Urban Affairs

The Urban Affairs program is focused on projects that enhance New York City’s vitality as a leading and livable urban capital.

We partner with civic and cultural institutions, local government, and independent nonprofits that design innovative, feasible initiatives to address the common needs of diverse New Yorkers.

The Foundation continually seeks opportunities to strengthen the city’s pluralistic communities and civic spaces, re-envisioning public libraries, affordable housing, and local public affairs journalism to cultivate engaged, creative urban citizens.

View All Urban Affairs Grants

Featured Project: Supportive Housing Network of New York

Since 2015, the Charles H. Revson Foundation has been a proud supporter of the Supportive Housing Network of New York (the Network). The Network is the largest nonprofit membership organization of its kind in the United States, representing more than 220 providers and developers of supportive housing in New York State. Their membership operate more than 55,000 units of supportive housing.

Supportive housing—which is permanent, affordable housing linked to on-site social services—is the most effective and cost-efficient means of helping vulnerable people live stable, independent lives in the community. An intervention aimed at low-income individuals coping with chronic behavioral and health issues that perpetuate a cycle of homelessness and institutionalization, supportive housing reduces dependence on expensive emergency interventions – shelters, hospitals, psychiatric centers, jails –  ultimately reducing costs to taxpayers while improving residents’ quality of life and housing stability.

For thirty years, the organization has combatted homelessness among the state’s most vulnerable populations. The Network betters New York by spreading public awareness about, increasing access to, and improving policy related to this crucial sector.

Reflecting its commitment to expanding New Yorkers access to housing, the Revson Foundation proudly supported the Network in its recent major campaigns:

  • The Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing: A three-year education, media, and advocacy campaign which successfully led to a city-state supportive housing agreement creating 35,000 new supportive housing units.
  • Getting to 35k: a multiyear capacity building initiative aimed at helping NYC create the 35,000 new supportive housing units promised by the Mayor and Governor while ensuring plans and funding commitments remain intact.

You can hear the Network staff, residents, and leaders describe groundbreaking milestones from their 30 year history here: https://shnny.org/about/30-years-of-innovation/