Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter, Inc. Information

Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS) provides New Yorkers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with a home, a community, and access to the services that they need to thrive. We create innovative solutions and engage community partners to provide housing and support that can transform lives. NCS helps New Yorkers who have a history of homelessness, often compounded by mental illness or substance use, to achieve their highest level of independence. We were established in 1982 by faith and community leaders on Manhattan’s Upper East Side who believed that homelessness is the responsibility of the entire community. Forty years later we are still guided by the principle that neighbors should help neighbors. The NCS Residence on the Upper East Side houses 65 individuals who have a history of homelessness. Most live with mental illness, often accompanied by substance use disorder. Louis Nine House is home to 46 young adults who have aged out of foster care or experienced homelessness and mental illness. On-site supportive services help them work toward independence. NCS Scholars is a pilot program that provides year-round housing and supportive services for homeless college students. The program is designed to address the challenges that typically cause or accompany homelessness, giving the residents the best chance to earn their degrees and begin successful futures. Chance for Change is an outpatient substance-use treatment program uniquely designed to serve individuals who are homeless and battling addiction, often combined with mental illness. Options is our vocational, education, and employment program that helps individuals overcome barriers to employment and progress toward a career that provides a living wage and growth over time. Neighborhood-focused Street Sheets are pocket-sized guides that provide information about meal programs, shelters, drop-in centers, legal services, medical care, and more.