Independent Living, Inc.

03/13/2026

The Friends of Independence Breakfast is our annual fundraiser supporting programs and services for people with disabilities throughout our community.

You can make an impact by becoming a sponsor, placing an ad in our event journal, or making a donation. Your support helps remove barriers, expand opportunities, and empower people with disabilities to live independently.

Sponsor. Advertise. Donate.

Help make this year’s Friends of Independence Breakfast a success and support independence for people with disabilities.

03/12/2026

Stop our booth at the Hudson Valley Career Fair at the Poughkeepsie Galleria!

Latoya and Octavius are there until 6 PM.

Come say hello and learn about opportunities with Independent Living, Inc.

03/12/2026

Recovery does not happen alone. It grows through connection, encouragement, and support from people who understand the journey.

Independent Living, Inc.’s Recovery Community and Outreach Centers (RCOC) offer classes, groups, and supportive programs all week long for people in recovery, thinking about recovery, or supporting someone who is. Our peer driven programs create a welcoming space to learn new skills, build community, and move forward one step at a time.

Wherever someone is on their recovery journey, support is here.

Connection. Support. Recovery. Independent Living, Inc.

03/11/2026

Working with a peer advocate from Independent Living, Inc. made a life-changing difference. When things felt overwhelming and uncertain, peer support provided guidance, encouragement, and practical help every step of the way.

With that support, important phone calls were made to agencies that once felt impossible to navigate. Transportation to critical appointments was arranged, and updates and information were shared whenever something new became available. Most importantly, there was constant encouragement to keep going and not give up.

With this guidance, major milestones became possible. Applications for Social Security benefits were completed and approved. Help was provided with emergency housing paperwork and navigating the process for the first time. Applications for care management and supportive housing were also completed, leading to placement in care management and progress toward stable housing.

Peer support provided not just assistance, but hope, direction, and someone to stand alongside during a very difficult time. That support created real progress toward stability, independence, and a better future.

03/10/2026

🔥HOT JOBS!🔥

Independent Living, Inc. is hiring!

⭐Street Outreach Engagement Peer, Chappaqua, NY, at $25/hour

⭐Peer Specialist (SOS), Monticello, NY, at $23.45/hour

⭐Job Developer and Coaching Specialist, Newburgh, NY, at $22.00/hour

We’re a nonprofit serving people with disabilities across the Hudson Valley, and we’re building a team that believes lived experience matters.

Why work with us? Competitive pay and benefits, a supportive and inclusive workplace, and real opportunities to grow.

We strongly encourage applicants with lived experience in mental health or substance use recovery. If you’re ready to use your experience to support others, we want to hear from you.

Learn more and apply: https://www.myindependentliving.org/careers/

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¡¡¡EXCELENTES EMPLEOS!!!

¡Independent Living, Inc. está contratando!

⭐Empleo en Participación Comunitaria en la Calle, Chappaqua, NY, a $25/hora

⭐Especialista en Apoyo a Pares (SOS), Monticello, NY, a $23.45/hora

⭐Especialista en Desarrollo de Empleo y Coaching, Newburgh, NY, a $22.00/hora

Somos una organización sin fines de lucro que atiende a personas con discapacidad en el Valle del Hudson y estamos formando un equipo que cree que la experiencia vivida es importante.

¿Por qué trabajar con nosotros? Salario y beneficios competitivos, un entorno laboral inclusivo y de apoyo, y oportunidades reales de crecimiento.

Alentamos a candidatos con experiencia en salud mental o recuperación por abuso de sustancias. Si estás listo para usar tu experiencia para apoyar a otros, nos gustaría saber de ti.

Obtén más información y postúlate: https://www.myindependentliving.org/careers/

03/09/2026

For more informationon on supporting ILI at the Friends of Independence Breakfast, please visit us online at https://www.myindependentliving.org/events/

03/06/2026

Our leadership team recently visited the Monticello office to celebrate the incredible work our staff are doing in the community.

During the visit, staff shared the impact they are making in Sullivan County and reflected on what they are grateful for. Leadership also took the opportunity to thank the team for their dedication and commitment to the people we serve.

We are proud of the Monticello staff and the difference they make every day at Independent Living, Inc. 💜💪

03/06/2026

“Remembering Joe Bravo: A Giant of the Independent Living Movement.”

