Community Housing Innovations

Former Student Tanya McCormick Overcomes Depression and Unemployment
to Teach Others in “Eight-Week Miracle Course”

Westchester single mother to teach the course that transformed her life

When Tanya McCormick entered her New Rochelle classroom this Spring to begin teaching the medical billing course offered by the Community Housing Innovations Career Services Program, she brought proof that it really works. It was just a few years ago that McCormick herself was sitting in that same classroom as a student on public assistance, uncertain of her own future and spiraling in self-doubt.

The “welfare to work” course, funded by the Westchester County Department of Social Services is part of the “work first” philosophy introduced under welfare reform. The principle is that getting recipients into work as quickly as possible is the key to success. The concept has proven very successful in reducing welfare rolls by about 50% in Westchester County. Some of the courses offered by the county include building superintendent training, computer office skills, and child carehome health aide certification.

Three years ago, McCormick was unable to make ends meet as a single mother. She was reeling from the aftermath of a bitter divorce. She was trying to balance holding down a job while keeping her children safe. “Sometimes, we give a problem so much energy and then we just don’t have the energy to actually fix it,” she explained.

And at that moment, McCormick heard about the two-month course in medical billing offered by the Community Housing Innovations Career Services Program. “It felt like an opportunity to start fulfilling my dream,” she explained. “I’ve always been interested in how the medical industry gets paid. I had worked in billing before, both in insurance and in advertising, but I really wanted to work in the medical billing field.” Mostly, she wanted to build her career in a direction that would enable her to support her two young sons and build a future for her family.

Based on contractual targets, the Community Housing Innovations Career Services Medical Billing Program boasts a 97% rate of completion, a 110% rate of job placement, and an 88% rate of job retention; the Administrative Intake Program, which teaches Microsoft Office applications in two months, achieves a 90% rate of participation, a 104% rate of placement and 100% rate of retention. The Career Services Program also has an Apprenticeship Program and Adult Literacy (GED) courses. Serving over 200 students, the program is just one of many ways that Community Housing Innovations works to help those in crisis achieve self-sufficiency.

“It wasn’t easy,” McCormick admits. “It’s a real challenge to balance being there as a parent and trying to make something like this happen. But I was so determined to be successful and I just knew that I had to focus on it.” She credits her own teacher, Ms. Diana Harris, for being a mentor and showing her the way. Harris saw potential in McCormick, who never had support from her own parents, and convinced her to set her goals high and not allow negativity to stifle her tremendous energy. Indeed, upon leaving the teaching position, it was Harris who recommended McCormick for the job.

CHI Executive Director Alexander Roberts was interviewed
for the prestigious publication, Multi-Housing News.

CHI Takes over Management at Saugerties
Low Income Apartment Building for Seniors

Community Housing Innovations has taken over management of the 89-unit Mill Building on Mill Street in Saugerties, causing a dramatic change in delivery of services. When CHI took charge in August 2007, many services were no longer being provided due to financial issues. Since then, those issues have been resolved by closely working with the Saugerties Section 8 Housing office and the local community.

Here are some recent excerpts from a report of the new CHI Property Manager, Anne Saxtan, who has truly transformed the apartment building.

Volunteering for Children in Crisis: Community Housing Innovations’
Case Managers to be Honored

When CHI case manager and social worker Chantel Chenault first met the 19 year old mother of three, she was a woman in crisis. Her family had an open case with New York State Child Protective Services after the mother was observed punching her two year old son in the mouth. As a volunteer for four years at the Child Abuse Prevention Center of NY, Inc., Ms. Chenault has helped many families at risk address their issues.

“First, I asked her why she felt it necessary to punch her children for misbehavior,” said Chenault. “And then it came out that this was the discipline used on her when she was a child by her stepfather. She thought it was normal.”

Ms. Chenault then counseled the mother, who was under severe stress, to just walk away to “de-escalate” the situation, when she felt like hitting her children. This allowed the woman to reflect upon the child’s behavior and put it in proper perspective. Then, the social worker gave the mother information about child development and what behavior she should expect.

“I gave her alternative means to discipline her children,” said Chenault, “such as the ‘time out.’ That’s basically isolating the child for a period of time equal to his or her age: two minutes for a two year old, four minutes for a four year old.”

Ms. Chenault feels her volunteer work at the center is an extension of her work with families as a case manager for Community Housing Innovations, Inc. “I guess I just love children,” she said.

Ms. Chenault recruited fellow CHI case manager Ronaldo Robledo to volunteer for the Child Abuse Prevention Center just over a year ago. Robledo, a trained EMT, volunteered as a first responder during Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.

Both CHI employees will be recognized at a dinner by the Center on April 30, 2008 for their “outstanding volunteer service to the Westchester Community….They have also helped forge a strong relationship between Community Housing Innovations and the Child Abuse Prevention Center, always available to answer questions for our families in need of housing.”

According to CHI executive director Alexander Roberts, “It is indeed an honor to have two such dedicated employees who continue their selfless work for the community.”

Many of our clients who are homeless require a small amount of help to get them on their feet. And yet government may not find those costs eligible and pay thousands dollars for public assistance instead. I believe that if you knew some of these people you might make a tax-deductible contribution to CHI to help them. One such individual is in one of our congregate singles residences—we’ll call him Joe-- and his story is below.

If you’d like to help Joe, or homeless people in similar situations, please make your donation to Community Housing Innovations, Inc., noting “people to people” in the notation section of the check and send to Community Housing Innovations, Inc., 190 East Post Road, White Plains, NY 10601. Let us know if you would like a note from the recipient (we’ll keep you anonymous, unless you request otherwise). CHI will send you an acknowledgment of your gift for tax purposes.

Joe worked and maintained his own living space until November of 2005. In November of 2005 he quit his employment for Double K Construction and moved from his apartment to care for an elderly and frail relative in Pleasant Valley. The relative past away in March of 2007 and he then became homeless. Between March 07- June 07 he stayed with different friends. He began to feel like a burden on family and friends and was unable to find employment so went into the woods of Pleasant valley and lived in a tent until December of 2007. At this time a friend counseled him on accepting assistance from the state and having a more suitable place to live. He decided to ask for assistance from Dutchess county DSS. He was then placed at the Pleasant Valley Motel until March of 2008. On March 17, 2008, Joe moved into CHI’s residence for single men.

On March 18, 2008 he met with Quinn Jackson, Life Skills Coordinator for CHI and completed a resume. Quinn began searching for employment and gave Joe a few leads.

On March 19, 2008 he faxed a resume to Manpower Inc. (Job Placement organization) and then followed up with a phone call to ensure receipt of the resume for the position of a pool maintenance technician and a mechanical assembler. He was asked to come in on March 20, 2008 to complete paperwork.

On March 20, 2008 he complied with Manpower’s request and was told that he would receive a phone call for employment.

On March 24, 2008 he received a call with an offer for employment as a pool maintenance technician. When asked if he had a valid driver’s license he said no and the position was then withdrawn. The position required Joe to drive a company vehicle to and from various houses for their pool maintenance.

Since his time here he has obtained his Social Security card, high school transcripts, and signed up with Manpower Inc. for job placement. He must call every day at 5:00pm to keep his name in their computers for employment.

He has applied to 20 places of employment since his coming to live here. He has not had any other interviews but what he was given at Manpower Inc. because he lacks a license. Joe needs $65 for his permit test and the 5-hour pre-licensing course is $38.00 for a total of $103.00.

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