News

January 2, 2025

Rendering of Hillside Grove in Staten Island.

December 19, 2024

Volunteers of America-Greater New York along with elected officials and community leaders were urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the SAFE Shelter Act that would help single domestic violence survivors have access to safe shelter.

December 12, 2024

Noelle Withers, Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer Volunteers of America-Greater New York, was recognized by City & State New York as one of their 2023 Above & Beyond Innovators.

November 22, 2024

“We have a responsibility to meet domestic violence survivors where they are at when seeking shelter. The SAFE Shelter Act would ensure that providers can serve those who need it most without risking fiscal insolvency. Signing this legislation is a logical and important next step for Gov. Hochul to take to ensure New York is a safe haven for domestic violence survivors — no matter whether they are on this journey with family members or alone.” Catherine Trapani, AVP of Public Policy at Volunteers of America-Greater New York joins Wendy Linsalata, Executive Director of L.I. AgainstDomestic Violence, urging Governor Hochul…

September 21, 2024

Noelle Withers, EVP & Chief Program Officer at VOA-GNY, was featured in The New York Times, responding to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy’s op-ed on supporting parents’ mental health. “In the U.S., infants are the most likely age group to stay in a homeless shelter. In New York City, nearly 30,000 children on average were living in a shelter last year, 13,000 of whom on average were 5 years old or younger. As a leading homeless services provider, we know firsthand that the concerns outlined by Dr. Murthy are amplified for parents experiencing housing insecurity and poverty.” Read the full…

September 20, 2024

In the latest episode of The Urbanist from Monocle, hosted by Andrew Tuck, VOA-GNY President & CEO Jeffrey Ginsburg joins Fernando Villa of Magnusson Architecture and Planning to discuss how thoughtful architectural design can help foster community and reduce isolation in senior housing. Our East Clarke Place Senior Residence and soon-to-open Andrews Avenue Senior Residence, both designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning, encourage connection and socialization among residents, helping to create a sense of community and fight the health risks associated with loneliness in seniors. Listen to the full episode.

September 12, 2024

Ayesha Khan has joined Volunteers of America-Greater New York as their new Chief Development Officer. In her career, she has advocated for educational access in underserved communities and fought food insecurity. Today, Ayesha’s deep understanding of direct services and nearly two decades of experience at nonprofits such as International Rescue Committee and Lumos Foundation will enable her to secure opportunities to further VOA-GNY’s mission to serve people experiencing homelessness. Read the announcement on Crain’s Business here.

July 18, 2024

“Our work in New Jersey builds on a foundation of success, following similar initiatives led by First Place for Youth in California. Through My First Place, we are helping current and former foster youth ages 18-23, or “older foster youth,” identify and achieve educational goals that will put them on the path to college or employment. We also provide financial literacy tutoring and, most importantly, fully subsidized housing throughout this process.” Read the full op-ed by VOA-GNY Assistant Vice President for Northern New Jersey, Paula Turso, in New Jersey Herald.

June 27, 2024

LGBTQ+ adults are more than twice as likely to report experiencing homelessness at some point in their lives, as compared to the general population. In the New York City shelter system, well-documented challenges around lack of privacy and safety are especially acute where the LGBTQ+ community is concerned. In particular, transgender individuals are more likely to choose to live in public spaces such as streets and subways rather than navigate a system where most shelters are divided by gender binary. “The sparse options for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homelessness is an urgent challenge, but there are models that illuminate the path…

May 14, 2024

An article in the Gothamist reports New York City budget cuts have impacted funding for our school backpack drive, Operation Backpack®, just as we are seeing a significant increase in the number of children living in shelter.