Construction on our new Center began on August 4, 2016, and was completed on November 6, 2017. The new building at 728 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY, is a renovation of an existing historic building (c. 1875) and construction of a new addition.
The new 26,000 square foot Damien Center provides 20 permanent supportive apartments (18 studios and 2 one bedroom apartments) for 22 chronically homeless people living with HIV and AIDS, the overwhelming majority of which are already living in our Albany neighborhoods on the street or in places not fit for humans to live. We employ the Housing-First model, the first of its kind in the region for people with HIV. This proven approach views housing as the immediate and primary need. The result is long-term housing stability, improved physical and behavioral health outcomes, and reduced use of crisis resources, such as emergency departments, hospitals, jails, and Medicaid, saving taxpayers between $25,000 and $50,000 per person per year.
The new 26,000 square foot Damien Center provides 20 permanent supportive apartments (18 studios and 2 one bedroom apartments) for 22 chronically homeless people living with HIV and AIDS, the overwhelming majority of which are already living in our Albany neighborhoods on the street or in places not fit for humans to live. We employ the Housing-First model, the first of its kind in the region for people with HIV. This proven approach views housing as the immediate and primary need. The result is long-term housing stability, improved physical and behavioral health outcomes, and reduced use of crisis resources, such as emergency departments, hospitals, jails, and Medicaid, saving taxpayers between $25,000 and $50,000 per person per year.
The new building also houses the staffing and programs that help over 400 people with HIV/AIDS each year in our local community that are also available for our 22 residents, which include:
Annual operating costs include tenants paying 30% of their income, HUD vouchers, pharmacy revenue, grants, and fundraising dollars. The building will be LEED Gold Certified complete with solar power and energy efficiency throughout the building.
We have secured 92% of the $5.6m capital cost for the building. We are continuing to raise money to support purchasing equipment and for the building and support for the expansion of our programs.
- Two comfortable drop-in living room areas.
- Full service kitchen serving 30,000 homemade breakfasts, lunches, and dinners each year
- Food pantry with walk-in freezer
- Multi-purpose community conference room
- Four counseling & support group rooms
- Fitness room with shower area
- Healing room (massage therapy, Reiki, chiropractic, et al.)
- Computer room with 10 computer workstations
- Front porch & raised bed garden areas
- Front desk staffed 24/7 with interior and exterior video surveillance
- Pet washing station – for our PAWS program
- Aureus Specialty Pharmacy (formerly Town Total Health) – providing delivery medication services to the larger community and in house for our members and tenants.
Annual operating costs include tenants paying 30% of their income, HUD vouchers, pharmacy revenue, grants, and fundraising dollars. The building will be LEED Gold Certified complete with solar power and energy efficiency throughout the building.
We have secured 92% of the $5.6m capital cost for the building. We are continuing to raise money to support purchasing equipment and for the building and support for the expansion of our programs.