Gov. Hochul announces funding for new AIM supportive housing
AIM has received state funding to operate supportive housing in Chemung County for people with substance use disorder who are homeless, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week.
AIM plans to create six one-bedroom, single-occupancy apartments in or near the City of Elmira. We will have staff on site to connect residents to services available in the community, such as treatment and recovery programs.
AIM received a conditional award of $150,000 annually for up to 30 years through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative to operate the units.
“Supportive housing projects target the root causes of homelessness by coupling affordable housing with critical supportive services and through investments like this, we can continue with these projects in every corner of the state to ensure no New Yorker is left behind,” Gov. Hochul said.
AIM is in the process of identifying a suitable property for the apartments and will seek capital funding for
construction.
construction.This will be AIM’s third supportive housing project for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, all funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative.
In 2019, we began operating 15 apartments for Medicaid recipients ages 55 and older with disability or chronic illness, individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and veterans with disabilities in the Town of Southport.
Also, we will begin renovations this winter on a five-apartment unit in the City of Corning for homeless young adults ages 18 to 25, as well as young adults who have left foster care within the past five years and were in foster care at or over the age of 16. Those apartments are expected to open in 2022.
All three of AIM’s supportive housing projects serve a region that includes Allegany, Chemung, Livingston, Schuyler and Steuben counties. For more information, contact Housing Manager Joanne Carlyle at 962-8225, ext. 246.
Job search leads AIM consumer
to role as Open Doors peer mentor
A woman who sought help with her job search from AIM’s employment specialists found a perfect fit: Helping 
people transition from nursing homes into the community.
people transition from nursing homes into the community.Joyce, a Chemung County resident, has a back condition that forced her to retire after a career in early childhood education and day care. She is a caregiver to her husband, who has medical conditions, and an adult son who has developmental disabilities.
She needed a job with flexible hours that would allow her to work from home part-time to supplement her Social Security disability payments. So, she came to AIM’s Supported Employment program for assistance earlier this year with the job seeking process.
After exploring several options that didn’t work for her, our employment specialists found something right here at AIM. Joyce began working as a peer mentor in our Open Doors program, which helps people transition from nursing homes to their own apartments in the community.
From her career in early education to having a son who receives services through the state’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and recently moved into his own apartment, she is very familiar with services available in the community, and she shares her knowledge with participants in her role as a peer mentor.
Joyce makes regular calls to chat with Open Doors participants, before and after they transition out of a long-term care facility.
“It’s been a perfect fit for me,” she said.
Others interested in working as an Open Doors peer mentor should contact Open Doors Transition Specialist and Peer Supervisor Sara Rockwell-Smith at 962-8225, ext. 130.
Employee Spotlight:
Hannah Harnas
Hannah Harnas, coordinator of AIM’s Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID) program, is featured on our Employee Spotlight this month.
Harnas coordinates inventory, loan requests and deliveries for the program, which provides loans of all kinds of assistive technology, from wheelchairs and ramps to communication devices. 
She was nominated by her coworkers for her frequent assistance in helping AIM consumers transition out of nursing facilities. She provides equipment needed to live independently in the community.
“She and her program are a vital part of discharge planning,” a coworker wrote. “Quite often we will hear that a discharge has been delayed due to missing equipment. Often it’s something small like a wheelchair or shower bench. In other cases, they need heavier equipment like a Hoyer lift or TRAM. No matter the item, as long as we have it, she gets it and fast.”
New hires
- Addie Query, Receptionist
- Marissa Reynolds, OPWDD Fiscal Intermediary Specialist
- Kristen Spaulding, Benefits Advisor
- Mary Towsley, CDPAP Intake and Outreach Specialist
Promotions
- Bryce Vandewark, Community Nutrition Program Coordinator
- Andy Zick, Facilities Manager
Current job openings
- Service Coordination Supervisor
- Community Nutrition Program Specialist
- Supported Employment Specialist
- Administrative Assistant
- Human Resources Generalist
- Independent Living Skills Trainer
- Veterans Advocate
- Home Care Administrative Specialist
- Home Care Personal Assistants
- OPWDD Self-Hire Staff
To view benefits, job descriptions and apply online, visit aimcil.com.
AIM’s offices will close at noon on Thursday, Dec. 23 and remain closed for a holiday break until 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 4. For more information, call (607) 962-8225.