Lantern Community Services Inc

LANTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES MISSION IS TO CHAMPION THE INDEPENDENCE AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY OR THREATENED WITH HOMELESSNESS.

LANTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES (LANTERN) CHAMPIONS THE INDEPENDENCE AND WELL-BEING OF CHRONICALLY HOMELESS NEW YORKERS. TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS CAN FIND AND MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING, WE PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTER AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN 19 SITES ACROSS MANHATTAN, THE BRONX, BROOKLYN AND QUEENS. LANTERN OPERATES UNDER THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL. WE BELIEVE THAT PERMANENT HOUSING IS AN INTERVENTION IN AND OF ITSELF, MEETING ONE OF THE MOST BASIC HUMAN NEEDS: SHELTER. WE PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS WITH EXPERT GUIDANCE IN NEGOTIATING THE PRACTICALITIES THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO STAY HOUSED IN THE LONG TERM: INCREASING THEIR INCOME (THROUGH BENEFITS OR EMPLOYMENT), ACCESSING HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS, AND PARTICIPATING IN ON-SITE ACTIVITIES TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT WILL HELP REINTEGRATE AND SUSTAIN THEM IN RECOVERY.*95% OF OUR CLIENTS MAINTAINED STABLE HOUSING, EITHER AT LANTERN OR MOVING OUT TO INDEPENDENT HOUSING*EXPANSION INTO SHELTER: *SINCE OPENING LAUREL HALL IN 2019, LANTERN OPENED ITS SECOND SHELTER, EXPANDING ITS PORTFOLIO BEYOND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND ESTABLISHING ITS OWN MODEL OF THERAPEUTIC EMERGENCY SHELTER. THIS HAS ALLOWED LANTERN TO ADD 194 BEDS TO THE CITYS EMERGENCY HOUSING SYSTEM, SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AT BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK END OF NEW YORKS HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE INFRASTRUCTURE. *IN JULY OF 2020, LANTERN OPENED THE PLAZA, AN 81-BED EMERGENCY WOMENS MENTAL HEALTH SHELTER IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS. CONSISTENT WITH THE STANDARD SET AT LANTERNS OTHER SHELTER, SERVICES AT THE PLAZA INCLUDE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, DAILY MEALS, AND HOUSING TRANSITION SUPPORT.QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAMSLANTERNS INNOVATIVE SERVICE MODEL IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PARTNERS CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING SUPPORT WITH EXPERTS IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ARTS AND CULTURE, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT, AND NUTRITION AND CULINARY ARTS. BELOW ARE FY21 HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEVERAL OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAMS:HEALTH AND WELLNESS*OVER THE COURSE OF FY21, HEALTH AND WELLNESS CONDUCTED 85 EDUCATIONAL GROUPS WITH 421 PARTICIPANTS, REPRESENTING 208 UNIQUE TENANTS. *1,794 CONTACTS WERE MADE THROUGH TABLING AND OUTREACH, REPRESENTING 406 UNIQUE TENANTS. *AS COVID LIMITED STAFF CONTACT WITH TENANTS, THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS TEAM INCREASED PRODUCTION OF EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLETS AND NEWSLETTERS, PRODUCING A TOTAL OF 456 MATERIALS DURING FY21.