2007 CoC SuperNOFA AWARDS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED!
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Long Island agencies over $10 million in funding to develop, operate and maintain housing and services programs for homeless individuals and families. Each year, the Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless coordinates Continuum of Care groups in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and submits applications for funding through the Homeless Assistance Program on behalf of agencies in both counties. For a listing of awards, click here. Congratulations to all awardees!
NSCH Employment Opportunity
The Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless is seeking a qualified, hard working individual to fill the position of Part-Time Shelter Case Manager. Essential duties and responsibilities include some of the following:
- Complete housing and services referrals and applications for clients as appropriate
- Provide case management services and/or referrals to housing and services
- Completion of SPA applications for eligible clients
- Assistance to clients in scheduling necessary appointments (medical, psychiatric) needed for documentation of eligibility for benefits and housing/services
- Provide outreach to homeless people through not-for-profit community based agencies, soup kitchens, parish outreach centers, hospitals, the Departments of Social Services, Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Addiction
- Assistance to clients with applying for government benefits (through SSA or DSS as appropriate)
For a complete list of duties and responsibilities, along with education and/or experience requirements, click here. Resumés can be e-mailed to jnoguera@nsch.org or faxed to (516) 873-0830.
Upcoming Events
20th Annual Keys for the Homeless Conference
SAVE THE DATE!! The 20th Annual Keys for the Homeless Conference will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at Touro Law Center, located at 225 Eastview Drive in Central Islip, New York. Check back soon for more information about workshops, speakers, sponsorship opportunities, and more!
In the meantime, NSCH is pleased to announce that, in connection with the Keys Conference, two Helen Martin Scholarships are available for students who have experienced homelessness. Complete applications must be received by NSCH by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2008. Applications must be mailed to:
Helen Martin Scholarship Committee
Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless
38 Old Country Road
Garden City, NY 11530
The application and application requirements may be downloaded below.
2008 Helen Martin Scholarship Requirements
2008 Helen Martin Scholarship Application
Recent Events
Diaper Bag Distribution
Thanks to a wonderful donation from Feed the Children, coordinated through Sarah Benjamin of Eastern Suffolk BOCES, the Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless distributed over 2,000 new diaper bags filled with baby and toddler items, along with two pallets of diapers of various sizes, to Long Island agencies serving homeless and at-risk families. The distribution took place on Monday, April 14, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Suffolk County.
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On February 13, 2008, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless held its annual "Have a Heart for the Homeless" Candlelight Vigil at Farmingdale State College. Professional wrestler Mick "Mankind" Foley, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Father Frank Pizzarelli joined hundreds of volunteers, consumers, government representatives and members of faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations, and school and community groups to make this year's Vigil a tremendous success! Musical guests Miles to Dayton performed for what we estimate were over a thousand attendees. Donations of unused baby items, diapers and formula, along with toiletries, non-perishable foods, clothing and blankets were received and distributed at the event.
We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our sponsors for their support:
2008 "Have a Heart for the Homeless" Candlelight Vigil Sponsors
DIAMOND Concern for Independent Living
RUBY Russo, Karl, Widmaier and Cordano, PLLC SILVER Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Community Housing Innovations BRONZE Astoria Federal Savings B+G Foods Butler Woodcrafters Community Development Corporation of Long Island Family Residences & Essential Enterprises Occunomix Options for Community Living ALLSector Technology Group Apple Entertainment Benchmark Title Company Cerini & Associates, CPA Community Abstract Corp. Community Preservation Corp. Family Service League HELP Suffolk Mercy Haven, Inc. MTI Residential Services National Equity Fund Rosicki, Rosicki and Associates South Shore Association for Independent Living Society of Saint Vincent de Paul COMMITTED PARTNERS/GROUPS Angelo J. Melillo Center for Mental Health Adelphi University Amityville High School Babylon High School Bay Shore High School Boy Scouts (various troops) Suffolk Legislator Kate Browning Catholic Charities Community Advocates Comsewogue High School Connetquot Teacher’s Association Courthouses Kiwanis Cub Scouts (various troops) Cub Scouts 362/Weebloes Two, Selden Suffolk Legislator Lou D’Amaro Dinitto Nicole Dooley East Islip School District Eastport South Manor High School Marc and Lauren Edelstein Education & Assistance Corporation EMMC Music Ethical Humanist Society Ethical Humanist Society Youth Group Family and Children’s Association Federation of Organizations Mick Foley Girl Scouts (various troops) Hofstra Men’s Lacrosse Team Holy Spirit Social Ministry Hope House Ministries Hornets Soccer Huntington YMCA The Interfaith Nutrition Network Suffolk Legislator John M. Kennedy The Kirsch Family Laconia Music Lake Grove Soccer Team Leadership Training Institute Liccione Long Island Builders Institute Long Island Cares Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group MacArthur Key Club, Levittown Make A Difference Club, Nassau Community College The Melting Pot Restaurant Mercy Medical Center Miles to Dayton Miller Place High School Momma’s House Mooshian Societe Mount Sinai High School Murphy Junior High School Chorus Suffolk Legislator Elie Mystal Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence Nassau County Department of Social Services Nassau County Office for the Physically Challenged Nassau County Veterans Service Agency Nassau/Suffolk Law Services North Shore Youth Council NYPIRG Peace Valley Haven Sharon Peters Plainedge High School Plainedge Middle School – S.A.D.D. Club Port Jefferson Middle School Prudential Realty RIA Insurance Company rockCANroll Rocky Point School Roosevelt EOC Roslyn School District Saint Anthony’s High School St. John's Church of Copiague St. Joseph’s College Saint Mary’s Parish Social Ministry, Manhasset Saint Vincent de Paul Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ Leonard. I. Saltzman 7-Eleven Starbucks Stony Brook Behavioral Sciences Center Stony Brook Community Church United Methodist Youth Fellowship Stony Brook Football Team Stony Brook Soccer Team Suffolk Community Council Suffolk County Department of Social Services Three Village High School Choir Touro Law Center Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock United Veterans Beacon House Valley Stream School District Vision Long Island Ward Melville High School Key Club Ward Melville High School Student Government Wyandanch Homes & Property Corporation |
Thanks to everyone for their support, and for having a Heart for the Homeless!
