from their communities and friends and experiencing disrupted work and school attendance, our clients can leverage their homes as the safe base that makes it possible to sleep, make and share food, go to school and work, have fun, imagine, dream and develop. As it is for all of us, home is the place where they can be.
Throughout this report, the voices of clients like Eloise and Teja, supporters like José R. González, Niall O’Neill and Neela Hanuman, volunteers like Simon and many other stakeholders share reflections on the meaning of their homes and their wish for all NYC children and families to also have the solid foundation of a safe home.
At The Partnership, we are proud and honored to work every day to realize your vision of a city in which our collective society protects families’ homes.
Thank you for partnering with us to prevent and end homelessness.
Áine Duggan
President and CEO
What does home mean to you?
FY24 Impact
Home means everything: stability; providing a home for my daughter because she loves being close to school; and, not having to fear looking for a new apartment….”
–Eloisa, Client
The Partnership’s upstream intervention program model combines housing and crisis services with mental health, support and education programming to prevent people from losing their homes. In FY24, our impact increased by 80% and included:
- We saved 2,240 homes for 5,600 New Yorkers
- Our FY24 impact translates to a savings of $216M in public spending on shelter
- All households served received varied combinations of crisis intervention, housing assistance, benefits navigation, referrals and casework based on their needs
- Our programs were expanded from the Save Homes rental assistance program and Sound Homes mental health program to include the Safe Homes rapid rehousing program for New Yorkers who are losing their homes due to domestic and gender-based violence
- Across FY23 and FY24, the first two years of our current three-year strategy, we saved homes for 3,000 and 5,600 New Yorkers, which translates to a combined savings of $332M in public spending on shelter ($116M in FY23 and $216M in FY24)
Largely concentrated in low-income neighborhoods in the Bronx and Brooklyn, the majority of clients served are women and children of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant and older New Yorkers; many are living with complex trauma. Compared to our FY23 data, more clients are working but their households are poorer.
- Women’s households account for 86% of our clients
- Almost all (96%) clients identify as people of color
- More than two-thirds (68%) of clients are working, up from 57% in FY23
- Almost two in five (78%) households are living below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), up from 70% in FY23
- Almost all households (97%) are living below 50% of the AMI
- LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers account for three in five (60%) of our Safe Homes rapid rehousing program
- The average age of adult clients is 47, and 10% are close to or in retirement
- Clients cite ill-health, loss of employment and death in the family as the top three drivers of experiencing rental arrears, with more than 50% reporting ill-health
- More than half (52%) of clients reside in the Bronx, while a quarter (23%) live in Brooklyn, 13% in Manhattan, 10% in Queens and 2% in Staten Island
Borough Breakdown
Percentage of clients served by borough
Teja’s Story
At home in central Brooklyn is the place where Teja (44 years old), and her children Isa (16) and Jayden (12) are grateful to be. When Teja first came to The Partnership, on the advice of a woman she met while in housing court, she was feeling crushed under the stress of facing an eviction and the related worry about her children losing their home and ending up in a shelter. She was terrified that Isa, who was aware of the situation and had started talking about leaving school to get a job, would end up dropping her studies and the basketball games she loved so much, losing out on the college path she had been working hard to achieve, and that Jayden’s health and security would be irreparably damaged in the turmoil of experiencing homelessness
Teja could hardly believe the family’s future was looking so bleak when just a year earlier they had felt so secure; although their household income left little for extras, Teja’s hospital administrative role combined with her partner’s income had given them enough to cover the rent and household expenses as well as juggle their schedules to take their son, who is living with a disability, to medical appointments and pay for medications not fully covered by insurance.
The first hint of difficulty crept in with the death of Teja’s grandmother who had raised her; the family fell behind on bills as Teja chipped in with other family members to cover the funeral costs. While they were still recovering from that setback, her partner left the home and relationship suddenly, leaving Teja and the children to fend for themselves. The emotional trauma was exacerbated by the immediate loss of household income, both the loss of her partner’s income and a portion of Teja’s income when she needed to reduce her schedule to manage her son’s medical needs. Teja fell further behind on bills as she prioritized paying for her son’s medication and when the next rent day cycled around and Teja discovered that her partner had been hiding that he had not been making all the rent payments over the previous year, the last fragment of her sense of security unraveled. As the letters threatening court and eviction started to arrive, the very sight of her mailbox began to make her panic.
