News
March 6, 2019Member Spotlight: Joseph’s House
Formed in 1983, the agency’s mission is to ‘Provide non-judgmental services to end homelessness.’ Joseph’s House & Shelter provides street outreach to more than 500 unsheltered persons in both Rensselaer and Albany Counties, as well as emergency shelter, and permanent supported housing for formerly homeless persons with prolonged histories of homelessness. All services are provided in a climate of non-judgmental dignity, safety and respect so that people who have experienced homelessness know that positive life-shaping change can feel safe, be desirable and is attainable.
Last year Joseph’s House & Shelter served more than 1,000 individuals. Its emergency Services included outreach, emergency shelter, seasonal overflow shelter, services to homeless motel based families, and resettlement services. Supported Housing programs for adults included the Hill Street Inn on Fourth Street in Troy, the Lansing Inn on Second Avenue in Lansingburgh, and Kendal House (formerly the Homeless Action Committee SRO) in Albany. The agency’s Bethune Program provided scattered-site housing for formerly homeless families headed by a tenant with a disability. All totaled, more than 200 formerly homeless individuals resided in Supported Housing programs operated by Joseph’s House & Shelter staff.
In 2018, the agency was asked to run the daily operations of the Homeless Action Committee (HAC) by its Board of Directors. HAC services currently include the daily HAC Homeless Street Outreach Van that served more than 400 unsheltered adults last year. HAC also operates a 30 unit permanent supported housing SRO for persons who were formerly street homeless.
Joseph’s House & Shelter’s values include its commitment to ‘Housing First’ and harm reduction principles. The ‘Housing First’ approach prioritizes housing placement for the community’s most vulnerable members. It does not require sobriety, treatment compliance or income as prerequisites for housing. Using this evidence-based approach, the agency’s permanent housing programs achieved 90% annual tenant retention, and an average tenancy of nearly 6 years. Lead by Kevin J. O’Connor, Executive Director, its staff strives to recognize each person’s strengths and capacities, and respect individual rights to make one’s own choices. The agency invites community members to volunteer and contribute to its services.
Visit www.josephshousetroy.org for more information.