19th Annual Keys for the Homeless Conference
The 19th Annual Keys for the Homeless Conference was a huge success! Held at Touro Law Center in Central Islip on October 19th, this year's Keys Conference was attended by nearly 300 advocates, business people, government representatives, consumers and students. Workshops covered such topics as funding affordable housing, hunger and homelessness, avoiding foreclosures, HUD monitoring and Single Point of Access. Attendees listened while presenter Patricia Stewart, a successful jewelry designer, shared her story about her childhood and her rise from poverty to succes. In the afternoon, Aurora Zepeda of Homes for the Homeless and the Institute for Children and Poverty spoke to Conference attendees about her work and the issue of homelessness. Gary Cucchi of Progressive Marketing Group and Tom Maligno of Touro Law Center were awarded Key of Excellence Awards, and Monique Brown and Louise Maccaroni received Helen Martin Scholarships.
The Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless would like to thank our sponsors for their support!
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Thank you to the Keys Conference Planning Committee, the NSCH Board of Directors, NSCH staff, Conference volunteers, our supporters and Conference attendees!
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NSCH Board of Directors. Left to right: Howard Duff; Joan Avolese March; Rosemary Dillon; Charles Russo, NSCH Board Chair; Aurora Zepeda, Conference presenter; Joan Noguera, NSCH Executive Director; Maria Dosso; Richard Timo; Jeff Saltzman; Ralph Fasano. (Not pictured: Judy Pannullo, L. Von Kuhen, Richard Arkin, Leonard Saltzman, Eric Alexander, Peter Barnett, Connie Bruno, Mary Ellen Conrad, Georgia Kuhen, Tom Maligno) |
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| NSCH Staff. Left to right: Joan Noguera, Executive Director; Greta Guarton, Associate Director; Julee King, Manager of Housing and Services; Rafael Torres, Accounting Manager |
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| Gary Cucchi, Jeff Saltzman, Charles Russo, Jeff Hanlon | Renee Adamowicz, Joan Noguera, Chuck Schwartz |
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| Leonard Saltzman, Paul Fink | Richard Timo, Valerie Brunner |
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| Joan Noguera, Sharelle Hicks, Charles Russo | John Lunde , Linda Longo, Christine Farrell, Charles Russo |
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| Joan Avolese March, Louise Maccaroni (Helen Martin Scholarship Recipient), Charles Russo, Joan Noguera | Joan Avolese March, Monique Brown (Helen Martin Scholarship Recipient), Charles Russo, Joan Noguera |
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| Charles Russo, Jeff Saltzman, Gary Cucchi (Key of Excellence Award Recipient), Joan Noguera | Maria Dosso, Tom Maligno (Key of Excellence Award Recipient), Charles Russo, Joan Noguera |
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| Morning presenter Patricia Stewart | Gary Cucchi and Aurora Zepeda, afternoon presenter |
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Conference attendees |
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"Supply Our Students" Back to School Drive
The Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless, through a partnership with Backpack Pirates and Astoria Federal Savings "Tools for School" Drive, has distributed backpacks and school supplies for more than 1,000 children in need on Long Island. This is the second year that NSCH has conducted its "Supply Our Students" Back to School Drive. It was kicked off with a summer festival on August 23, 2007 for children in shelters organized by Backpack Pirates. Students from Adelphi University's Freshman Community Action Program volunteered at NSCH on August 21, 2007 to fill over 400 backpacks with school supplies in preparation for the Backpack Pirates event.
Adelphi University students volunteer to fill backpacks. |
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Adelphi University students volunteer to fill backpacks. |
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| Happy Adelphi University volunteers! | Adelphi University's Freshman Community Action Program members |
| Ken Mangan, Backpack Pirates organizer and Charles Russo, NSCH Chair | Professional wrestler Mankind (center) and Backpack Pirates performers |
| Mankind and Greta Guarton, NSCH Associate Director | Ken Mangan, Backpack Pirates organizer |
Pirates performing at Backpack Pirates summer festival |
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Backpack Pirates summer festival |
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| Professional wrestler Mankind | Lots of backpacks full of supplies! |
| Still more backpacks! | The Sayville Ferry donated services for this event |
Backpack Pirates event attendees |
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Thanks to Astoria Federal Savings and Backpack Pirates, hundreds of kids have started the school year more prepared and more confident than they have before. Many thanks also to Sister Joan Quinlan and St. Marks RC Church!
Read more about other 2007 events here.
Want to know what we were up to in 2006? Click here to find out!
Click here to go to our Continuum of Care page.










































