Helping Eddie Find a New Home

Today we'd like to share a story from one of our community partners, Goddard Riverside. Goddard Riverside's housing units provide safe, affordable homes for some of New York City's most vulnerable populations, including older adults, formerly homeless people, and those with mental illness. Residents receive on-site services ranging from benefits assistance to mental health care to social activities that help ensure that individuals stay connected to their community.
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From: Trish Anderton, Goddard Riverside

I want to share a story with the City Relief community about Eddie and how our outreach team worked together with City Relief to help him find a new home. 

Eddie had an apartment, but he was still living on the street. He shared with us that everything had gone wrong when he let his sister and her abusive partner move in. The abuse forced Eddie out of his home and onto the streets. Our outreach worker, Liam Simpson, spoke to him with empathy and understanding, and offered him transitional housing to help him get back on his feet.

Our outreach teams usually roam all corners of Manhattan, but we decided to set up a table in front of Sara D. Roosevelt Park, where City Relief offers food, clothing, hygiene kits, and prayer to unhoused people. The City Relief team was also present to provide support to those in need. This weekly pop-up offers more intensive and collaborative services and helps to connect people to essential resources.

Eddie initially had doubts about the transitional housing we offered. However, Alyssa Wrinkle, our Director of the Downtown team, spoke to him about the possibility of getting a single room in a new transitional housing residence. We put in the request and were happy to receive a call that a room was available for Eddie. Unfortunately, Eddie had left the park by then, and we had no way of contacting him.

Despite this setback, we continued our search for Eddie. Fortunately, Eddie returned to the table and was excited to hear about the single room that was available for him. However, Eddie needed to take care of something first before moving in, and Wrinkle agreed on the condition that he came straight back.

Our team waited patiently with Eddie until he was ready to move into his new room. With the help of City Relief and our outreach team, Eddie finally found a new home.

This story is just one of the many examples of collaboration we foster each week. It shows that it happens in community, when everyone works together to care for people who aren’t defined by their circumstances.

~Trish
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With Gratitude,
Josiah Haken