Our Mission

Recognizing the dearth of non-institutional housing opportunities for the long term mentally ill, and housing alternatives for those can “graduate” from transitional stabilizing systems as well as the “working poor”, Columba Kavanagh House a was founded to provide permanent, safe, clean, affordable housing for persons of low income who want and need support services for independent living and to secure the provision of adequate satisfactory social services for the residents of its houses.

History

In 1980 when Sisters Alice Melchior Beigen and Georgette Lawton were involved in the finance office of the Provincial Center that was located at 15 East 81st Street. The building was owned by the Archdiocese of New York and the Archdiocese was considering different uses. Sr. Columba, the Provincial, asked Sister Alice to help investigate alternative space, not only for the offices but also for the 15 sisters who lived there. The Real Estate market in New York City was undergoing enormous changes and many tenants became the victims of SRO conversions and deplorable housing conditions. The experience led Sr. Alice to decide that when her tenure at the Provincial Center was over she would become involved in housing.

Deinstitutionalization of persons who are unaccustomed to living independently coupled with the dearth of appropriate supportive housing systems was a major contributor to the phenomenon of mass homelessness. In 1983 homelessness was just beginning to become very visible to New York City. Mayor Koch challenged the churches and synagogues to open their doors to provide shelter. Working with the Partnership for the Homeless, Sisters Alice Melchior Biegen and Georgette Lawton responded by opening a shelter for homeless women in the basement of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. The shelter was open from Sunday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. every night parishioners volunteered to stay the night and act as hosts or hostesses for the twelve guests.

The slogans of the day regarding the homeless led one to believe that the homeless needed a home and a job. Their experience at the shelter led the Sisters to believe differently. Most of the guests had multiple needs. There were health issues, both physical and mental, that were frequently compounded by drug and alcohol addictions. The seeds of the dream were sown for a building where people could live in peace and safety and have social services to help them adjust.

Columba Kavanagh House was incorporated in December 1985 to fulfill this dream. The organization was named after Sr. Columba Kavanagh because it was she who truly provided for the experiences that led to this endeavor.

Columba Kavanagh House, Inc. (CKH) had no financial resources and no track record for developing and/or managing housing or for providing social services. “Networking” was imperative. With enormous help from Peter Smith, (RIP), founder of the Partnership for the Homeless, elected officials, Community Boards, and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, CKH was able to acquire a vacant City owned building at 209 East 118th Street. CKH applied for and was awarded a $1.1 million dollar grant from the New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Program to rehab the building. Using that $1.1 million as leverage CKH applied for and received an additional $2.3 million from the New York City Capital Budgets Homeless Housing Program for rehabilitation.

Substantial rehabilitation of 209 East 118th Street began in June 1989. In August 1990 Columba Hall opened its door to 110 homeless single adults.

COLUMBA HALL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND CORPORATION opened its doors to 110 tenants in October 1990.

In an effort to provide the best management services for our buildings, Columba Kavanagh House formed Corazon Management Company, Inc., a for-profit management company. Corazon Management Company currently manages all the Columba Houses.

Meanwhile, two privately owned SROs came back onto the market, one at 31 West 124th Street and the other at 507 West 142nd Street. In June 1990, Columba Kavanagh House bought both of these buildings using money from the New York City SRO Loan Program. Both buildings were in great need of repair. Because it had so few tenants, West 142nd Street was first to be rehabbed. The tenants were asked to temporarily relocate to 124th Street. EGA HALL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND CORPORATION opened its doors to 63 tenants in February 1992.

Once again the existing tenants were relocated – this time to the new building at West 142nd Street and the substantial rehabilitation of West 124th Street began. When the demolition was in progress, it was realized that the amount of work needed was greater than anticipated. Therefore our advisors recommended we apply for Tax Credits under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. We received the Tax Credits in February 1993 and in October 1993 GEMA HALL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP opened its doors to 87 tenants.

In May 2000, Columba Services, Inc. was formed to provide social services to the tenants of the Columba Houses. In an agreement with the City, in July 2002 Columba Services replaced the social services provider at the Columba Houses. Social Services are funded through contracts with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the NYC Department of Homeless Services and the NYC Department of Mental Health.

The services provided at the Columba Houses include;

• Supportive and informal counseling;
• Health and mental health monitoring and referral;
• Community life skills such as meal planning and preparation;
• Personal hygiene and apartment care;
• Substance abuse/MICA counseling and referrals;
• Job related supportive services and referrals;
• Recreational activities;
• Crisis intervention and ;
• Benefits assistance