The Transitional Services for New York, Inc. (TSINY) announced it will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Jamaica on Sept. 15 to mark the opening of its newest supportive housing building. Known as The Mieles, the building will be provide 42 homeless individuals coming from shelters with a home, as well as 27 seniors who need an affordable place to live.
Originally occupying the Monica House, the site of this groundbreaking supportive housing project was developed by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. It was one of the first projects funded by the New York/New York Agreement to house the homeless mentally ill. Additionally, the funding agreement was the first in the United States to bring together New York State and City agencies to test the concept that housing was an answer for homeless people with mental illnesses and an alternative to in-patient hospital facilities.
Communities across the nation have since created supportive housing after the cost study of the New York agreements reflected its cost-effectiveness.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have worked together to create an affordable housing plan to help ensure every New Yorker has access to safe, affordable housing and try to solve the crisis of homelessness. In the wake of the pandemic, more affordable housing and helping those in a crisis of homelessness has become critical to New York. Mayor Adams is expected to be in attendance for the ribbon cutting.
According to TSINY, The Mieles is just what Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, local officials and community leaders have been striving for.
“Collaborating together to provide affordable homes for families in shelters and who also struggle with a mental illness is amazing,” a TSINY spokesperson said. ” TSINY has been serving the severely mentally ill for 47 years and we are proud to continue to work in this great city to create the stability that these individuals need along with our elected officials.”
Designed by Amie Gross Architects, The Mieles has intricate brickwork highlighted by touches of glazed brick to form a 70-foot tall mural to act as an anchor for the neighborhood. Some of the building’s features include a double height lounge on the ground floor and a “lantern” reaching into the sky on the roof. The building is meant to reflect TSINY’s commitment to community-based design and the aspirational nature of its mission of helping people with mental illnesses rediscover themselves.
The ribbon cutting will take place at 161-01 89th Ave. at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.
