Press Releases

NYC Health + Hospitals Will Build Supportive, Affordable Housing on Underutilized Lot

Residential project at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull will house low-income individuals and patients managing mental illness

Jul 15, 2016

The NYC Health + Hospitals received final City Council approval to build supportive, affordable housing at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull in Central Brooklyn. The project is part of the public health system’s efforts to address housing instability, one of the major social determinants of health, by creating safe, supportive and accessible housing for some of its neediest patients.
The proposed six-story structure will be built on the leased hospital parcel by Comunilife, a non-profit, community based organization that will develop the building and provide on-site social services and help keep residents closely connected to the hospital’s comprehensive health services. This type of supportive housing has been proven to improve the health of sick individuals, prevent some health conditions before they develop, and reduce costly health services. The New York City Council granted the last needed approval for NYC Health + Hospitals to lease 13,000 square feet of property to Comunilife. The project already received necessary state approvals and had the early endorsement of local Council Member Robert Cornegy.
“This project demonstrates how NYC Health + Hospitals is more than a health care provider – we are also a social change agent,” said NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Dr. Ram Raju. “It is also a great example of what’s possible under our transformation plan strategy to develop underused parcels across our health system to help strengthen our financial health while ensuring there’s value added to the communities we serve.”
“Comunilife is pleased to partner with NYC Health + Hospitals to provide desperately needed housing to a population that faces far too many challenges finding a safe and affordable place to live,” said Dr. Rosa M. Gil, Comunilife’s President and CEO. “The new building will greatly improve health outcomes for its residents while increasing the stock of affordable housing in the community.”
“Affordable housing is a key priority for my office, particularly as it relates to the needs of my constituents in the 36th Council District. My office has witnessed, first-hand, how New York City’s rising housing costs have continued to place strains on the residents of our borough and, more specifically, on my constituents,” said Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Council Member, 36th District. “The addition of affordable and safe apartments will certainly help to ease this economic, social and health strain on our community and will enable individuals living with mental illness to continue to benefit from outpatient medical and mental health services provided by NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and other community based organizations.”
“I applaud NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull for their innovative use of land to provide better care for patients,” said Eric L. Adams, Brooklyn Borough President. “Supportive, affordable housing is a critical component to ensuring our borough advances forward as a safe place to raise healthy children and families.”
“Comunilife has been a vital anchor in our community, saving and transforming lives with quality health services,” said Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “This latest initiative will build on that success, helping better reach some of our most vulnerable neighbors.”
“North Brooklyn’s health care and supportive housing network is seeing the first fruits of a multi-year commitment to deliver services Brooklynites expect and deserve,” said Senator Martin Malave Dilan. “This partnership between Woodhull and Comunilife will have a lasting impact on an otherwise underserved community. I look forward to continue working with them.”
“I am happy to support the Comunilife’s project to build supportive housing for both current and former patients of the Hospital as well as residents of the local community who seek housing. In my opinion, this project addresses two vital community needs; providing continued care to patients in need of supportive services and affordable housing to individuals and families,” said Assembly Member Annette M. Robinson. “I have observed with dismay over the years how truly unaffordable our City has become. Families with children are being priced out of neighborhoods at an alarming rate. Any opportunity that arises that provides affordable housing to residence will indeed get my support. I know that Communilife already provides critical services to homeless residents of Brooklyn living with HIV/AIDS and with mental illness. I look forward to the project’s completion”
The building will be located on the corner of Park and Throop in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and will feature 89 studio apartments for low income residents who earn less than 60 percent of the area’s median income, or less than $36,300; 54 of the units will be designated for income-eligible residents living with mental illness. Construction is expected to begin in late 2016 and be completed in 2018.
Building features will include:

• On site social services
• Laundry room
• Community room
• Computer room
• Bike storage
• Landscaping
• 24 hour doorman security

Contact: Press Office, 212-788-3339

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation with a network of 11 hospitals including six regional trauma centers, community-based health centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, and a correctional health services unit. The system includes a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlusHealth. The health system provides essential services to 1.2 million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the five boroughs. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees are uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. Visit nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected: https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem/ or Twitter @NYCHealthSystem.