Blog
May is Maternal Mental Health Month
May is International Maternal Mental Health Month. In the US, one in seven women experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD). PMADs include postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum bipolar, and postpartum psychosis. According to Postpartum Support...
Preparing to Move Forward with a GED
The Center is proud to provide more than just shelter to the mothers and children we serve. In the past three years, 40% of the women sheltered at the Center have less than a high school diploma. The lack of education is a significant barrier to finding...
Spring 2021 E-Newsletter
Executive Director's Report Raising the Nation's Youth Out of Poverty Research has long demonstrated the interconnectedness of homelessness and poor school performance; now, we’ve seen another factor added to the mix ― COVID-19. We know that for children to be able to focus and do well in school, their basic needs must be met. For those living in poverty,...
Volunteer Spotlight: Fuerza Latina
Like many other nonprofits around the Country, our volunteer programs were forced to shift as a result of the public health crisis. We're so thankful to volunteer groups like UAlbany's Fuerza Latina who have continued to reach out and provide support to our families throughout these uncertain times. Earlier this...
Faces of Homelessness: The Davis’ Story
When COVID-19 began spreading early last year, we knew that the families we serve would be among those hit hardest. Unfortunately, we were right, and in a time when we should be pulling together, landlords across the Capital Region continue to illegally evict and force out tenants by refusing to maintain their units. The Davis' have witnessed this callousness firsthand when their...
A Day in the Life: Davida Cancer, Housing Stability Advocate
With the launch of our new Lee Dyer Family Apartments Program, we’ve brought Davida Cancer on staff to provide support and case management services to all participating parents and youth. In her new role, Davida has quickly learned just how important these services can be for a family working to build a sustainable...
Call to Action: Advocate for Local Families in Need
Throughout my time serving as Board President, it has become my personal mission to advocate for families experiencing homelessness across Rensselaer County; however, this was not always the case. It was only when I became involved with St. Paul’s...
A Day in the Life: Jason Chaplin, Housing Stability Advocate
It’s safe to say that nonprofit professionals across sectors have seen their day-to-day change as a result of the spread of COVID-19. Things are no different here at St. Paul’s Center as our Housing Stability Advocates, who work with families living in community-based housing programs, face new...
Volunteer Spotlight: Cindy Harrington
Like many of our housing programs, our volunteer programs have been forced to adapt as a result of the spread of COVID-19. To ensure the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and the families we served many of these programs have been suspended, but that hasn’t stopped Cindy, one of our long-standing Special Events Volunteers. Cindy first became involved with St. Paul’s Center after our...
Affordable Housing is Headed Your Way | Lee Dyer Family Apartments Virtual Tour
After years of hard work, sweat, and a few tears, renovations are finally coming to a close on our new Lee Dyer Family Apartments. The first of two buildings located in downtown Rensselaer will provide permanent supportive housing to four families with a history of homelessness. In addition to stable housing, this new program...
Volunteer Spotlight | Carley Starr
When Carley comes in for her volunteer shift each week, it's exciting to see how much the kids' faces light up - especially because Carley's arrival means its homework time at the Center. As a Homework Helper, Carley provides the one-on-one attention many homeless children crave, all while helping students continue learning as...
Improving Outcomes: Using Social Determinants of Health to Address Healthcare Disparities
In recent years, health care disparities have become an important issue facing individuals and families across the United States. Historically, funding has focused on the development of technological advances to improve health outcomes for Americans; however, there has been much less focus on...
What Living in Poverty Means in the Wake of COVID-19
With cases of COVID-19 continuing to rise and well over 120,000 confirmed cases in New York State alone, making up roughly half of all cases in the United States, public health officials continue to recommend social distancing in order to slow the spread of the virus. While older adults and individuals with...
A Conversation with Kristen Kopper, Director of I Am a Warrior: Women and Housing Injustice
Earlier this month our staff was able to sit down with Kristen Kopper, director and producer of I Am a Warrior: Women and Housing Injustice, to chat about her documentary and the housing crisis facing individuals and families across the country. Here's what we learned:For those who might not know, tell me a...
Black History Month | Remembering Dorothy Height
This February marks the 50th celebration of Black History Month in the United States, recognizing the important roles and vast achievements of African Americans throughout our history. This year, we recognize the momentous work of Dorothy Height, remembered by many as the Godmother of the Civil Rights...
Winter Newsletter
Letter from Executive Director Tracy Pitcher Happy new year, all! I truly hope that you're able to carve out a few minutes to read the featured stories. If you do, I know you'll consider your time well spent. But, before you dive in, I will share a quote that captures the underlying theme well: "There is no...
St. Paul’s Center Goes Green: Reducing Energy Insecurity through Solar Power
With the affordable housing stock in the region continuing to shrink at rapid rates, families staying in our emergency shelter have had an increasingly difficult time finding apartments they can afford. Unfortunately, this is not a problem only being faced by the families we see coming through our doors;...
Volunteer Spotlight | Makaila Maier
At only 17 years old, Makaila Maier has already given so much to the families we serve at St. Paul’s Center. She was first introduced to us through a Board Member whose husband serves on the School District’s Board of Education where Makaila participates as a student representative. At the time, we were in...