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Joe Bravo, a true giant of the Independent Living movement.

As the Founding Executive Director of the Westchester Independent Living Center, Joe devoted four decades to advancing the rights, independence, and dignity of people with disabilities. His leadership helped shape the Independent Living movement across New York State and influenced disability advocacy around the world. Joe mentored generations of leaders and leaves behind a powerful legacy of advocacy, inclusion, and community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Nadine, his family, and the entire Independent Living community.

It is with sad and broken hearts that we share with you the news of Westchester Independent Living Center's founder, Joe Bravo, passing away last night after a brief period of illness.

Since establishing WILC in 1981, Joe poured his heart and soul into his advocacy for independent living for people with disabilities, empowering them to lead self-directed lives in their communities. We will never truly know the countless lives he has touched through his advocacy, guidance, and mentorship, all done without seeking any glory or recognition for himself.

Joe was one in a million and truly irreplaceable. WILC will honor his memory by continuing his work and following the path he set out for us. We will miss him deeply.

03/05/2026

Mental health recovery is personal. So is the support.

At Independent Living, our Mental Health Supports and Services are grounded in lived experience. We employ peers who understand the journey and help individuals with psychiatric disabilities build stability, overcome stigma, and move toward independence.

Services in Newburgh, Middletown, Monticello, and Chappaqua, NY include case management, recovery centers, court support, self directed care, family support, peer outreach, and supportive housing.

Recovery is not one size fits all. It is your path. We are here to walk it with you.

Call us at 845-565-1162 or visit us online at www.myindependentliving.org

03/04/2026

ILI staff provided intensive support to a consumer following discharge from a behavioral health unit, assisting with emergency housing applications and navigating multiple barriers in a single day. When no immediate placement was available and unexpected hotel costs created additional obstacles, staff advocated directly with community partners to secure safe overnight shelter.

The following day, they coordinated with local agencies to complete required paperwork, arrange transportation, retrieve personal belongings, and ensure access to a warm meal. Through persistence and advocacy, the consumer was able to obtain stable temporary housing and expressed deep relief and gratitude for the support received.

03/03/2026

🔥HOT JOBS!🔥

Independent Living, Inc. is hiring!

Peer Bridger, Middletown, NY, at $24.19/hour.

We’re a nonprofit serving people with disabilities across the Hudson Valley, and we’re building a team that believes lived experience matters.

Why work with us? Competitive pay and benefits, a supportive and inclusive workplace, and real opportunities to grow.

We strongly encourage applicants with lived experience in mental health or substance use recovery. If you’re ready to use your experience to support others, we want to hear from you.

Learn more and apply: https://www.myindependentliving.org/careers/
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¡EXCELENTES EMPLEOS!

¡Independent Living, Inc. está contratando!

Peer Bridger, Middletown, NY, a $24.19/hora.

Somos una organización sin fines de lucro que atiende a personas con discapacidad en el Valle del Hudson y estamos formando un equipo que cree que la experiencia vivida es importante.

¿Por qué trabajar con nosotros? Salario y beneficios competitivos, un entorno laboral inclusivo y de apoyo, y oportunidades reales de crecimiento.

Alentamos a candidatos con experiencia vivida en salud mental o recuperación por abuso de sustancias. Si estás listo para usar tu experiencia para apoyar a otros, nos gustaría saber de ti.

Más información y postulación: https://www.myindependentliving.org/careers/

03/02/2026

Join us for the 17th Annual Friends of Independence Breakfast on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at The Country Club at Otterkill.

This annual event brings together community leaders, businesses, and advocates who believe in The Power of YES and in expanding what is possible for people with disabilities in our community.

There are several ways to be part of it.

-Attend and stand with us as we celebrate independence, employment, accessibility, and opportunity.

-Sponsor the event and position your business alongside a mission that delivers real impact. Sponsorship includes recognition during the program and visibility across event signage, digital materials, social media, and more.

-Advertise in the digital program and reach over 150 engaged community leaders and decision makers while supporting programs that empower people with disabilities to live and thrive.

To RSVP or learn more, please visit www.myindependentliving.org/events/ or email kwright@myindependentliving.org.

Say yes to opportunity. Say yes to impact. Say yes to independence.