Ten people with autism and developmental disabilities are getting their first opportunity at independent living with the opening of new supportive housing in the Bedford Park neighborhood.
2997 Marion Ave. and 2861 Creston Ave. are now home to ten individuals who were screened to ensure they can safely live on their own, while still receiving consistent support from Birch Family Services, a local nonprofit serving children and adults with disabilities.
The apartments were constructed in partnership with developer NFW Group, the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).
The Marion-Creston buildings are a mix of supportive housing, veterans’ housing and regular affordable housing, said Josh Scher, chief financial officer and chief operating officer for Birch Family Services.
Finding appropriate housing is challenging for anyone in New York City, especially those who have developmental disabilities. “Unless you have some supports, it’s really hard to do it yourself,” Scher said.
Willy Longo, 40, had been living with family in the Bedford Park area and finally got his own apartment in January. He just renewed his lease and has been enjoying the independent life. “I always wanted to try to live on my own,” Longo said in Spanish.
In his new apartment — which already features a fully-decorated Christmas tree — Longo said he enjoys cooking, especially pasta, rice with corn, plantains and sweet treats. On the walls, he hung a few original paintings, a hobby he took up during the pandemic. Longo is currently working with a job coach to find employment and has been a longtime volunteer at the New York Botanical Garden.
Downstairs, 32-year-old Jonathan Tulsie wakes up each morning to the crowing of a rooster in a neighbor’s nearby yard. “It’s nice and cozy. Love the neighborhood,” he said.
Tulsie, who is from Queens, said he was living in 24-hour supervised housing until six months ago, when he moved into his Bronx apartment. He had advocated for himself to get his own place and is loving the results.
“I was a little frustrated at the group home,” he said, agreeing with Longo that being able to cook anything he wants is one of the best perks of solo living. He works as a housekeeper at a Manhattan hospital.
Birch Family Services has more supportive housing in the works, with a building in progress in Bronx Park South and a larger project on Staten Island set to break ground in 2025, said Scher.
But while more of this type of housing is on the way, getting it done can be a slow process. The Marion-Creston project took six years to complete, with the pandemic in between — which makes meeting happy, successful tenants like Willy and Jonathan especially gratifying, said Matt Sturiale, Birch’s CEO.
“Everybody has a good feeling about today,” he said. “We want people to live in their communities and thrive the way they want to.”
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
