Christopher Molinelli, executive director of Honor EHD, gave the Human Services Committee an update on the nonprofit’s homelessness services, describing expanded shelters, a new street outreach team and a large food program while warning that nearly $4.6 million in Continuum of Care federal funding faces uncertainty. “Our vision is rather simple: safe and affordable housing for all,” Molinelli said.

The update matters because Honor’s programs serve people across multiple counties and rely on state and federal grants that could change. Molinelli said the Continuum of Care (CoC) led by the collaborative applicant brings roughly $4,600,000 in HUD funds to Orange County to support eight agencies and 16 programs housing “over 300 individuals.” He described concern about a recently passed bill that could eliminate CoC funding and said local providers are monitoring the situation and continuing advocacy with state and federal offices.

Honor reported program-level details and recent operational changes. Molinelli said Honor’s annual report showed the organization reached “97,717 souls” across four counties through 24 programs, including an adult family shelter with a nightly capacity of up to 136 people and a youth shelter that served about 250 young people over two years. He described a state Department of Health grant for the food pantry that requires roughly 80% of purchases come from New York State–approved local farmers and producers, producing fresh food distributions and about 140,000 meals served at Honor-operated sites.

Molinelli outlined a state initiative, Safe Options Support (a critical time intervention street outreach program) that launched in December 2023 and covers two counties together. He described a nine-person street outreach team that operates seven days a week for 12 hours daily and includes four case managers, a team lead, two clinicians and two peer advocates. Molinelli said: “There is, on average, 4 to 5 engagements before that individual provides… trust and faith in us,” and that the combined outreach has helped place “well over a 100 men and women… into either emergency, transitional, or permanent housing” in the past year.

Honor also described partnerships with Dutchess County, Access Supports for Living (providing clinicians), People USA, and housing efforts with Keller Williams of the Hudson Valley. Molinelli said Honor operates the emergency shelter in the city of Poughkeepsie on behalf of Dutchess County and noted that county funds remain separate — “no Orange dollars touch Dutchess and the Dutchess dollars touch Orange,” he said — and that each county carries its own funding responsibilities.

Molinelli urged committee members to continue public outreach and stated he will keep the county updated on any federal funding changes. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” he said. The presentation did not include a formal committee action or vote; it was given as an informational update.

The committee followed with questions about cross-county financing and operational responsibility; a committee member asked whether partner counties provided funding for the Poughkeepsie shelter, and Molinelli replied that Dutchess County funds that operation. He closed by thanking staff and volunteers and noting Honor’s 50th anniversary will be celebrated next year.

Less urgent details: Molinelli named staff (Catherine Morgan, chief financial officer; Elizabeth Schmidt, chief of staff) and programs such as a sensory center, a LEGOLAND-themed room and the “Friend’s House” youth shelter; he also invited committee members to participate in the next point-in-time count planning meeting.