The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has announced $17.6 million in grants through its new initiative that will assist New Yorkers with complex health and social needs who are experiencing homelessness.

The initiative, which will anchor grantmaking from the foundation’s New York City Program for the coming years, builds upon prior investments in homeless health care, as well as forays into housing for health grantmaking made before 2023. Grant recipients include Anthos|Home, Breaking Ground, Convergent Impact, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

A study of homeless adults in Manhattan found that 42 percent had serious medical issues such as, heart disease, diabetes, or chronic liver disease, as well as peripheral vascular disease. Research has shown that supportive housing—permanent, affordable housing with onsite services that provide easy access to ongoing help—can effectively get people back on their feet.

“Stable housing is the first step toward stable health, especially for the population we focus on—New Yorkers who require complex care and are some of our city’s most vulnerable,” said Helmsley’s New York City program officer, Tracy Perrizo. “We know that homelessness is a solvable problem, and our grants this year are focused on eliminating unnecessary barriers into housing, supporting the right care to maintain stability, and, with the expertise that will emerge from a new collaborative on housing for health, helping to strengthen the field of durable, responsive housing solutions. Together, with our grantees, we are ready to do our part to respond to one of New York City’s biggest health crises.”

For a complete list of recipients, see the Helmsley Charitable Trust website.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Massimo Giachetti)