Your Support Makes Us Stronger
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed life for all of us. But it did not change the vital importance of Community Access’ work. In fact, for the 3,500 tenants and participants who rely on our services — many of whom live in neighborhoods hardest hit by the pandemic — our work became more important than ever.
So, as NYC went into lockdown, we changed how we do our work. We found new and creative ways to deliver our services, transitioning to telephonic service delivery where possible and still seeing people in person when necessary. Making sure people had what they needed to stay safe and well during this public health crisis became our guiding principle — whether that was providing information, resources and emotional support, connections to health care and food programs, delivery of fresh vegetables, social isolation care packages, masks, phones, or thermometers. The list is as varied as the people we serve. And, in the middle of everything, our work as a developer of supportive and affordable housing continued. In May, we opened a 215-unit building in the Bronx — one that is right now providing homes for individuals and families coming out of the shelter system. In July, we broke ground on River Avenue — the future home to 245 households.
The efforts of our dedicated staff over these last months helped us slow the spread of the virus within our community, and maintain our essential services. Because of the work we did, the lessons we learned, and the investments we made, we are in a strong position as we head into what look to be challenging winter months.
Still, our pandemic response efforts came with hundreds of thousands of dollars in unbudgeted expenses. That’s why we need your support. By giving to Community Access today, you’ll help us continue to be part of building and sustaining a more just and compassionate New York — providing more housing and job training, more mental health supports rooted in the values of human rights and respect for individual dignity, more humane responses to people in crisis, more warm meals and peaceful nights. You’ll sustain us for the months ahead, and help us emerge from this public health and economic crisis stronger than before.
Thank you,
Cal Hedigan
