The New York Foundling Opens New Supportive Housing Complex in Harlem

Last Friday, The New York Foundling marked the completion of their newest affordable and supportive housing complex in amenity-rich Harlem that will become a new model for helping youth who are aging out of foster care and exiting the shelter system.

Among the residents of the brand new, 17-story residential tower at 126 West 126th Street are 70 young people leaving foster care and the shelter system moving into 51 supportive housing apartments. The homes come with extensive wrap-around services to support their independence, from counseling and therapy to mentorship and job training. The program has proven to be a success, as data shows that 95% of young people in The Foundling’s scatter-site supportive housing have successfully transitioned within two years to living independently for each of the past four years.

“Our hands-on program provides safe, affordable housing and critical services, including job training and support, that help put young people on track for healthy and fulfilling lives as adults. This is how we break the cycle of homelessness for these young people,” said Melanie Hartzog, President and CEO of The New York Foundling. “Easily accessible and centrally located, this supportive housing project represents a new model that builds a bridge from foster care to independent living. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul and all of our incredible project partners for helping us bring this much needed project to the heart of Harlem.”

The new housing is part of a large mixed-use development project known as the Urban Empowerment Center. On Harlem’s 125th Street, the Center will bring the new headquarters, museum and institute for the National Urban League, offices for One Hundred Black Men of New York, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the United Negro College Fund, and Virginia Union University; and retail, including a Target and a Trader Joe’s. The project’s development partners are BRP Companies, L+M Development Partners, Taconic Partners, and The Prusik Group. Financing for the project came from New York State, Goldman Sachs, Santander Bank and Redstone Equity Partners.

On top of residents having easy access to the 125th Street business district, they will also be within walking distance of the A/B/C/D/2/3/4/5/6 subway lines, major bus routes and Metro-North. The building amenities include The Foundling offices, a fitness center, laundry room, resident lounge, outdoor terrace and bike storage. And rents range from $666 for a studio up to $1,478 for a two-bedroom; cost of rent is dependent upon monthly income.

Residents like Venessa Riley are grateful to have the support of The Foundling to help them transition out of the foster care system and into living independently.

“As a youth in foster care, you never know where you’ll end up or how you’ll end up. But now, with support from The New York Foundling and New York State, I have a safe space to lay my head – and in the heart of Harlem where you walk outside and are instantly inspired. I’m grateful for this wonderful opportunity. I plan to make the most of it,” said Venessa Riley, a resident of The New York Foundling’s Harlem supportive housing program.

In addition to the new Harlem development and with the support of New York State, The Foundling already operates three supportive housing programs in Brooklyn, including two scatter site programs in 20 buildings and serving 40 young people across 33 apartment units. Of 48 youths, 46 have successfully transitioned to independent living within two years.

In September 2022, as part of New York State’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative, The Foundling opened Vital Brookdale, its first model supportive housing development, in Brownsville. Besides Vital Brookdale and 126 W. 126th Street, a third similarly modeled supportive housing project – where youth are housed together rather than in scattered buildings – operated by The Foundling and funded by New York State is being planned for the Bronx.