A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR Project Renewal celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. You have been a vital part of our mission in ending homelessness, and I am pleased to report the accomplishments you have made possible. You and I believe that no one deserves to be homeless. Twelve years ago, I joined Project Renewal’s Board because, at the time, I worked in midtown and commuted through Grand Central Station. There were so many homeless people living in Grand Central. As one human being to another, I felt it wasn’t right to just walk past these men and women. I had to do something, but I didn’t know what. I got in touch with an organization called Volunteer Consulting Group and told them that I was interested in serving on a Board MaryLynn Putney and that I had an interest in helping homeless men and women. They put me in touch with Project Renewal, and I met Ed Geffner at the beautiful building on 42nd Street they were renovating—the Holland House—and I was very impressed because, as we walked through, it was clear that it was indeed a home.
Providing homeless New Yorkers with everything they need to move from the streets to health, homes and jobs.
I’ve been amazed at what Project Renewal does. The most satisfying thing about being involved with Project Renewal has been the people; the staff running the programs really care. They’re doing this because they think it’s important. We don’t talk about homeless people; we talk about our clients. Each individual is important. It’s also satisfying because the organization is well run. We don’t have layers and layers of people, and yet things get done. It’s a wonderful, almost selfish thing for me because I know that this is a positive mission I’m working on, and it’s being done well. For you and for me, Project Renewal is an opportunity to do something constructive—to not just give somebody a buck, but hopefully to give somebody their life back. That’s what it’s turned out to be for me, and I hope you will agree as you read the stories in this report. Thank you for your support and commitment to ending homelessness.
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First voluntary medical detox for “public inebriates” opens on the Bowery.
Renewal House, the city’s first residential and work rehabilitation program for homeless alcoholics.
New York State decriminalizes alcoholism, a result of our successful work in treating homeless alcoholics.
Governor Hugh Carey requests a plan to address the problem of mentally-ill homeless people in the Times Square area, leading to first mobile psychiatric outreach team.
New MedVan, delivers professional healthcare to homeless men and women on the streets and in shelters.