This month, Urban Pathways opened its very first Safe Haven in the Bronx. Webster Avenue will provide transitional housing services for adult males who have just left the street, with sixty beds across four floors. The newly renovated facility also includes a dining and recreation area, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, a laundry room, and a kitchen. All residents will receive three meals a day, seven days per week, with a menu that is informed by New York’s standards for healthy nutrition. Upon arrival at Webster Avenue, each client will receive their own set of sheets, a pillow, blanket, towel, and hygiene kit.
Program Director Joelene Johnson anticipates intake to see around six individuals per week until the facility is at full capacity, which will likely be in six to eight weeks. The social service team will consist of four case managers, a housing specialist, a Program Director and Director of Social Service. There will also be a nurse practitioner on site Monday through Friday, provided by Care for the Homeless, to assist with medication, medical assessments, and mental health services.
Urban Pathways’ Safe Havens like Webster Avenue are an important alternative to placement in large, city-operated shelters. Safe Havens offer intensive case management, housing placement assistance, and other support to help men and women continue on their way home. Safe Havens are not the final step in the journey; the ultimate goal is to help each individual on the path towards permanent housing and independence. Your support has made opening new locations like Webster Avenue a reality! We look forward to sharing the stories of clients who find solace at Webster Avenue as they make strides towards a better future.
