Center for Urban Community Services

04/03/2026

Sweet Thanks to Our Good Neighbor Sweets Sponsor! 🍰

We’re grateful to Baked Cravings for their generous support of this year’s Home for Good Gala. Their partnership helps us create a warm, welcoming experience for our guests, and furthers our mission to help New Yorkers find a stable path home.

Thank you, Baked Cravings, for being part of this special evening!
Learn more about their work and sweet creations at bakedcravings.com.

Join us for this special night, buy your tickets here:
https://www.cucs.org/homeforgood-2/

04/03/2026

Onboarding new staff? This series provides a steady place to start.

The DOHMH Core Trainings for Supportive Housing, developed with the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, offer a practical, compassionate foundation for staff working in DOHMH‑funded supportive housing.

Each training is grounded in trauma‑informed, person‑centered practice, with an emphasis on dignity, respect, and sustainability, for both tenants and staff.

Continuing Education credits and NYS OASAS renewal credits are available.

Learn more and enroll: cucs.org/training

04/02/2026

From a single small pilot to eight teams serving New Yorkers across 35 ZIP codes. Over ten years, IMT has expanded its reach and deepened its impact, bringing compassionate care to New Yorkers wherever they are. Scroll through the milestones that show how far we’ve come.

04/01/2026

Early Bird Tickets are here!

We’re excited to invite you to the Home for Good Gala at the Museum of the City of New York. For a limited time, Early Bird tickets are available at a special discounted rate.

Your ticket includes full access to the Gala and cocktail reception, featuring specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, the chance to explore the museum without crowds, and an inspiring keynote from Jay Dow as we celebrate our honorees.

Join us for an unforgettable evening in support of our mission. Early Bird pricing won’t last.
https://pro.gofundme.com/event/home-for-good-2026/e776270/register/new/select-tickets

03/31/2026

“The most important part of my job is supporting the people who go out and support our clients every day.”

Carine Marescot’s work happens largely behind the scenes, but its impact is felt everywhere care is delivered.

As Assistant Director of Operations for Primary Care, Carine focuses on what makes care possible: supporting teams, strengthening workflows, and building systems that can respond to real human needs.

Her approach is rooted in the belief that operations is not separate from care, it is a critical part of it.

That belief also shapes the standard she brings to this work. As Carine puts it,

“Just because we’re caring for people experiencing homelessness doesn’t mean the quality should be less.”

For Women’s History Month, we’re honoring leaders like Carine, women who ensure that dignity, access, and quality are not abstract values, but practices built into how care functions every day.

03/30/2026

“The focus here isn’t just numbers, it’s quality of care.”

For Women’s History Month, we’re honoring women whose leadership shapes how care is delivered every day.

As a Nurse Practitioner and Medical Director for Primary Care, Emily leads with authenticity, trust, and a deep commitment to patient‑centered care. In a healthcare system often driven by metrics, she centers what matters most: listening to patients, meeting them where they are, and building partnerships rooted in respect.

Grounded in the nursing discipline, a field built and led by women, Emily brings compassion into every interaction, reminding us that meaningful care begins with trust, presence, and humanity.

Learn more about Emily’s work supporting New Yorkers experiencing homelessness in this featured article: https://nypost.com/2020/05/19/nurse-to-nyc-homeless-is-there-when-they-need-her-most/

03/27/2026

Front‑line staff often face challenging and unpredictable situations. The right training can make all the difference.

CUCS Institute’s De‑Escalating Crisis and Conflict training gives businesses real‑world techniques to turn tense moments into safe, positive outcomes for both customers and employees.

Designed for retail staff, libraries, business owners, and public‑facing teams, this training provides:

• Safety, de‑escalation, and emergency response skills
• Guidance on understanding homelessness, active substance use, and mental health distress
• Trauma‑informed verbal and non‑verbal communication techniques
• Skills for building rapport before a crisis escalates
• Practical, scenario‑based tools staff can use immediately
• Post‑conflict self‑care strategies

👉 Get started at cucs.org/training

03/26/2026

Trust doesn’t happen overnight, it’s built in the small moments, the return visits, the familiar faces that keep showing up.

Roshni Misra LCSW, Deputy Chief Program Officer with CUCS IMT, shares what lies at the heart of the model: consistent, steady presence.

For ten years, IMT teams have met New Yorkers wherever they are, showing up in shelters, on street corners, in hospitals, and across the city to build relationships that lead to real change.

A decade of meeting New Yorkers, wherever they are.

03/24/2026

We’re excited to share that Janian Medical Care’s work was recently highlighted on a national stage! Earlier this month, Tony Carino, MD, our Director of Psychiatry, presented at UCSF’s Psychiatry Grand Rounds as a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer.

Dr. Carino discussed Janian’s clinical model that has delivered psychiatric care to thousands of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness over the past year, showing what’s possible when care meets people where they are.

Watch the full lecture: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MHJhvFRf8k]

Full presentation title:"Interpersonal Psychopharmacology: Prioritizing Life, Recovery, and the Relationship in the Care of the Person Experiencing Homelessn...

03/23/2026

Join us on June 3rd for the 2026 Home for Good Gala, an inspiring evening celebrating Housing, Healing, and Hope. ✨

We can’t wait to gather with our community for an unforgettable night featuring our Keynote Speaker and Emcee Jay Dow of Pix11 News, special honorees, and exclusive after‑hours access to the Museum of the City of New York.

More details coming soon, we hope to see you there!

03/20/2026

Case managers: this one's for you.

The CUCS Institute's Case Management Certificate Program brings together six full-day courses covering person-centered documentation, crisis de-escalation, practical counseling techniques, and more. Whether you're building a foundation or sharpening your practice, the curriculum meets you where you are. These trainings are grounded in NASW standards and taught by experienced licensed social workers.

CE credits available. Learn more at cucs.org/training

03/19/2026

Why count?

"We got to have the data about who's out there to make sure we're doing the work in the right areas."

Last week, Erica joined volunteers and outreach workers across New York City for the HOPE Count, walking specific blocks of Manhattan, checking in on every person, and asking if they have a place to stay tonight.

The data gathered from nights like this shapes how our city directs resources to address unsheltered homelessness. And that starts with showing up.