Hearts of Gold exists to enhance the lives of New York City's homeless mothers and their children. Reducing homelessness is not simply a matter of providing housing. It is also a crusade to alleviate the root causes: a lack of opportunity for education and basic life skills, domestic violence, joblessness, and the disintegration of extended families. This mission is steeped values of equality and self empowerment.

Description:
Hearts of Gold,(HoG), improves the lives of more than 350 children and 230 mothers annually at three Manhattan shelters: Icahn House East, LLC: the Alexander Abraham Residence (a program of WIN): and Nazareth Housing. HoG helps mothers and their children as they transition from these shelters to permanent housing through our Alumni Support Program by maintaining a relationship with “alumni” in need who are often alone in a home for the first time in their life. Sadly, half of the women and children in New York City shelters are victims of domestic violence, some have additional children or kin in foster care, while others themselves were raised in foster care. On average, these mothers have only a tenth grade education which places them at a clear disadvantage in the workplace. HoG reawakens hope and expectations not only by providing incentives and rewards but also by opening doors of opportunity and lending a helping hand whenever necessary. Though the city provides basic “shelter” and services, we have found that quality-of-life resources are scarce to non-existent. We honor the remarkable lives of the families who are the framework of HoG, facilitating their independence as they move from the shelters to permanent housing. Our many programs have evolved into three main project groups: Let’s Celebrate, Homeward Bound and Empowerment = Achievement. Hearts of Gold is committed to making sure that these families have the same positive experiences as any other. All proceeds raised by Hearts of Gold Inc., go directly to the programs which have been crafted to benefit the families we serve. The goods and services provided include academic and summer camp scholarships, computer skills training, tutoring, educational field trips, clothing, bedding, house wares, inspirational artwork, bi-monthly birthday parties, and holiday celebrations. HoG moves with times, identifying and resolving emergency problems at our three “adopted” shelters. We have the organizational capacity to respond rapidly with assistance to unexpected life predicaments that the mothers would not have the means to resolve on their own. Immediacy is our motto. We establish meaningful relationships with these individuals from the shelter to long after as we watch them grow more and more successful with each of life’s progressions. HoG rewards these women as they realize their unique goals for their family thought powerful academic a personal achievements. Our lives are enriched by those who support us and by those we support.

History:
Hearts of Gold (HoG) grew from a simple idea that Founder and Executive Director Deborah Koenigsberger launched as means to combat New York City’s staggering homelessness. On October 15, 2001, Hearts of Gold, Inc. was officially established as a non-for-profit organization.

Contact people:

Katie Naccari, Program Coordinator, (212) 206-1461, (email) Danielle Baird, Administrative Assistant, (212) 206-1461, (email)

Address:

19 West 23rd Street B/t 5th And 6th Avenues New York, NY 10010 (See a map)

Directions:

We hold our events at several different locations and will be able to provide directions for each seperate occasion.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: R,W or F,V,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: 5th Avenue Bus, 5 minute walk