Sustainable Comfort, Inc.

Scope Of Work

The Albany Damien Center supports some of New York’s most vulnerable residents—chronically homeless people and families living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The nonprofit organization provides its members with free housing, medical care, and peer-led health and wellness education services. It also works to decrease rates of new HIV infections in New York state.

FROM THE ASHES RISE NEW POSSIBILITIES

In 2013, the original Albany Damien Center Residences were lost to a devastating fire—limiting the agency’s services for members for several years. Thanks to multiple grants from New York State, including $4.3 million from its Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, and from generous community donations, the Damien Center secured enough funding to pursue a gold LEED® rating with its $5.6 million housing project.

The Damien Center found its new housing in 2016: a $300,000 historic Madison Avenue property in the Pine Hills neighborhood of urban Albany. The property sat vacant for over 10 years, but after 14 months of construction, the new addition adjoined the original building to become a 26,000-square foot LEED® for Homes v4 certified Gold residence. It shelters 22 people living with HIV/AIDS in 20 permanent supportive apartments—including 18 studio and two one-bedroom apartments. The Residences also complement the neighborhood and existing historical elements—a major priority of the project.

For members, the Albany Damien Center Residences are life-changing. One member, who prefers to remain anonymous, says, “The Albany Damien Center has been a dream. I was struggling with homelessness for a while and never found an agency that could help me. Once I came to the Damien Center, I felt like [I was at] home. Living here has made it easier to get food, my medication, and the support I need to better my health. I’m eternally grateful for this place.”

Damien Center staff members see the rebirth of the Residences as a triumph for the people they serve and for the entire community.

“This building indicates a new chapter for the agency,” says Jonathan Richardson, director of development for the Damien Center. “We want to make sure our organization is able to serve people struggling with homelessness and HIV for a long time. With that in mind, being sustainable and energy-efficient was an important part of ensuring a sustainable future. The Pine Hills neighborhood in Albany, New York, really cares about energy efficiency and renewable energy. We also wanted to integrate with its community culture.”