Mr. Kawitzky to Oversee Organization’s Rapidly Expanding Real Estate Development Pipeline to Tackle Housing and Homelessness Crisis Head On
NEW YORK – Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) announced today that Simon Kawitzky, a seasoned housing and real estate leader with more than 15 years of experience across the public and private sectors, has joined the organization’s leadership team as Senior Vice President of Real Estate. He will oversee the organization’s housing development, asset management, and facilities maintenance functions.
Mr. Kawitzky brings deep expertise in developing and preserving affordable housing in New York City, with a focus on innovative design and incorporating community input. His experience will be a powerful catalyst as VOA-GNY rapidly expands its pipeline of affordable housing and temporary shelter projects. The organization is anticipated to leverage $550 million in public and private investment to develop 1,000 units of affordable housing over the next five years.
Prior to joining VOA-GNY, Mr. Kawitzky served as Vice President at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), where he was responsible for advancing comprehensive rehabilitation and rebuilding projects under the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program. Previously, he was an Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), where he directed comprehensive neighborhood housing plans and redevelopment projects.
Mr. Kawitzky began his career in housing development and urban planning at Jonathan Rose Companies. He holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Pratt Institute and a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College. In 2022, he received the Ibo Balton Community Planner Award from the Citizens Housing & Planning Council in recognition of his leadership embedding new community planning processes into NYCHA’s real estate work.
“Simon has dedicated his career to ensuring a more equitable and affordable New York through housing and community development initiatives that are truly responsive to the voices of local residents,” said Dr. Jeffrey Ginsburg, President and CEO of VOA-GNY. “We are excited to welcome Simon to our leadership team and look forward to working together on solutions that match the magnitude and urgency of the crisis facing our communities.”
VOA-GNY’s development pipeline includes Hillside Grove, a major community development project near the North Shore of Staten Island that will advance housing, nutrition, and environmental justice on one campus. The project includes replacing a sanitation depot, which the local community has pushed to decommission for decades, with more than 230 units of affordable housing and a grocery store in a neighborhood classified as a food desert.
“I am honored to join the team of compassionate and highly dedicated experts at VOA-GNY to create safe, supportive, and affordable homes for residents of New York and Northern New Jersey,” said Simon Kawitzky, VOA-GNY’s new Senior Vice President of Real Estate. “VOA-GNY has a long history of partnering with the public and private sectors to serve our most vulnerable communities, and I look forward to helping the organization lead the charge in tackling the region’s pressing challenges.”
In recognition of its track record of developing innovative and high-quality affordable housing, VOA-GNY earlier this year received a $20 million commitment from a private donor that will allow the organization to rapidly deploy capital for land acquisition and other pre-development costs, which the organization aims to use to double the number of units in its housing development pipeline. The New York region continues to battle a historic affordability crisis that is increasingly displacing longtime residents. Rents continue to rise as the vacancy rate in New York City for residential properties sits at a record low of 1.4% and the region continues to experience levels of homelessness not seen since the Great Depression.
About Volunteers of America-Greater New York
Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) is an anti-poverty organization with a rich 129-year history of serving its neighbors in need. The organization’s vision is fueled by its experience as a leading provider of services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness in the Greater New York area. Through 70+ programs located in New York City, Northern New Jersey, and Westchester County—including emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing—VOA-GNY delivers services to more than 35,000 adults and children annually. It is also the largest provider of residential services for veterans within a coalition that has virtually ended chronic homelessness for veterans in New York City. For more information, visit www.voa-gny.org.