Homelessness in New York City is at the highest recorded rate and keeps climbing. And the number of people that need to rely on food pantries and soup kitchens for their meals surges exponentially each year. While prevention is the Robin Hood ideal, many people in New York City are fighting for their lives. We cannot turn our backs on them.

Robin Hood’s survival portfolio provides housing to the homeless, food to the hungry, healthcare to the uninsured, shelter to victims of domestic abuse, and services and a home to those living with HIV/AIDS. All of these programs are combined with comprehensive support services designed to help people break the cycle of poverty.

Our housing groups are nationally recognized for their innovative and practical approaches to creating affordable apartments for formally homeless individuals and families — people who, once in these programs, stay stably housed more than 95 percent of the time. These groups provide housing with supportive services — including educational programs, job training and placement, childcare and parenting resources, and medical and mental health care — for a fraction of what the city spends on shelters with no supportive services.

Our food groups include The Food Bank for New York City which distributes over 50 million pounds of food per year to over 1,200 emergency food providers. And our community-based food groups combined provide more than 2.6 million meals annually.

Our healthcare providers, through clinics and mobile medical vans, serve more than 10,000 of New York City’s poorest children and families.

Our AIDS groups take on the epidemic that is the leading cause of death for New Yorkers aged 25-44. With injection drug use the leading cause of AIDS in New York City, our AIDS programs include Harm Reduction which reduces the spread of AIDS by exchanging clean needles for dirty ones. Backed by comprehensive support services, these programs also decrease overall drug use. And with over 20 percent of children in foster care orphaned due to AIDS, our programs supply permanency planning, helping people with AIDS create custodial plans and continuity of care for their dependants.

Additionally, our domestic violence groups provide safe shelter to hundreds of women and children each year. People in these programs receive counseling and treatment before being successfully transitioned to secure, permanent housing. Given that half of the female homicide victims in New York City last year were killed by intimate partners, these services are vital.

Learn more about Robin Hood’s Survival programs.