By the time Teja first spoke to a member of the housing team at The Partnership, she had lost hope and was in survival mode. Despite her efforts to keep her family safe, the government assistance for which she had applied was still pending and did not look like it would come through in time to stop the eviction, and she was worried that she would lose her job if she went into shelter and could not juggle her son’s schedule and commute with her own. The team immediately got to work, giving Teja support to navigate the government benefits system to secure the arrears assistance for which the family qualified and to simultaneously work with the landlord and court system to stop the eviction. Additionally, with our counseling support and a $5,260 arrears grant to bring her rent to balance, she was able to secure her home and focus on rebuilding her family’s security. Her children finished the school year and were able to keep their summer sports and study plans with friends. Jayden is now doing well in his final year of middle school and Teja has more family support to escort him to medical appointments. Isa is working toward a college scholarship, all thoughts of leaving school a distant memory. Teja has stabilized her work schedule and after dinner each evening, she enjoys spending time researching options for her children’s ongoing education paths and futures. Teja has continued with counseling to process the trauma she lived through this last year and feels that for the first time she has the space and safety to grieve her relationship breakup and the loss of her grandmother.
–Teja’s Story
Working In Partnership
“Home is my bedrock. It is where I raised my family, and where so many foundational memories reside. It is a place to return to, to relax and recharge and focus on what comes next. Our homes provide a place from which we build ourselves and our communities. The stability a home provides is a comfort and strength that we all must strive to ensure is available to everyone.”
—José R. González, President and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York
Partnership is the heart of The Partnership; the organization serves as the connective framework for supporters who seek to provide the means to clients to save and stabilize their homes.
Our work is made possible by our partners. Our support is comprised by approximately one third each from individuals, corporate/foundation and government partners, including Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, Trinity Church, the Keith Haring Foundation, the Estate of Lynn Diamond, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, the NYS Office of Temporary Disability Assistance and thousands more institutional supporters and individual donors.
Individual Supporters
Our individual supporters recognize the meaning of home and that the crises families face are temporary, could happen to many of us and are best addressed by stepping in before disaster hits.
Niall’s Story:
“Over two decades ago, I was a newcomer to NYC and I am grateful that I have always had a roof over my head and somewhere to call home in this city. However, I am conscious that so many of us New Yorkers are just one unfortunate event beyond our control from housing insecurity. It could be illness, loss of employment, unforeseen financial burdens, or changes in domestic and family circumstances. My own mother was widowed when I was a two-year-old child and she raised my brother and I in a single parent household during some very troubled times where I grew up.
Although the specter of financial insecurity always loomed in the background, and while we did not have much as kids, my mother worked hard to ensure we had the essentials in life, a solid education, and a loving and safe home. I have had friends and family to support me through difficult times, but I am aware that not everyone in this city is so fortunate and some may have nobody to rely upon in an emergency. I am a firm believer that timely intervention to prevent homelessness is crucial to providing a stable family life and safeguarding the future for children. I understand that even a modest financial contribution to The Partnership can make a meaningful difference to someone who is struggling to hold on to dependable accommodation. And, as the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure.”
–Niall O’Neill, Individual Donor for two decades
Sponsors
Our impact is made possible by our generous sponsors who believe in ending homelessness by supporting cost-effective, humanitarian and innovative upstream interventions. They understand that prevention saves homes for individuals and families at risk of homelessness, while also benefiting landlords, preserving affordable housing and strengthening communities. Their support allows us to save thousands of homes and signals that prevention is a strategy that should be expanded across the city.
A Foundation Partner, the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York's (FHLBNY) generous support over the past three years has positioned The Partnership to build its prevention services, saving homes for more than 11,000 New Yorkers, and has led the way for many more sponsors to increase the reach of our prevention approach.
Neela’s Story:
“Home is more than just a physical space. It is a safe and stable foundation from where individuals and communities grow. A safe and secure home is where we find comfort after a long day, where families create memories, and where individuals feel a sense of love, support, and security. For families facing the trauma of homelessness, that sense of a safe, stable home is eliminated. Which is why ensuring people have the means and support to stay in their homes is so critical.
I used to think of homelessness as something that could only be addressed by providing shelter and related services after someone had already lost their home. But learning about prevention has opened my eyes to the fact that we can intervene earlier and prevent eviction and all the resulting challenges that affect individuals, including children, who experience homelessness. Prevention isn’t about providing a short-term solution. It’s providing a holistic approach that includes financial support as well as mental health and well-being services to prevent eviction and homelessness. Which is why FHLBNY is proud to support The Partnership to End Homelessness in their efforts to eradicate homelessness by preventing it. The Save Homes Campaign takes a well-rounded approach to preventing homelessness and avoiding the trauma of homelessness.
Investing in homelessness prevention is likely the most economical and most impactful way to address homelessness. It is more economical to keep people in their homes than it is to house them in shelters. Preventing evictions does not just keep families in their homes, but also contributes to the ongoing strength of the local community. Families stay together, children remain in schools, and individuals can maintain their mental and emotional health. Investing in homelessness prevention is a compassionate, cost-effective way to address homelessness.”
–Neela Hanuman, on behalf of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York
Volunteers
This year, a new group of volunteers came together to form the organization’s first Young Professionals junior board. The group works to increase the reach and impact of The Partnership by bringing young professionals into the organization who are committed to forwarding its mission through education, engagement and fundraising. The 15 committed inaugural members, from a variety of NYC corporations, will be hosting awareness and fundraising events in FY25.
