NYC’s one-of-a-kind supportive housing program, designed to help parents with serious mental health challenges reunite with their children, will expand at 161 Emerson Place
(New York, NY) — The Institute for Community Living (ICL) today announced construction will begin on the $77.6 million redevelopment of the Emerson-Davis Family Residence, a one-of-a-kind supportive housing model that helps parents living with serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance use disorder (SUD) stay connected with or reunify with their children.
The 11-story, 103-unit development at 161 Emerson Place in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn—a high-opportunity neighborhood—will replace the outdated structure ICL has operated for nearly 30 years. Made possible with support from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, the New York City Housing Preservation and Development, the New York State Office of Mental Health, Richman Group, TD Bank, Council Member Hudson, and Borough President Reynoso, the redeveloped residence will include 61 supportive housing apartments and 41 affordable units for households earning up to 60% of Area Median Income (AMI), with one unit reserved for a live-in superintendent. The building will also meet Passive House standards for energy efficiency, minimizing environmental impact, and reducing costs for residents and ICL.
ICL created the Emerson-Davis program in 1999 in response to a gap in New York City’s housing and child welfare systems; parents experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges had no clear pathway to access housing that would allow them to regain or retain custody of their children. Emerson-Davis is still the only program of its kind in NYC.
“ICL’s Emerson-Davis model has demonstrated what’s possible when you combine supportive housing with family reunification services tailored to the unique needs of parents with behavioral health challenges,” said Jody Rudin, President and CEO of ICL. “Housing is healthcare—and for families at risk of separation, housing is also the key to staying together. This reimagined building in a high opportunity neighborhood enables us to serve even more families, keeping them together and setting them on a path toward long-term recovery, stability, and connection.”
ICL’s whole health model integrates housing, healthcare, and behavioral health to support long-term stability. With more than 4,000 New Yorkers housed each night across its 140 programs, ICL meets people wherever they are—whether unhoused, in shelter, in institutions, or ready for permanent housing—and ensures seamless transitions through every stage of their recovery with a full continuum of care.
The expanded Emerson-Davis residence will feature 44 two-bedroom and 7 one-bedroom supportive apartments for parents with SMI and their children, as well as 10 studio units for single adults with SMI who may be pregnant, have infants, or are awaiting reunification. On-site services will include parenting support, trauma-informed therapy, community integration, and access to ICL’s Child and Family Treatment and Support Services.
Thoughtfully designed shared spaces—such as a children’s activity room, community room with teaching kitchen, fitness center, and tenant work lounge—will create a family-friendly environment that supports healing and independence.
The expansion comes as ICL continues to lead the conversation on solutions for keeping vulnerable families together. Its 2023 policy paper, Barriers to Reunification, found that parents living in single adult shelters who are eligible to reunify with their children have no clear path to the appropriately sized, supportive housing they need—leaving many separated for far longer than necessary. The paper calls for reforms to the shelter, housing, and voucher systems to better support family reunification, especially for those with behavioral health needs.
Studies show that children who spend extended time in foster care are significantly more likely to experience homelessness, incarceration, and behavioral health challenges later in life. Housing-first solutions like Emerson-Davis offer a proven path forward: 74% of families exiting the program have remained unified, avoiding cycles of trauma and institutionalization.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner Visnauskas said, “All families deserve to live together in homes they can afford with the support they need. This $77.6 million redevelopment of the Emerson-Davis Family Residence will help more than 100 households stay together and promote long-term family stability. It is a great example of New York’s comprehensive approach to affordable and supportive housing. We thank the Institute for Community Living and all our partners for their dedication.”
The Emerson Davis Family Residence redevelopment is supported by $40 million in bonds and subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
Acting HPD Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said, “Every family deserves the chance to stay together. For parents navigating mental health or substance use challenges, that path can often feel impossibly out of reach without the right support. The Emerson-Davis Family Residence is a one-of-a-kind model that makes that support real—offering healing and stability for parents and making it possible for families to reunite and move forward. We’re proud to partner with ICL to bring this vision to life, providing 61 families with a foundation to rebuild their lives, and 41 additional households with deeply affordable housing that offers dignity, security, and hope for the future. This is how we build a stronger, more resilient New York.”
The project team also includes Dattner Architects, a leader in urban passive house design, and Mega Contracting Group, a general contractor with over 30 years of experience in multi-family and affordable housing.
