The New York City Clothing Bank is another program of the Peter Young Housing, Industries and Treatment umbrella of services that helps people in need. The Clothing Bank operated for almost 20 years as an adjunct to City government. Under Mayor Bloomberg's leadership, the program was privatized in 2005. We are excited that it is now a division of Peter Young Shelter Services.

How The Program Works

The program operates by soliciting donations of excess clothing from manufacturers and retailers, providing them with a tax-deductible outlet that will not compete with future sales. We then inventory the items in our warehouse at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and distribute the clothing to our network of community agencies.

Under our management, the New York City Clothing Bank also serves an important secondary goal by providing rehabilitation and job-training programs. Homeless individuals will be taught the basics of inventory control and warehouse management. The vocational training program will instruct in a modern based technology bar code scanning system allowing the clothing bank to maintain a high quality inventory control system. This job training will lead to marketable job skills, placement in permanent jobs in the community, and be a vital stepping-stone to homeless individuals seeking to transform their lives and become productive members of society.

Because state funding is low, the Clothing Bank relies heavily on memberships ($400 per year) and donations. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, please send it to the address below. All donations are fully tax-deductible.

Over 250,000 of New York City's neediest individuals and families are helped each
year, with a total clothing value of over $10 million. Currently, 500 manufacturers
and retailers donate clothing, which is then distributed to 200 not-for-profit
community agencies and organizations in every borough of the City.

Contact Information
 

Telephone	(718) 492-4015
FAX	(718) 492-4576
Director	Luis Jiminez
Postal address	140 58th Street, Building B, Warehouse 5E, Brooklyn, NY 11220
Physical address	Brooklyn Army Terminal
Corporate Offices	428 Duane Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12304
Corporate Website	www.pyhit.com
Electronic mail	pysclothing@aol.com

 

 

Nearly two generations ago, Father Peter Young recognized that recovery from addiction often requires support in the form of Treatment, Housing, and Employment. Thus was born T.H.E. Program. Father Young likened this support system to a three-legged stool. All three elements are needed or the stool cannot stand.

Since the early 1960s, this recovery concept has been known as T.H.E. Program and has a success rate of 92%. More than 9 out of 10 people entering this program return to productive lives as taxpayers.

Each day T.H.E. Program provides treatment, housing, and employment to over 3,000 people throughout New York State. The population served ranges in age from 16 to 68, with 25% women, 30% Latino, and 40% African-American. The average resident has a history of chemical dependency. About 60% of the population served are ordered here by the courts, and 70% are social services recipients and about 50% have been homeless.

Father Young has championed the concept of "Wounded Healers". A person who has experienced addiction and successfully overcame it to become an active, stable member of society is better qualified to help those who are themselves struggling with recovery. The "Wounded Healer" concept is carried out throughout the organization.

The primary concern is recovery. Without sobriety a person cannot function to the fullest potential nor make sound decisions to cope with stress and demands to our global society.

Does this approach work? The numbers show that it does. A study done several years ago found that without treatment, 69% of offenders are reincarcerated once they leave prison. Treatment alone results in a 47% reincarceration rate. But with treatment, training, and housing, the reincarceration rate falls to only 8%. This represents one of the highest success rates in the country.
 

PYHIT consists of the following companies:
 
   Ø 820 River Street, Inc. (treatment, community reintegration)
   Ø Altamont Program, Inc. (vocational training & employment)
   Ø VESTA Community Housing, Inc. (housing & property development)
   Ø Peter Young Shelter, Inc. (homeless shelter)
   Ø Peter G. Young Foundation, Inc. (homeless support)
 

Send mail to pysclothing@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2007 Peter Young Shelter Services, Inc.
Last modified: 08/15/07