Wartburg Earns Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative Award

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A new award announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul will help Wartburg to reach the most vulnerable in the community.

Hochul announced conditional awards totaling $30 million in supportive housing funding to serve older adults, survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, veterans and chronically homeless families, and individuals with a mental illness or substance use disorder. Administered by the State Office of Mental Health, the eighth round of funding through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative resulted in 122 awards, which will provide conditional funding for services and operating expenses for up to 4,839 units of supportive housing.

Since its inception, the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative has provided operating funding for more than 8,400 units serving vulnerable populations.

"Supportive housing plays a critical role in our efforts to strengthen New York’s mental health care system and ensure all New Yorkers can live successfully within their community," Hochul said. "The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative provides the funding needed to provide the services vulnerable populations can rely on to live safely in independent settings."

Wartburg was among agencies selected to receive a conditional award.

"It was a pleasure working with Rockabill Advisors on this application and I am looking forward to the next steps of the development of more affordable housing for seniors on our campus," Wartburg President David Gentner said. "My thanks to Governor Hochul for her commitment to the population we serve."

Rockabill was the financial consultant for Wartburg’s Friedrichs Residence, which opened in February 2013. Friedrichs was the first supportive senior housing new construction project for Wartburg. Comprised of 56,000 square feet, the site includes 61 affordable housing units. The Friedrichs Residence includes a multi-purpose community room, a library, laundry, and fitness facilities, as well as on-site parking, and was the first LEED-certified multi-family new construction in the city of Mount Vernon.

Funding from the grants may be used specifically for rental assistance and services to eligible target populations to ensure their housing stability. Permissible uses include rental subsidies and other occupancy costs; services or staff to identify and locate eligible individuals that need housing; primary and behavioral health services; employment and vocational training; educational assistance, parenting skills development and support; child care assistance counseling and crisis intervention; children’s services, including educational advocacy, support and counseling; and costs associated with services that help individuals and families remain stably housed.

The initiative is part of the Hochul administration's $1 billion multi-year plan to strengthen the state’s mental healthcare system and reduce the number of New Yorkers with unmet mental health needs. Adopted as part of the FY 2024 budget, the plan also includes funding for 3,500 new residential units for those struggling with mental illness, dramatically expands outpatient services, and closes gaps in insurance coverage for behavioral health services, prohibiting carriers from denying access to medically necessary, high-need, acute and crisis mental health services for both adults and children.

"Governor Hochul has long been an advocate for supportive housing and understands the need to establish more capacity throughout the state," Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, "Her commitment has helped thousands of individuals and families to receive the services they need while living in their own homes. Safe and dignified housing will give people living with mental illness and substance use, our veterans and many others dealing with critical life issues the stability and support they need for a successful recovery."

About Wartburg

Wartburg offers integrated, comprehensive senior residential and healthcare services. Unlike conventional retirement communities, Wartburg provides a wide range of services to both residents living on their 34-acre campus and people in their own homes. From independent, assisted living, and award-winning nursing home care to inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation, and adult day care services, their continuing care approach has earned them a trusted reputation. Wartburg also provides caregiver support at every stage with an array of options to find the level of care that considers the whole family. Wartburg was named one of the "Best Nursing Homes in New York State" by U.S. News & World Report for the twelfth consecutive year in 2022.