Building Type: Upper West Side

The West 80’s are two buildings, which were part of NYC Housing Preservation and Development , have been renovated by WSFSSH. WSFSSH helped existing tenants relocate to safe permanent housing while gut renovations took place. Several tenants opted to return to the renovated buildings when it re-opened in 2010. The transitional units are home for the Dorot Homelessness Prevention Program.

WSFSSH at West 108 stands as a beacon of hope on the Upper West Side, offering 79 affordable housing units for families and 119 supportive studios for formerly homeless individuals over 55 years old. Recognized with the 2022 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award and the Affordable Housing Finance 2022 Readers’ Choice Award, this 193,000 sq ft complex sets a high standard for affordable housing developments. WSFSSH at West 108 prioritizes community health and warmth, featuring a federally-qualified health center and warm interiors designed by Dattner Architects. Its dining room, with floor-to-ceiling glass offering views of the neighboring park, embodies its commitment to inviting natural light. The complex also includes space for our Valley Lodge Shelter that offers 110 beds for homeless seniors and community meeting spaces. WSFSSH at West 108 addresses critical housing needs while fostering a sense of community and well-being.

John & Carroll Kowal House, named after founding board member John Kowal and his wife Carroll, strives to improve the lives of single adults in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing. Advocating for the preservation of SRO housing, WSFSSH responded to a proposal by New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development to develop a model SRO housing using Section 8 Modified Rehab. Despite financial constraints, Kowal House opened in November 1988, embodying the vision of supportive SRO housing.

Originally constructed in 1967, this 120-unit Mitchell Lama building was at risk of losing its affordable status. With assistance from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), WSFSSH’s purchase ensures the preservation of affordability for existing tenants, many of whom are seniors . Through HPD project-based Section 8, residents will benefit from significantly reduced rents.

The Kurt and Leah Schneider Apartments is funded by the HUD 202 Program. The site, which was once a community garden, is named after local leaders Leah and Kurt Schneider, honoring their legacy of social justice activism. Leah’s vision for affordable housing in Manhattan Valley led to the preservation of over a thousand units. Residents, selected through a random lottery, enjoy safe and inclusive housing in the heart of Manhattan Valley.

The Ben Michalski Residence was opened in July of 1997, after renovating the formerly city-owned building into 18 single rooms with private bathrooms. It was financed with a grant from the New York State Homeless Housing Assistance Corporation, equity provided by the National Equity Fund through the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, and loan from the Affordable Home Loan Bank. The building is named in honor of Ben Michalski who was a gay political activist on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, involved in progressive politics during the 1970s and 1980s. He was committed to many issues like mass transit and anti-gentrification.

In the early ’80s, West Side Seniors for Action advocated for WSFSSH’s project in a vacant building on 105th Street. Led by Fania Gersham, the group secured HUD funding and Section 8 housing subsidy for the 28-apartment complex. Fania, a lifelong activist, played a pivotal role in securing Social Security for older adults in 1935. Her legacy lives on in the Fania Gersham Apartments, which opened in her honor on August 16, 1988, providing affordable housing for seniors and physically disabled individuals with low incomes.

Valley Lodge shelter originated in response to the 1980s homelessness crisis, established through a rapid application process led by Betsy Wallace and our former Executive Director Laura Jervis. Local leader Leah Schneider identified two tenements on 108th Street for its creation. Offering transitional housing, Valley Lodge provides meals, social services, medical care, and more to 92 residents. Over 1,500 individuals transitioned from Valley Lodge to permanent housing, contributing to WSFSSH’s understanding of the needs of seniors who are homeless and facilitating the development of permanent housing options. Today, Valley Lodge operates alongside our West 108 building, offering 110 beds to homeless seniors, serving as a bridge to stable housing.

The Red Oak building was once a nursing home owned by the Little Sisters of the Poor. The property was aquired in 1980 and transformed it into 230 apartments for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Named after a majestic red oak tree on-site, the Red Oak offers on-site social services and houses an Older Adult Center, embodying WSFSSH’s dedication to supporting the older adult population.