Tag: hope gardens

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Daemen College Students Paint Mural at Hope Gardens

Our Permanent Supportive Housing department recently collaborated with a group of design students from Daemen College‘s Visual & Performing Arts program and their Professor, Casey Kelly. The group painted a mini-mural in the sanctuary space at our Hope Gardens facility. Due to COVID-19, the group wasn’t able to do the mural for their art in community service project during the Spring semester, but they returned in the Fall ready to complete it! We’re incredibly grateful to have a connection to this institution and these compassionate students!

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Hope Gardens End-of-Summer Luau

Last week, our Permanent Supportive Housing department held their first event at Hope Gardens since the Covid-19 pandemic began in March. Staff put up bright, colorful decorations and the residents enjoyed music, games, delicious BBQ chicken (specially made by Housing First Program Supervisor, Lonnie Patterson) and yummy sides – all while properly socially distancing. Many of the residents said it was the most fun they have had in a long time and that they really needed it. As things progress positively in this pandemic, we hope to gradually hold more in-house events. All of our Permanent Supportive Housing staff had a fun time as well!

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Employment Opportunity: Housing First Case Manager

Now Hiring: Housing First Case Manager (Two Openings Available)

Job Description: The Housing First case managers will provide support to homeless clients by evaluating their social history, number of past hospitalizations, treatment histories for mental illness and chemical addictions, homeless history and homeless preferences, a detailed housing history, and independent living skills. The case managers will work with clients to create an Independent Services Plan and work toward attaining their goals.  Staff must understand the Housing First model with inclusion of the definition of chronically homeless and how to document/verify.

Click the link above for full listing. Please submit cover letter and resume to Kadie Skulski, Director of Permanent Supportive Housing, at kskulski@urbanctr.org.

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Employment Opportunity: Hope Gardens Program Supervisor

Now Hiring: Hope Gardens Program Supervisor

Job Description: The Program Supervisor will oversee a staff of case managers and community health workers, in addition to carrying a case load of clients. They will coordinate services and activities working directly with service providers, and engage with and educate local employers about our Job Skills Development Program. 

Click the link above for full listing. Please submit cover letter and resume to Kadie Skulski, Director of Permanent Supportive Housing, at kskulski@urbanctr.org.

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COVID-19 PROGRAM UPDATES

As a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, our agency has had to make some temporary changes to our programs and procedures. Please see below for updates from each of our sites and programs on how they will be functioning in the interim. We will continue to send updates as things change.

MUC Headquarters, 1081 Broadway
Our main headquarters is open, but we are not accepting any walk-in clients. The building is open to staff and deliveries only. Tenants may drop off rent payments at the dropbox in the lobby at 1081 Broadway if they are unable to mail them. All inquiries should be made via phone at (716) 893-7222.

ESL/GED Program
Our ESL and GED classes are suspended until April 20, per the Buffalo Public Schools mandate. Please keep an eye on our website for updates on this timeline.

SNAP Program
Our SNAP workforce development program is suspended until further notice.

Senior Services Program
Our senior services staff are no longer doing home visits at this time. Our senior services program is still working with clients via phone and can be reached at (716) 893-7222 x207 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Housing & Community Development Programs
All City of Buffalo housing assistance program inquiries – including the Emergency Repair program, HomeGrown program, and Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance program – are being referred to call the Old First Ward Community Association at 716-856-8613 x103.

Housing staff are still supporting our receivership tenants over the phone at (716) 893-7222 x214. All tenants should be paying rent via mail to the Matt Urban Center, 1081 Broadway, Buffalo NY 14212 if possible, or at the dropbox in the lobby at 1081 Broadway if they are unable to mail them. Tenants at our apartment buildings can continue to pay rent via the dropbox at their respective buildings.

Weatherization Program
Our weatherization staff are still working Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We ask that all new applicants request information by phone at (716) 893-7222 x218 or via email at jparylo@urbanctr.org or by mail to the Matt Urban Center, 1081 Broadway, Buffalo NY 14212.

Matt Urban Hope Center, 385 Paderewski Drive
The Matt Urban Hope Center is currently closed and all services are suspended until further notice.

Hope House Shelter, 586 Genesee Street

Our Hope House shelter is still accepting referrals, but our capacity is currently at 50% to maintain a safe distance between residents. We are only accepting 25 women and children at this time. We will accept referrals as families depart through the Department of Social Services and 2-1-1. All questions regarding the shelter can be directed to our Hope Services director at (917) 717-1400.

T.J. Dulski Community Center, 129 Lewis Street

The T.J. Dulski Center is currently closed to the public. I n light of the local school closures, all youth program operations have ceased until further notice.

Our food pantry at T.J. Dulski will be open every other week on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The next date the pantry will be open is Wednesday, April 1.

Permanent Supportive Housing Programs

Our permanent supportive housing programs are suspending all home visits and will continue to support our clients over the phone. Our staff can be reached at (716) 893-7222, x530.

HELP Buffalo I & II, 368 & 384 Broadway
No visitors are permitted at our HELP Buffalo apartments at this time. Tenants can continue to work with their case managers via phone.

Hope Gardens, 58 Oberlin Avenue
No visitors are permitted at our Hope Gardens apartments at this time. All group activities and congregate dining have been suspended. Food will be delivered to tenants’ apartments. Tenants can continue to work with their case managers on site and via phone.

Questions? Reach out to us at (716) 893-7222 or via email at info@urbanctr.org.

We hope all of our clients, partners, supporters and community members stay safe and healthy during this time!

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Permanent Supportive Housing Celebrates Black History Month

 

Our permanent supportive housing department recently celebrated Black History Month with an event at Hope Gardens! Clients and staff made decorations, sang, read poetry, played trivia, enjoyed a spoken word performance by Monique Murphy, and an African drums performance by Marvin Harris. Our Hope Gardens cook made an amazing traditional African soul food dinner, too!

 

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Permanent Supportive Housing Hosts Music and Mocktails Party

Our permanent supportive housing team recently created a positive social hour for their clients called “Music and Mocktails.” The event featured live music by local singer and musician Brian Beaudry, who is a member of several local bands including “Nerds Gone Wild.” Brian performs live music sets for nursing homes and residential sites all over Western New York.

Our clients from Housing First, Hope Gardens and HELP Buffalo attended the first Music and Mocktails event on December 4, 2019. They enjoyed appetizers, “mock tails”, and lots of singing and dancing. We’re looking forward to hosting more of these social events in the near future!

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Employment Opportunity: Hope Gardens Cook

Now Hiring: Hope Gardens Cook

Job Description: The Cook at Hope Gardens will be responsible for overseeing meal planning and preparation for the residents of the facility. The Cook will inventory & shop for food, prepare meals, and maintain kitchen to remain in compliance with Department of Health standards.

Click the link above for full listing. Please submit cover letter and resume to Christal Guthrie at cguthrie@urbanctr.org.

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Representing MUC in Albany

Tasha Moore, our Community Health Worker at Hope Gardens, recently traveled to Albany to attend the statewide public hearing to evaluate the continuing unmet civil legal services needs in New York.

Tasha went to show support for our partners at Neighborhood Legal Services and gave powerful testimony to the need for adequate civil legal services. Tasha’s remarks share how critical those resources have been in her own life and to the clients she serves.

Read Tasha’s full testimony here.

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