New Rochelle Affordable Housing, Inc. is an arm of the New Rochelle Municipal Housing Authority (NRMHA) with a primary focus of serving various unmet needs by the community of the nearly 500 residents housed within NRMHA’s three residential sites – 50 Sickles Avenue, 111 Lockwood Avenue (senior/disabled population with approximately 230 residents) and 345/361 Main St. (family population with over 260 residents). A majority of those residents we serve are classified as the “vulnerable population”: 193 seniors; 82 disabled residents under the age of 61; and 73 school-age youth.

Due to the quick outbreak of COVID-19 in New Rochelle, NRMHA rapidly responded by serving its youth population with emphasis on small scale food distribution.  Many students in our near the NMRHA family site of 345/361 Main St. depend on the meals provided in the New Rochelle schools for nourishment. NRMHA also recognized there was also a major need to provide food relief for the Senior population, during this critical time. Because of the various situations our underprivileged community faces (including household and personal supplies) currently the number we are now attempting to serve has grown exponentially – closer to 1000 individuals in all age groups.

Initially, NRMHA sought to respond to the needs of our vulnerable resident population, but due to the intensity of the COVID-19 outbreak and in response to needs of the underprivileged in our community, NRMHA diverted efforts to New Rochelle Affordable Housing, Inc. to seek immediate donations to support those in need. This is a new undertaking for our organization, as a response to this COVID-19 pandemic.

NRMHA created a fundraising initiative through “GoFundMe” raising approximately $8,750.00 to date.  The monies from the “GoFundMe” initiative provided continuous hot meals to our residents and to the senior/disabled residents at City Park (550-570 5^th Avenue), 64 Lincoln Avenue, 33 Lincoln Avenue, Heritage Homes, and many others.  In addition to the hot meals served to our resident children at 345/361 Main St., we also serve the children at 21 Fountain Place (WESTHAB) and any other child in need on a daily basis.

HUD Region ll Administrator donated a combination of over 2000 masks and gloves to public housing residents as well as senior and disabled residents living in low-income housing!

Because of social distancing and sheltering in place, to date, we are working in partnership with the City School District of New Rochelle, to utilize our site as a breakfast and lunch meal distribution center. The food distribution takes place at 345 Main Street Monday through Friday from 9AM to 4PM. From 4PM to 7PM, we provide dinner to our senior residents outside of normal operations.

We partnered with the City of New Rochelle –NOURISHALL and are providing free restaurant gift certificates to provide food for those with food insecurities.

Received a grant in the amount of $1000 from New Rochelle Council of Community Service toward our COVID-19 relief efforts.

Received a $380 food donation from the Glenwood Lake Neighborhood Association.

Received 100 cloth masks from Westchester County for our senior residents and disabled residents.