Out of Jail… AND INTO A HOME, AND A FRESH START

When men and women with a criminal history carry the added burden of mental

illness life can be a struggle, and when they try to turn their lives around the doors to permanent housing are often shut to them.

This year Project Renewal created permanent housing for graduates of our Parole Support and Treatment Program (PSTP), giving these vulner-able men and women a foundation on which to build a stable future.

PSTP is an innovative program launched by Project Renewal, with the Department of Corrections and the state Office of Mental Health, piloting new strategies to help 50 mentally ill men and women successfully transition from prison to a productive life in the commu-nity. Last year 20 clients successfully moved into independent housing.

Counselors start working with clients while they are still in prison to prepare them for life on the outside. Once released, clients move into shared apartments where they receive intensive support from a

multidisciplinary team to help them transition to community living.

Many of the men and women in PSTP have never had a permanent place to call home as they are more than twice as likely as other ex-offenders to have come through the foster care system as children.

Graduate Michael K said:

“What I remember is that Project Renewal has always been there for me. Helping me with budgeting, and encourag ing me to take my medication. Now I know why! Having my own apartment in the Bronx I am able to do these things independently. I have a checking account with direct deposit, and my own computer.”

Robert Blocker, PSTP Program Direc-tor, said “I am still hoping for the day that all Project Renewal clients who put in the hard work toward positive change in their lives, have an appro-priate place to call home. These guys are certainly our role models.” n

In this IssueHealth, homes and jobs for homeless New Yorkers

p. 1 ..... Out of Jail, and Into a Home

p. 2 ..... Volunteers Bring Art to Men in Crisis

p. 2 ..... Engineering Creative Ways to Give Back

p. 3 ..... Jobs Training and Hope at Renewal Farm

p. 3 ..... Year in Review

p. 4 ..... Gala Recap

p. 4 ..... Jobs for Veterans and New Housing

Learn More!Follow us OnlineListen to a podcast by author and Project Renewal Trustee Lee Stringer, view Gala photos, and see the impact of your gift online at : http://blog.projectrenewal.org

mattersDonor Newsletter Fall 2012

Page 2 Project Renewal matters | Fall 2012

Volunteers Bring Art...To Men in Crisis

Pamela Bell wasted no time once joining the Board of Trustees, serving on the

Strategic Planning committee, chairing our 2012 Gala and most impressively, founding a volun-teer arts initiative for the men at 3rd Street Shelter. 

The Bowery Arts Program, less than a year old, is an informal cre-ative class where volunteers and clients connect while making all forms of art.  The classes – held on Wednesday and Thursday mornings--provide men strug-gling with addiction a creative outlet to express their emotions and foster new friendships. 

At the 22nd Annual Gala Benefit and Auction 40 pieces of client art were auctioned off, raising more than $5,300 for Project Renewal.  A very big thank you to Pamela and an amazing group of volunteers who attend the work-shops each week including Shel-ley Sonenberg, Shelagh Herzog, Erika Scully, Laura Rothschild, Caryn Levitt, Jemme Aldridge and Susan Minot. n

Young Volunteers…Making a Difference

Katie. The Medical Clinic at the Ft. Washington Men’s Shelter has a new mural to inspire the 750 men who visit the clinic each year.

Volunteer artist Katie Reidy, a student at the noted art school Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) painted a mural depicting an optimistic city scape with these inspiring words:

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of

comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and

controversy.

Martin Luther King Jr.,  Strength to Love, 1963

Viki. Former Next Step intern Viki Lazar created a fund-raising event around her big decision to cut her “beloved dreadlocks” after 9 years.

She set up a page online, asking friends and family to make a gift to Project Renewal to mark the occasion. She has raised $4,000 which she will match with $1 for every $2 donated for a total gift of $6,000.

Why Project Renewal?

“Next Step is an amazing place where clients find people who believe in them again. Many of the formerly homeless clients at Next Step are in recovery or were recently incarcerated. Despite having lived lives I can’t even begin to imagine, these strong and brave people want to turn things around. It was life-changing to watch clients realize that they do have something tremendous to contribute to society.”

