Albany Housing Coalition Inc. (AHC) is a neighborhood nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and access to supportive services in the City of Albany, New York. AHC’s mission is to provide affordable transitional and permanent apartment housing, affordable home ownership opportunities, pre- and post-purchase housing counseling, and maintaining an affordable apartment list for low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

This mission is served through several different activities the organization sponsors. The Albany Housing Coalition works with residents during their housing counseling activities to upgrade and improve their existing housing status. The Affordable Apartment List is a free rental listing that is faxed to 120 agencies twice a month and distributed to walk-in clientele. AHC estimates it provides this information to about 57,850 people each year.

By constructing or renovating existing housing units, AHC is able to create transitional and permanent housing as well as provide referrals to affordable housing units for its clients.  Clients of the program include those transitioning out of community residences, relocating from poor housing conditions, or overcoming situations that necessitated their reliance on affordable housing, including elderly landlords on a fixed income who are largely dependent on income from a rental unit.

Since 1987, AHC has provided a range of services targeted to homeless veterans. The provision of affordable, safe housing facilitates AHC’s goal to help strengthen homeless and at-risk veterans’ life skills so they can progress toward independent living. With a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program award received in 2004, AHC established the Homeless Veteran Program at Veterans House in Albany. This program targets homeless veterans who have become disconnected from mainstream programs and services.

Many of these clients suffer from many health or substance abuse issues, including veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Mentally Ill, Chemical Addiction (MICA); mental illness; life-threatening illnesses; the elderly; and victims of domestic violence. AHC case managers identify these individuals and then work closely with the clients to help them get the specialized treatment they need.

The initial GPD grant was awarded in May 2004 and is on-going. Additional funding is received from the New York State Single Room Occupancy Program, HUD’s Supportive Housing Program and donations. The current total annual operating budget for the organization is $1,000,000±.

Services funded through the GPD grant bridge four areas of services ensuring a continuum of care for veteran clients. Theses services include outreach, housing, case management and a savings fund. Through outreach and assessment on the streets, in shelters, food pantries and at other support service agencies – principally the VA Medical Center and associated satellite programs – AHC makes contact with veterans in need of services and connects them with local nonprofits to ensure that they receive the services they require.

 A continuum of housing provides seamless transition to help veteran clients move off the street and eventually into permanent housing. In Program Transitional Housing, residents enter a recovery program that sets individual goals for recovery and requires compliance with house etiquette and curfew rules.  Moving into Independent Transitional Housing, residents face fewer restrictions and begin paying low rents, providing an opportunity to begin saving money and preparing for independent living. Permanent Housing for veterans and their families is available once they are firmly devoted to their recovery program and system of support. Shelter Plus Care and VASH vouchers are available for those who meet the requirements of the programs.

Case management remains a vital part of the program and the overall success of the clients. Special care is taken to ensure that the individual needs of clients are incorporated into a plan and realistic goals are set so that the clients can move forward in their quest to achieve independent living. Emphasis is placed on addressing the issues that lead to homelessness, employment and financial security, and maintenance of a support network.  As they reach the final stages of their planned program, residents are encouraged to reconnect with family members and build family values. The intensive case management AHC practices is one of the primary reasons it has been so successful in helping clients achieve their goals of independent living.

While in the program, residents of the Veteran’s House Per Diem Program pay a program fee and establish a savings account. The program fee establishes the routine of making monthly payments and the savings account strengthens the principle of budgeting for independent living expenses. Residents are encouraged to develop realistic plans for recovery and independence that are used once they graduate from the program.

Since the first year of GPD funding, a greater percentage of Veterans House residents are achieving permanent, independent housing and securing employment. With the addition of a U.S. Department of Labor Homeless Veterans Integration Program (HVRP) in July of 2006 the veterans program has a built-in employment resource. In it’s first year  the program placed 40 veterans in meaningful, permanent employment.

The keys to the Veterans Services Program’s success are  the savings program; aggressive case management that is structured, consistent and compassionate; camaraderie among veterans living together; employment resources; and the provision of safe housing with linkages to a continuum of affordable housing and community services.

AHC collaborates with numerous nonprofits, governmental agencies and private organizations to serve veteran clients and carry out its mission – through routine meetings, outreach and use of available programs. These include healthcare, education, housing, and employment or other income support service providers. Local and VA health care providers provide emergency detoxification services, substance abuse recovery services, medical and psychiatric services – including TB and HIV testing. Vocational and educational training is coordinated with local agencies.

Albany Housing Authority provides permanent housing subsidy assistance and certain local properties work with AHC by routinely housing veterans who are graduating from the program. The New York Department of Labor, Career Links, and Veterans Industries assist with job placement and work as partners with the VA Compensated Work Therapy program, and benefits assistance is coordinated with the Albany Vet Center and Department of Social Services. This multi-agency approach and coordination with the city’s housing and public assistance agencies demonstrate the success that can be achieved by an organization that cultivates a strong regional service delivery network.

Most recently the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs has partnered with the Albany Housing Coalition’s Veterans Services Program in a successful effort to secure entry-level jobs within state agencies for disabled veterans without the need for a Civil Service exam. 

AHC warrants special recognition for demonstrating how a successful mainstream program can be modified to provide opportunities for what, in many areas, is an underserved but large special needs subpopulation – homeless veterans.