SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The City Mission of Schenectady touting a new addition to its downtown campus that allows them to help more people in need find permanent affordable housing.
“These are men and women that came to City Mission homeless, with a whole host of other issues that cause them to be on the streets. now they are working here and they're giving back,” said Executive Director Mike Saccocio.
The mission is expanding its transitional housing program by adding 25 new permanent housing apartments, providing long-term shelter at a low cost to those in need. Saccocio is elated over the addition of the 15,000 square foot building. “I'll tell you we love it so much that a lot of my time in the next two and a half years is going to be trying to raise the money to buy it.”
Dave Leon with the board of directors said they had the perfect partners. “A lot of history in this building when we did the renovations we had to abide by the historical criteria”
The apartments come fully furnished. From the kitchen to the bedroom, to the bathroom, the place is move in ready. “This is a standard unit. we have a program fee of $400 a month,” said Leon.
Sherman Lattimore is enrolled in the program. “When I walk into the classroom, I saw the cap and gown and I knew the cap and gown was for me, and Ambassador position. So, I said you know what? I'm going to make it and I'm going to do the program.” He says the journey to get to this point, in his life, has been a hard a road to travel. “I had to come here to find my peace and to find myself. When I got here it wasn't what I expected. But then when I got here it was everything.”
He says he never expected the mission would have so much to offer him. After graduation he says the plan is, “to stay here and work for the City Mission. I owe them everything. I owe the City Mission everything because they changed my life.”
Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara helped with securing funds for a satellite office on Jay Street. He says the one-of-a-kind program is a success for those at the mission and for visitors to the Electric City. “The ambassadors are people that are in our community and are part of the City Mission. These are people that are able to find employment, able to help people in the community in a very unique way. And we may expand it again. That's how successful it is.”
