You Actually Saved Lives
Friends and Partners,
The World Health Organization reported a 30% increase in overdose deaths in 2021. As Americans worked to combat COVID, another crisis surged – mental health. Grief, hopelessness, isolation, and the fraying of social networks took a devastating toll on the most vulnerable in our society.
While the need for mental health services skyrocketed, staffing shortages, increased demand, and logistical challenges made accessing care harder than ever. For individuals living in shelters, who do not have the technology or privacy needed to access mental health services remotely, the situation was even bleaker.
Because of you, however, these unprecedented challenges were met head-on at ACE. Your support facilitated vital in-person services to meet needs, even while much of the city remained shuttered.
Partners like you provided the resources to launch evening support groups and triple the availability of one-on-one counseling. Your support allowed us to hire an additional social worker and train all staff in spotting signs of mental health crisis. We introduced harm reduction in all our messaging – creating tailored signage for classrooms, sharing recovery and support resources, and supplementing our core curriculum with additional mental health content. Your support saved lives.
ACE graduates are following your lead by being present for one another – checking on their peers in times of crisis, inviting those who were struggling to attend support groups, assisting ACE staff with outreach, and volunteering as mentors for those in need.
The resiliency of the ACE community continues to be tested, and how you respond now matters. This is still a dangerous time for individuals who have histories of homelessness, incarceration, and addiction. Your support now can propel someone out of the vicious cycle of homelessness and poverty and into a life of security, stability, and family. Thank you to everyone who has offered their strength, compassion, and support to the New Yorkers striving toward their goals at ACE.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth McNierney, ACE Director of Program Services
You can offer the next New Yorker in need the opportunity to reach their goals by making a donation today. Consider becoming an ACE Monthly Sustainer to keep opening up seats for your hard working neighbors who are overcoming homelessness, incarceration, and addiction.
150 New Yorkers Overcome Homelessness and Secure Full-Time Employment
On May 26th, ACE honored 150 individuals at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY, for overcoming histories of homelessness, incarceration, and addiction to reach their goals of full-time employment.
As New York City continues to grapple with crises around homelessness, mental health, and addiction, ACE has quietly been empowering individuals with the skills they need and placing them into full-time employment. Once an ACE participant secures employment, they are enrolled in our life-long aftercare program where they access further training, counseling, social events, and much more to help them stay employed and cement their transition to independent living.
We congratulate the 150 most recent ACE graduates who join over 3,000 New Yorkers who have overcome extreme barriers to reach their goals through ACE.
Never has the need been greater for ACE’s services than now. Your support can provide the most vulnerable New Yorkers with a life changing opportunity. Consider becoming an ACE Monthly Sustainer to keep opening up seats for your hard working neighbors who are overcoming homelessness, incarceration, and addiction.
Darnell’s Story in His Own Words – I’m Not Even Started
It started when I was a teenager. I started smoking weed and drinking, then I took to selling drugs. On the weekend, I would stay up all night partying. Then it spilled out into the week, and I was depending on it. I started getting locked up. When I got out I’d say, how can I make some money? I’d sell drugs. Then I’d get locked up. Sell drugs—get locked up. I wasn’t raised like that, but I chose to take a left turn.
“I’d sell drugs. Then I’d get locked up. Sell drugs—get locked up. I wasn’t raised like that, but I chose to take a left turn.”
I learned about ACE in 2018 and came here as a participant. I came to class and got certifications. They helped me with IDs; helped me get back on my feet. I ended up getting a full-time job, but after being here a year I went back to my hometown and things went sour. Being around old friends was holding me back. I took to some illegal things and got into trouble. I was sent away for a little while.
After I got home, I took my daughter, son, and grandson for lunch. My daughter said, “You have to stop doing this to me. Dad, I need you to be here. I need you to be able to give me a hug. Your grandson needs you in his life.” My son said, “We’re trying to be a part of your life. We’re always going to be proud of you, but we need you in our lives. We can’t get that hug, if you’re in jail.” That really hit me. I saw how they felt and it made me really look at things. Jail is not where we’re are supposed to be. We’re supposed to be out here living life and providing for our family.
“Dad, I need you to be here. I need you to be able to give me a hug. Your grandson needs you in his life.”
I’m 56 years old. Enough is enough. I just want to enjoy the rest of the time I have in my life and be happy. That was the beginning of the pandemic, but I had to do something different. I said let me call ACE, and It was the best thing I could have done. They welcomed me back with arms open. I came back and got another certification and got another full-time job.
It feels great to get back and do the right thing. There’s nothing like punching the clock, working hard for your money. I’ve started achieving my goals, and I have ACE behind me 100%, helping me, pushing me on the things I need to be doing.
My daughter, she’s really proud of me. She can call me and say, Daddy I need some money, and I can say, don’t worry about it, I got you. In years past, I couldn’t do that. Today, I got a job and things are working for me. She can call me and ask me for anything.
“I even landed my own studio apartment.”
I’m making healthy relationships now. I have my sobriety, my kids, I’ve been employed for two years, I got money in the bank, and I’m happy. I even landed my own studio apartment. It’s peace of mind to know you can go home after a hard day’s work and open the door with your own keys. The things I’m supposed to be doing, I’m not putting it off. I’m doing it today.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’m not done yet, though. I’m not even started yet.
If Darnell’s story inspires you, there are hundreds more men and women at ACE who are working hard like him to secure employment, transition to independence, and reunite with loved ones. Your support will make it possible.
Tickets, Bidding, and Summer Fun for the Cause
Get your tickets for a night of fun under the stars at the incredible Bowery Hotel Terrace. All proceeds from this event will offer opportunities for full-time employment to New Yorkers who are overcoming homelessness, incarceration, and addiction. We’ll be enjoying great music, ambience, and signature cocktails while we raise critical funds to meet the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. You can get your tickets HERE.
The summer fun for a cause will keep you feeling good if you bid on one of the amazing restaurant packages in our online silent auction. All proceeds from this auction will provide training, counseling, and a suite of support services that have helped thousands of New Yorkers overcome extreme barriers to reach their goals of economic independence and reunite with loved ones. Place your bid HERE.
We hope to see you there and don’t forget to bid!
The ACE Team Is Back In Prospect Park
ACE has once again teamed up with Prospect Park Alliance to help keep one of New York City’s most beautiful public spaces clean for all to enjoy. This summer you can find the team in Prospect Park 5 days per week (Thursday – Monday), so if you see them say hello.
We’re grateful to our partners at Prospect Park Alliance. Each opportunity to keep our city looking its best opens up for meaningful employment for New Yorkers who are overcoming histories of homelessness, incarceration, and addiction.
Our incredible network of partners makes it possible for the ACE team to clean over 1,750 city blocks, 20 public plazas, and 10 public parks on a daily basis-keeping our city clean, safe, and beautiful for millions of residents and visitors to enjoy.
You Made Incredible Achievements Possible in 2021
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES LIFE CHANGING SUCCESSES POSSIBLE. CONSIDER BECOMING A MONTHLY SUSTAINER TODAY, AND OFFERING A CONSISTENT PATH FOR NEW YORKERS OVERCOMING HOMELESSNESS.