Elmcor Combats NYC Housing Crisis for Vulnerable Residents with opening of New Affordable Housing Development
The Queens-based Nonprofit Ushers in the New Year with Contemporary 30-unit Dwelling Designed to Tackle Housing Insecurity for Those Battling Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Issues.
NEW YORK (January 11, 2024) – On February 2, 2024, Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, a Queens, N.Y.-based nonprofit that provides a broad spectrum of alcohol and substance-use prevention and treatment services to underserved populations, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 am marking the opening of its new housing development at 104-10 Northern Blvd., in Corona, Queens. Developed in partnership with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), the apartment complex will offer 30 affordable, permanent housing units for those undergoing recovery from substance misuse and/or mental health issues, as well as older adults in need.
Given Elmcor’s decades worth of experience successfully operating supportive residential substance-use treatment services, this new housing development represents the next evolution of its offerings.
“In keeping with our 58-year legacy of delivering supportive care and services that bridge diverse communities throughout Queens, our vision for this development is to meet the needs of a wide spectrum of people, inclusive of all walks of life, under one roof,” said Elmcor Executive Director and CEO Saeeda Dunston. “We recognize access to safe and affordable shelter is an elemental human right, especially for the most vulnerable among us. With this new housing complex, Elmcor’s unwavering commitment to providing a safe haven for those eager to chart a new, healthier life course remains the cornerstone of our mission.”
Designed by New York-based MWBE architect Monica Lopez Uran, with Queens-based Penta Restoration Corp. as the general contractor, construction on the project began in January of 2022, with sizeable public funding from the CPC ($1.7 million), the Queens Borough President’s office ($5.4 million), HPD Supportive Housing Loan ($2.9 Million), Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez ($663,250) Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry ($200,000) and the City Council ($2.5 million), in addition to several preferential loans and subsidies from government agencies.
The development has 21 single-occupancy units for chronically unhoused individuals battling serious addiction and/or mental health challenges and nine dedicated for older adults. As part of the residential experience, all tenants will have access to programming at Elmcor’s main campus, located only three blocks away, which includes a state-of-the-art gymnasium/classroom complex; older adult center; computer, education and vocational training center. It also serves as home base for Elmcor’s New York State (NYS) Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) licensed outpatient substance use clinic and 51-bed NYS OASAS-licensed residential treatment facility.
The opening of this new complex reflects the organization’s continued dedication to providing holistic, personalized supportive services centered on significantly reducing problematic substance use, investment in mental and physical well-being, minimizing social isolation for seniors, and fostering independent living skills. In recognition of these efforts, in June 2023, Elmcor was presented with the first-ever Redesigning Access Centering Equity R.A.C.E. Initiative award from the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH).
For more information about the housing development and its intended impact, visit elmcor.org.
About Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities
Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, Inc. (Elmcor) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, multi-service organization that is the oldest Black-founded and Black-led nonprofit in Queens, New York. For over 58 years, Elmcor has provided various comprehensive programs that serve all populations, from preschool-aged children to older adults. These services reflect the agency’s mission to foster positive life changes for individuals and families through skills development that leads to self-sufficiency, a sense of accountability, and a strong, empowered community.
