For Immediate Release
Yonkers, N.Y. – May 27, 2020
Understanding the current climate in the nonprofit sector and the importance of scale in delivering professional, quality services, The Sharing Community has merged with Westhab.
The Sharing Community, founded in 1983, has played a vital role in providing housing and services for the homeless and others in need in our community. After an extensive review, The Sharing Community Board of Directors made the bold choice to join forces with a larger organization who could extend their work into the future and deepen the impact in the community. After an 18-month transition and approval process, a merger with Westhab was completed in late February.
Westhab’s mission is: Building Communities. Changing Lives. They are Westchester’s largest provider of housing and services for the homeless and the largest nonprofit affordable housing developer. Westhab recognized the value and importance of The Sharing Community and felt strongly about preserving its legacy and evolving its programming to meet persistent needs in the community.
For Westhab, the mission fit was clear. Westhab and The Sharing Community have partnered extensively over their decades of work and even shared founding board members. It simply made sense to strengthen the collective work by becoming one organization.
Westhab President & CEO Richard Nightingale commented, “Westchester is facing an urgent affordable housing crisis, resulting in far too many of our neighbors becoming homeless. The Sharing Community has been a leader in this work for decades and we’re excited for the opportunity to bring these programs to the next level for the people that we serve.”
Two members of the board of directors of The Sharing Community have joined the board of directors of Westhab: DeForest Raphael, the former chair of the board of The Sharing Community, and Jim Foy.
DeForest Raphael commented, “When it became clear to The Sharing Community family that we needed to partner with an organization that shared our vision and our commitment to the marginalized of Yonkers, Westhab was the preeminent choice.”
Jan Fisher, Executive Director of Nonprofit Westchester, commented, “This is an example of two organizations valuing impact over independence and making the decision that together they can better meet the needs in our community. We expect great things to come through this partnership.”
Westhab and The Sharing Community expressed appreciation to Westchester County and to County Executive George Latimer throughout this process.
Kevin McGuire, Commissioner of the County Department of Social Services, commented, “Westhab has been an unwavering partner to Westchester County delivering the housing and services that our population needs. We applaud these two organizations for joining forces, and we know that The Sharing Community programs will be strengthened by Westhab’s approach.”
The Sharing Community portfolio, which will be integrated into Westhab operations, consists of three Yonkers-based programs housing over 100 individuals. Westhab currently operates over 20 locations in Yonkers, providing affordable rental housing, unique housing programs for seniors, veterans, young adults and the disabled, and a wide range of community-based services.
Contact:
Maureen Natkin
maureen.natkin@westhab.org
(914) 345-2800 ex.156