The Jennings

Organization Name: New Destiny Housing

Project Title: The Jennings

Project Location: Crotona Park East, The Bronx, NY

Project Description:
The Jennings was built and designed to meet the needs of families and homeless domestic violence survivors. With 42 affordable units, 23 units set-aside for homeless domestic violence survivors, The Jennings offers on-site services including counseling, case management, children and family programming, and job readiness coaching to foster housing stability and safety. The availability of on-site services ensures that tenants have the tools they need to build secure futures for themselves and their children. Built with energy efficient appliances and fixtures, The Jennings’ amenities include a multi-purpose program space, staff offices, a library/computer room, secure landscaped courtyard with a children’s play area, and laundry room. The neighborhood is well-served by public transportation, critical for accessing employment opportunities, as well as a range of services such as daycare and after school programs that will support parents and enable children to thrive.

Community Impact:
Domestic violence is the leading generator of family homelessness in NYC. Low-income domestic violence survivors often face the choice of becoming homeless or remaining in a potentially dangerous situation. And when they must leave shelter when the mandated stay of six months end, most survivors leave still homeless and at continued risk of abuse. Some may stay temporarily with family and friends or end up in the general homeless system. And unfortunately, all too often many return to the abuser and the situation they initially gathered the courage to leave. Few can find a safe, affordable apartment.

Even when they do secure permanent housing, their housing stability can be impacted by the trauma they have experienced from both homelessness and domestic violence. The Jennings’ trauma-informed services offered within the context of safe, permanent housing help survivors to continue the healing process while addressing many of the issues (safety planning, job training, parenting, budgeting) that help families remain stable, unified and violence-free over time. Safe, permanent, affordable housing provides the platform they need to remain stable, violence-free and begin to build new futures.

Organization Description:
New Destiny is a New York City nonprofit founded in 1994 to provide housing and services to one of the City’s most vulnerable homeless populations – victims of domestic violence and their children. We are committed to increasing permanent housing options for domestic violence survivors by building affordable housing and improving their access to existing housing resources. On-site services help domestic violence survivors remain safe and stable and become financially secure.

Team Members:

NYS HCR, NYS HHAP, NYC HPD, ESHHI, NYCERS, NYSERDA, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Alexander Gorlin Architects, and Lettire Construction.

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