*IN MAY OF 2021, LANTERN WAS AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE CDC FOUNDATION IN RESPONSE TO AN RFP WHICH AIMS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE VACCINATION COVERAGE ACROSS DIFFERENT RACIAL AND ETHNIC ADULT POPULATIONS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING DISPARITIES. *ENTITLED PROJECT ON-POINT, THE PROPOSED PROGRAM ENGAGES SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TENANTS AND STAFF THROUGH THE APPOINTMENT OF TENANT VACCINE AMBASSADORS AND STAFF VACCINE CHAMPIONS. THE GOAL OF THE GRANT IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT THE VACCINES ACROSS MIXED PLATFORMS TO DECREASE HESITANCY AND ULTIMATELY INCREASE THE RATES OF VACCINATION IN CLIENTS AND STAFF. *EBIS*CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF T-IMR*THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF OUR 3-YEAR COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HAS BEEN TO EQUIP LANTERN STAFF FROM THREE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BUILDINGS IN THE RECOVERY-ORIENTED AND SKILL-BUILDING MODEL OF T-IMR FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. OUR GOAL WAS TO INCREASE RESIDENTS OPPORTUNITY TO BE EXPOSED TO, ENGAGE IN, AND BENEFIT FROM A PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION MODEL ADAPTED SPECIFICALLY FOR USE IN A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.SHOWN THROUGH IMPACT EVALUATION, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, THAT: RESIDENTS WHO COMPLETED T-IMR SHOWED PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR PERSONAL GOALS, INCREASED USE OF COPING SKILLS AND A REDUCTION IN SYMPTOM DISTRESS. THIS SUGGESTS THE MODEL HAS A POSITIVE EFFECT ON PARTICIPANTS MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.THE SELECTED SAMPLE OF STAFF SIMILARLY DEMONSTRATED POSITIVE BENEFITS FROM RECEIVING TRAINING AND CONSULTATION IN T-IMR. A COMPETENCY EVALUATION PROCESS REVEALED HIGH LEVELS OF COMPETENCE IN ESSENTIAL T-IMR SKILLS SUCH AS THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP, USE OF STAGE-WISE CARE, AND RECOVERY ORIENTATION. EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONCHILDREN AND YOUTH EDUCATION: MEGA CORPORATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED 10 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RESIDENTS OF SILVERLEAF & LINDENGUILD HALL. 2019 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAD ALL 10 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO OUR TENANTS.A COLLEGE 101 VIDEO SERIES (4 VIDEOS) AND OTHER SHORT INFORMATIONAL VIDEOS WERE CREATED FOR LANTERNS VIMEO PAGE.SIX STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN LIVE TUTORING ON-SITE. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST VIRTUAL TUTORING PROGRAM TO MAKE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SAFE AND ATTAINABLE.FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WERE ESCORTED TO VISIT FOUR NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND ALSO RECEIVED MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL WORKSHOPS TO AID APPLICATIONS IN AWARENESS OF OPTIONS IN THE SCHOOL CHOICE PROCESS.THREE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE ACCEPTED TO HIGH SCHOOLS RANKED AMONG THEIR TOP 3 CHOICES.THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION TEAM ATTENDED THE NATIONAL EXTERNAL DIPLOMA PROGRAM (NEDP CONFERENCE. THE NEDP IS A HANDS-ON VIRTUAL LEARNING PROGRAM THAT ASSESSES THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL SKILLS OF ADULTS AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH AND AWARDS A TRADITIONAL DIPLOMA SO GRADUATES CAN MEET THEIR ACADEMIC AND CAREER GOALS.EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT: OUR SPECIALISTS WORK WITH RESIDENTS TO PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION AS A PATH TO AN INDEPENDENT, STABLE FUTURE. WE PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS VOCATIONAL TRAINING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES THAT ARE TAILORED TO EACH RESIDENTS UNIQUE INTERESTS, ABILITIES, AND WORK HISTORIES.1 SAVANNA TENANT WORKING AT CITI FIELD2 SCHAFER TENANTS EMPLOYED AT FEDEX AND UPS1 TENANT ENROLLED IN COLLEGEINDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT (IPS): THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (ACCES-VR), LANTERNS IPS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE A CERTIFIED VENDOR OF JOB PLACEMENT AND JOB RETENTION SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. SPECIALISTS IMPLEMENTED BASIC FINANCIAL LITERACY INSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT ALL IPS BUILDINGSSPECIALISTS HOSTED 7 WORKSHOPS IN MULTIPLE IPS BUILDINGSIPS SUCCESSFULLY PARTNERED WITH: RDS DELIVERY FRESH DIRECTTHE BRONX CHAMBER OF COMMERCEIPS SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A LANTERN TENANT TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CULINARY ARTS INSTITUTE IPS HOSTED A MENTOR-MENTEE PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH GOLDMAN SACHSSUCCESS STORIES:1 NEW AMBER TENANT BECAME GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY1 JASPER HALL TENANT RETAINED HER EMPLOYMENT FOR A YEAR AT WHOLE FOODSIPS REVISITED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2 TENANTS WHO HAVENT WORKED SINCE 19811 SAVANNA TENANT MOVED OUT WITH THE HELP OF FINANCIAL LITERACYNUTRITION AND CULINARY ARTSTHROUGH A GRANT FROM THE USDA, LANTERNS FOOD 4 LIFE PROGRAM ENTERED ITS FOURTH YEAR OF PROVIDING CULINARY INSTRUCTION AND NUTRITION EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME YOUNG ADULT RESIDENTS WHO MOVED INTO LANTERN UPON AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. FOOD 4 LIFE IS THE FIRST CULINARY AND FOOD LITERACY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES THE TOOLS FOR THIS POPULATION TO NOURISH THEMSELVES.CONTINUATION OF COVID-RELATED FOOD SECURITY EFFORTSIN RESPONSE TO FOOD INSECURITY CAUSED BY THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NUTRITION AND CULINARY ARTS WORKED TO IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TENANTS. IN CONTINUATION OF OUR EXPANDED FOOD SECURITY EFFORTS THAT BEGAN IN FY20, LANTERNS FRESH FOOD BOX AND SHELF STABLE PANTRY PROGRAMS WERE IMPLEMENTED IN ALL OF OUR 16 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SITES. FRESH FOOD BOX (FFB) PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH SEASONAL AND LOCALLY-SOURCED FRUITS, VEGETABLES, EGGS, AND GRAINS ON A WEEKLY TO BIWEEKLY BASIS. OUR FOOD 4 LIFE PROGRAM EVOLVED TO INCLUDE A COMBINATION OF REMOTE AND IN-PERSON TEACHING.IN THREE BUILDINGS, WE PROVIDED A COMBINATION OF 1:1 OR 1:2 IN-PERSON CULINARY CLASSES IN ADHERENCE WITH CDC AND LANTERN COVID SAFETY GUIDELINES. WE ALSO LAUNCHED VIRTUAL CLASSES FOR CLIENTS AT THREE OF OUR BUILDINGS, AND LEARNED THAT MANY OF THE YOUNG ADULT TENANTS ENJOY LEARNING FROM THEIR APARTMENTS WHERE THEY CAN USE THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT.ARTS AND CULTURELED BY A NEW DIRECTOR, THE ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM HAS BEEN RE-ENVISIONED TO BE MORE FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE CULTURE AND INTERESTS OF THE TENANTS WHILE ALSO DRAWING UPON THE DEEP RESOURCES PRESENT IN THE ARTS COMMUNITIES OF THE SITES SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. LANTERN HAS HIRED OVER TEN NEW CONSULTANTS ACROSS VARIOUS CREATIVE DISCIPLINES, RANGING FROM MUSIC, DANCE, ART, AND CREATIVE WRITING. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR INCLUDE:A MURAL TO REMEMBER THOSE LOST IN 2020, PAINTED BY CHRISTOPHER CARDINALE FROM THE NYC MURAL PROJECTBLACK HISTORY MONTH JAZZ CONCERT, FEATURING YAYOI IKAWA (STUDENT OF THE LATE CHICK COREA)MONDAY MELODIES INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL CONCERT SERIES BY MUSICAL MENTORS, FEATURING LOCAL MUSICIANS AND SINGERS FROM THE METROPOLITAN OPERABLACKOUT SLAM POETRY AND AFTERNOON TEA PARTY HOSTED BY URBAN WORD NYC.PRIDE MONTH BRUNCH AND BAL