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WaHi Supportive Housing Called a 'Blessing' by Formerly Homeless Tenants

 A new six-story, 44-unit supportive housing building opened over a decade after development started.
The O'Hanlon
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WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Growing up, Cedric Williams was surrounded by drugs and crime, and he struggled to stay out of trouble with the law.

So it took time for the 43-year-old from South Jamaica to adjust when he found himself in his own apartment — complete with a new bathroom, air conditioner and kitchen — inside a stable building with a lavender garden in the back, supportive staff, and access to mental health treatment and other services.

"I grew up in an environment with crack and all of that, and after that I was in and out of shelters and sleeping in trains," said Williams, one of the residents of the O’Hanlon building, a six-story, 44-unit supporting housing complex on Amsterdam Avenue near West 166th Street. 

Since moving into the building, which was completed last summer after more than a decade, Williams said he's been able to clear his head and enjoy living on his own. 

The building at 2142 Amsterdam Ave., named after longtime supportive housing advocate Timothy O'Hanlon, provides affordable housing to very low-income residents, as well as on-site mental services, a community garden and job resources from organizations like Services for the Undeserved (SUS), Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) and Alembic Community Development.

The new units are occupied by 26 individuals selected by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in addition to 17 low-income residents and a live-in superintendent, who will move in within the next few months, officials said.

Robert Harston, 51, who grew up in Washington Heights, said the building and resources represent a "come-up" for people like him. 

“At night you don’t have to worry about anyone hitting you over the head," he said, adding that he moved into the apartment building in October after living for years in several men's shelters. 

"I'm going to try to ride it out as long as I can," Harston said, calling the building "a blessing." 

"You can't compare nothing to this."

Vladimir Diaz, program director for SUS, said his office and staff, which is based in the basement of the building, provide everything from letters for job applications and references to medical providers to computer assistance with job searches and resume-building.  

"We follow up with them, make sure they have everything they need," Diaz said. "We want to make sure we provide programs that’ll help them stay stable [and] continue to integrate in the community."

Yvonne Stennett, executive director of Community League of the Heights (CLOTH), said putting together a project like this, with all the needed services, support and funding, required a massive effort.  

Stennett explained that the project started back in 2001, when the Housing Development Fund Corporation purchased the property from Columbia University. Together with CLOTH, the agency was able to acquire the two neighboring lots.

The complex cost approximately $11.9 million, according the city's Housing Preservation and Development department, which provided $120,000 for the project. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also provided $5.1 million, according to HPD.

"Supportive housing is not an easy thing to do," Stennett said. "It’s hard to put the finances together. It’s even harder to make community boards and many community organizations to even adopt having a supportive housing in their project."