What We Do
We believe that improving the physical environment and programmatic offerings of shelter can lead to better short and long-term outcomes for residents. And by applying innovative financing, nonprofit ownership and evidence-based practices to shelter, these improvements will also benefit government, nonprofit providers, communities and, ultimately, taxpayers. Gateway works towards this goal through three means: facilitating the development of better shelters; testing innovative new programs; and researching and documenting existing programs and practices.
Development
Gateway Housing works with homeless service providers to redevelop existing shelter sites or build new shelters. Gateway model shelters include three components: high quality shelter; permanent affordable housing; and a community amenity. Optimally Gateway Housing projects will have all three model components, but because of site constraints and other limitations, some may have only two components.
We closed on our first project in December 2018 and are now working with nonprofit partners to move four additional projects for new or refurbished shelters through the development process.
Valley Lodge / WSFSSH at West 108: Gateway has worked with West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing to redevelop their Valley Lodge shelter for homeless seniors into a mixed use residence with transitional housing and permanent affordable and supportive housing and community services onsite. The project closed financing last year and construction is underway to build 110 shelter beds, 198 affordable permanent housing units (including 119 supportive housing apartments), and community facilities that include a healthcare center, office space for a local nonprofit, and new comfort stations for the adjacent playground. Read more about Valley Lodge here.
Have a potential Gateway site for development? Contact Ted Houghton at thoughton@gatewayhousing.nyc
Innovative Programs
Gateway works with nonprofits to create, implement and test new innovative programs that will improve outcomes for homeless shelter residents. We are currently implementing and testing one program — ISAHC program — and developing several other new initiatives.
Improving School Attendance of Homeless Children (ISAHC) is a shelter-intervention program laser-focused on school attendance and attuned to current barriers. Because it is tailored to the circumstances of the New York City shelter program, ISAHC presents the possibility of significantly altering the trajectories of these vulnerable children. Gateway is testing ISAHC in three shelters in New York City.
Research
Gateway Housing will publish reports and best practices policy briefs on the city’s shelter system and shelter programs. We’ll document what makes high-quality shelter programs effective, and show how a good transitional program can impact the people it serves.