Simon’s Story:
“As someone who experienced homelessness in my childhood, The Partnership’s mission of ‘ending homelessness by preventing it’ immediately resonated with me. The generosity of my former pastor who offered his home to my family – my parents, my two older siblings, and myself – is the key reason my family was able to get onto our feet, which led to me eventually graduating high school, going to college, and now living in New York City with a successful career in finance. Being a member of the junior board is an opportunity for me to give back to those who face similar challenges I faced earlier in my life, and I am excited for the opportunity to partner with such a great organization.”
—Simon Mwape, Associate, Fundraising & Investor Relations, Silver Lake Partners and Volunteer, Young Professionals junior board
About The Partnership
“Home is my sacred place; where I feel safe and comfortable.”
–Tifany Montero, Senior Manager of Benefits and Services, Health and Well-being Program
Values and Mission
The Partnership To End Homelessness’ values – compassion, inclusion, integrity, professionalism and social justice – steer our strategy, decision-making and operations as we work to achieve our mission of ending homelessness by preventing it.
The Partnership is a homelessness prevention organization. Our upstream intervention model combines housing assistance and crisis services with mental health and education programming to prevent people from losing their homes. Our services are available to New Yorkers of any ability, age, family type, gender, national origin, race and sexual orientation who are at risk of, experiencing or recovering from homelessness.
History and FY23-26 Strategy
The Partnership’s 40-year history began with a focus on street homelessness, including overnight shelter and drop-in center services. In response to client demand, the work transitioned to crisis and housing services for New Yorkers most vulnerable to homelessness: women and children of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant and older New Yorkers. Based on a multi-year assessment of impact, need and service gaps, our team launched a FY23 strategy of ending homelessness by preventing it (and changed our name from The Partnership for the Homeless to The Partnership To End Homelessness).
1 in 5 NYC children lives in a home in arrears and is at risk of experiencing homelessness
The Case for Prevention:
Prevention is the most humanitarian and cost-effective way to end homelessness
Our work demonstrates that prevention is the most needed, humanitarian, cost-effective and possible way to end homelessness:
- Most NYC homelessness is invisible to most New Yorkers. Homelessness is primarily a story about women and children of color, disproportionately hurt by domestic violence, evictions and overcrowding in a city with a dearth of housing assistance.
800K New Yorkers in 317K homes are in arrears
They represent 90% of NYC’s homelessness crisis
- New York’s homelessness story includes, less than one percent (4,000 people), experiencing street homelessness; 10 percent (90K) living in shelters and 90 percent (800K including 222K children; 1 in 5 city children) living in 317K homes in rental arrears, at risk of eviction.
- Of the 90K people currently in shelters, 33K children account for almost two in five (38%); families account for 77% (90% headed by women); and, 95%+ identify as people of color.
- Homelessness is intergenerational. Less than half of children in shelter graduate high school, putting them at a heightened risk of future homelessness with their own children.
- Many women at risk of or experiencing homelessness live with complex trauma, due to histories of child abuse and/or domestic violence. Many have not had access to therapy.
Prevention saves lives and money and is good for families, landlords and communities:
- Saves money. Average NYC household rent arrears bill of $3,500 v. Average cost of shelter provision for a family of approx. $100,000.
- Saves landlords. Prevention saves landlords expensive housing court costs and processing time; rent payments facilitate landlords meeting mortgage payments and other building costs.
- Saves affordable housing. When a family loses their home, the cost of that home increases; saving homes retains affordability. Prevention also requires ongoing annual investments in the creation of new affordable housing to save the city’s stock of homes.
- Saves communities. When a family loses their home, they lose the stability and support of community, and communities and schools experience fracturing and instability. Saving homes facilitates community safety and development.
Programs
Our upstream intervention program model combines housing and crisis services with mental health, support and education programming to prevent people from losing their homes. This past year, the Partnership’s programs were expanded from the Save Homes rental assistance program and Sound Homes mental health program to include the Safe Homes rapid rehousing program.
In tandem with these interventions, we stabilize families by providing crisis intervention services and casework to give clients access to government benefits, education access, financial empowerment, emergency food programs, childcare, small cash grants, assistance via our on-site pantry and other emergency services.
Save Homes
Our rental arrears assistance program is a full grant payment (no loans) that is accessible to immigrants and citizens, regardless of employment status. We provide rental assistance as a first step to keeping New Yorkers safely housed... Read more »
Safe Homes
Our rapid rehousing program serves clients who are experiencing domestic and gender-based violence that prevents them from remaining in their current homes. We work with New Yorkers impacted by violence to find new safe homes... Read more »
Sound Homes
Our mental health and well-being provides clients access to culturally competent mental health screenings; one-on-one counseling (in-person and via telehealth); peer support; facilitated workshops and groups on topics such as sexual trauma, parenting and tenant’s rights and responsibilities... Read more »