Interested in Volunteering?

If you are interested in volunteering with the Bowery Arts Program, please

contact Pamela at volunteer@projectrenewal.org. 

Volunteer Erika Scully creates the art display for the silent auction

Artist Katie Reidy with Shaniece Delgado, staff

Before After

Page 3www.projectrenewal.org

Shelters At A Glance:

Garden Variety Job Training...

From the Streets of NYC to the Farm

Over the past 16 years while helping to renew the lives of hundreds of homeless New Yorkers suffering from addiction, Renewal Farm has also faced its own need for renewal. And, like a stubborn sprout pushing its way up through hard soil, the farm continues to grow and thrive.

The program first took root at New York City’s largest homeless shelter, Camp LaGuardia in Chester, NY. With the closing and sale of the property we relocated to St. Christopher’s Inn at Graymoor where Project Renewal provides transitional housing for formerly homeless men from New York City.

Tillable land is a rare commodity in the Garrison area with its beautiful forest covered hills and ridges. But with some innovative thinking the farm once again blossoms on an acre size old tennis and handball court, complete with large plant beds and a greenhouse, at Graymoor

thanks to our partnership with the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement.

Today, men like Richard Emde are still able to experience the opportunities for self-renewal offered by the program. When asked how he felt on first joining the program Richard said it was:

“a second chance at life, to take advantage of the full use of the program and to learn to live out the rest of my life in sobriety”.

He’s still amazed at “how one little seed can grow to a full plant”. Richard like so many of the men who participate in the program find intensive substance abuse treatment is much easier to continue and to absorb when they can be also be involved in other purposeful activities and one step at a time build job skills and self-esteem. n

Renewal Farm client Richard Emde displaying his favorite of the 1,000 petunias he planted.

Our Mission is to End Homelessness...

Last yearmen and

women

moved from

our shelters to permanent

homes with

of tenants in our supportive

housing are still housed afterjob placements, an increase of

signifying an effective

end to homelessness

over the previous yearstill housed after 6 months.

456 91% 3163 years 10%94%

And We Mean BusinessClients achieved

Page 4 Project Renewal matters | Fall 2012

22nd Annual Gala Benefit and Auction Recap

Thank you SO much to all of our wonderful Trustees, staff, volunteers, and supporters who made the Gala a great success!

We raised over $780,000 to help homeless New Yorkers find health, homes, and jobs—bringing them so much further on their journey towards a new life.

Gala Host Ed Helms entertained and inspired guests to support Project Renewal. Former shelter resident

Patrick Lee spoke about how Project Renewal supported his journey from addiction and homelessness to a new life. “I wake up in the morning and I sit in my bed and say, “Wow, this is mine, this is life, this is wonderful...” 

A special thanks to Ed Helms, Gala Chair Pamela Bell, MC Erika Tarantal, Auctioneer Hugh Hildesley, and Special Guest Patrick Lee. Please join us next year for the 23rd Annual Gala.n

n The Culinary Arts Training Program will launch a new cooking school this fall at the Borden Avenue Veterans Shelter to train homeless veterans for jobs in food services.

n We began renovating our newest shelter, our first in the Bronx. The shelter will help meet the increased demand for shelter by offering 108 homeless New Yorkers a safe and supportive setting and assistance in moving into permanent homes.

n Project Renewal received a $100,000 grant from the US Department of Labor awarded to provide employment services to homeless veterans! We were one of 2 new grantees in New York City selected in this national competition. Funding will expand the reach of our Next Step Employment Program to homeless veterans: we will offer vocational counseling, job training, and job placement services to help vets get back to work! 

Junior Board Fall BallNovember 2, 2012

Find us online!projectrenewal.org

#ProjectRenewal

ProjectRenewalMedia

Save the Date!In the Works…Project Renewal launches new initiatives to reach more homeless New Yorkers in need

Gala Host Ed Helms Board of Trustees Chair Neil Mitchell (left) and Gala Chair Pamela Bell (right)

Special Guest Patrick Lee (left) and Gala Emcee and NBC 4 News Anchor Erika Tarantal (right)