Housing Works
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare, social services, retail (thrift shops, bookstore café), cannabis dispensary |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Keith Cylar, Charles King, Eric Sawyer, Virginia Shubert |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | New York City, Albany (NY), Brooklyn (NY), Haiti, Puerto Rico, New Orleans |
Key people | Charles King (CEO) |
| Products | Thrift shops, bookstore café, cannabis dispensary |
| Website | www |
Housing Works is a New York City-based non-profit organization dedicated to combating AIDS and homelessness. The group is recognized for its innovative business ventures, including a network of thrift shops, which generate funds to support initiatives aimed at ending AIDS and homelessness in their communities. Additionally, the organization is noted for its commitment to social justice advocacy. As of March 2017[update], Housing Works has provided services to 30,000 individuals.[1]
Founded in 1990 by four activists from the AIDS advocacy group ACT UP—Keith Cylar, Charles King, Eric Sawyer, and Virginia Shubert—the organization focused on addressing the needs of one of New York City's most underserved populations at the time: the thousands of homeless men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] They named their initiative Housing Works to emphasize their belief that securing stable housing was essential for HIV-positive individuals to maintain healthy lives and curb the transmission of the virus.[2]
Operations
The organization operates a network of thrift shops, a combined bookstore and café, as well as a dispensary[3], all functioning as social enterprises designed to fund their initiatives and reduce reliance on grants and donations. Their services extend to healthcare provision, advocacy efforts, vocational training, reentry assistance, harm reduction programs such as syringe exchange and medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, mental health counseling, adult day health services, and legal aid. The organization maintains satellite offices in locations including Albany, New York, Brooklyn, New York, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and New Orleans.
Bookstore Cafe & bar
Established in 1994 and situated on Crosby Street in Soho, the bookstore café[4] is a thriving entrepreneurial venture that generates funds supporting the mission of Housing Works. Staffed largely by volunteers with specialized training, the bookstore operates solely on donated goods which are sold both onsite and through online platforms. The venue hosts a variety of free and ticketed events throughout the week[5] and is available for private rentals including parties, lectures, and weddings. Programming includes activities such as baby storytime and sing-alongs, a middle-grade book club,[6] storytelling sessions, trivia nights, film screenings, activist discussions, comedy shows, music performances (featuring artists like Iron and Wine,[7] Bjork, The Black Keys, Conor Oberst, among others), and literary events that celebrate both renowned authors and emerging voices. Twice monthly, the space hosts editions of the The Moth StorySLAM. The café and bar offers a menu of food items alongside hot and cold beverages and holds a license to serve alcoholic drinks. This location has appeared in various film and television productions, most recently in an episode of Law & Order SVU.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Thrift shops
Housing Works is widely recognized across New York City for its collection of upscale thrift stores. The New York Times has featured these shops in its neighborhood guides.[8] The Housing Works Thrift Shop gained popular culture recognition through its appearance in episode 173 of Seinfeld, titled "The Bookstore". In this episode, George buys a book from Brentano's Bookstore after taking it into the restroom. He later attempts to donate it to Housing Works Thrift Shop to claim a $200 tax deduction; however, the thrift shop clerk—who previously worked at Brentano's—identifies the book as having been marked due to restroom use and promptly ejects him from the store.
Cannabis dispensary
On December 29, 2022, Housing Works launched the inaugural legal recreational cannabis dispensary in both New York City and New York State, directing the revenue towards their broader mission of addressing homelessness and AIDS. The organization's approach of funding its initiatives through cannabis sales has sparked debate among lawmakers and commentators regarding its appropriateness. Additionally, Housing Works set a precedent by becoming New York's first recreational dispensary to provide home delivery services for cannabis products.
Haiti earthquake relief
Following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Housing Works took an active role in aiding survivors, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS, by reconstructing three healthcare facilities. To support these efforts, CEO Charles King auctioned his distinctive ponytail, attracting bids from notable figures including Evangelical pastor Rick Warren. When relief workers faced prohibitive fees that forced them to leave behind eight carry-on bags filled with supplies, Delta Air Lines stepped in to transport these materials at no cost.
Advocacy
Housing Works actively champions reforms in healthcare and affordable housing access. In 1994, they commissioned architect Alan Wanzenberg to create a five-story residential building with 36 units dedicated to individuals experiencing homelessness due to AIDS or HIV. In October 2019, the organization orchestrated a large-scale protest outside the Supreme Court advocating for LGBTQ civil rights, which led to the arrest of over 100 participants.
Union opposition
Starting in late 2019 and continuing into 2020, leadership at Housing Works took actions that numerous progressive advocates and labor groups have labeled as union busting. This occurred after employees initiated a worker-driven union campaign aimed at tackling various concerns, including workplace safety, employee benefits, and insufficient living wages for many staff members, despite some top executives earning six-figure incomes. These issues affected both the workforce and the quality of services delivered to the community. Although Housing Works claims it does not oppose unions, the organization hired Seyfarth Shaw LLP, a firm recognized for its anti-union stance. According to their website, this firm specializes in maintaining "union-free" workplaces and has a track record that includes opposing the 1960s agricultural labor leader Cesar Chavez and defending Harvey Weinstein’s production company against numerous sexual harassment allegations.
See also
References
- ↑ "About Us". Housing Works. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ↑ "History". Housing Works. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ↑ https://abc7ny.com/cannabis-housing-works-legal-new-york/12598620/
- ↑ https://www.housingworks.org/locations/bookstore-cafe
- ↑ https://www.housingworks.org/events?calendar=bookstoreCafe
- ↑ https://www.housingworks.org/events/face-to-face-middle-readers-book-group-8-12-1
- ↑ https://www.housingworks.org/events/ironandwine
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/nyregion/31stop.html
External links
- Organizations based in New York City
- HIV/AIDS organizations in the United States
- LGBTQ health organizations in the United States
- Medical and health organizations based in New York City
- Recycling in New York City
- Waste management infrastructure of New York City
- 1990 establishments in New York City
- Independent bookstores in New York City