LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Interfaith Council for Action upon the
occasion of receiving the Stanley Schear Leadership Award from the West-
chester County Department of Senior Programs and Services Senior Housing
and Services Coalition

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Interfaith Council for Action upon the occasion of receiving the Stanley
Schear Leadership Award from the Westchester County Department of Senior
Programs and Services Senior Housing and Services Coalition; and
WHEREAS, Interfaith Council for Action (IFCA) will be presented this
most prestigious honor at the Senior Housing and Services Legislative
Breakfast to be held on Thursday, May 21, 2009, at Osborn Retirement
Community, Rye, New York; and
WHEREAS, A not-for-profit agency, IFCA is the oldest neighborhood
preservation organization in Westchester County, New York, active in the
ownership, rehabilitation and management of low and moderate income
housing since 1968; and
WHEREAS, IFCA's mission is to foster, promote, and sponsor better
housing, recreational, educational or social conditions for the less
privileged members of the community at large; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, IFCA's traditional model has been to buy
the "worst house on the block," renovate and rehabilitate it, and rent
apartments at below market value to local working families; and
WHEREAS, Often, after IFCA bought and renovated that "worst house",
revitalization of an entire block or neighborhood would occur; others in
the community saw the improvements and would buy or rent in the same
area; this model worked effectively for many years with IFCA developing
ancillary programs and services for those they now housed; through this
model, IFCA presently provides affordable/workforce housing for more
than 100 families; and
WHEREAS, However, IFCA's services are not limited to housing, in fact,
it has social workers on staff providing an essential counseling and
case management component; in addition, clients are given the opportu-
nity to participate in various self-development workshops, all with an
eye towards fostering independence and self-reliance; and
WHEREAS, For example, IFCA offers: case management for homeless fami-
lies that are placed in IFCA's emergency housing by the Department of
Social Services (DSS); tenant advocacy; referrals; assistance with DSS
paperwork; counseling; crisis intervention; eviction prevention; back-
to-school supplies; free tax preparation to tenants and local residents
who are income eligible; and first-time home ownership information and
referrals; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, IFCA also has managed from one to three low-in-
come housing tax credit projects per year; opened Job's Refuge, the
first family shelter in Westchester County in July 1987; co-founded a
low-cost primary care center that is now the Open Door Family Health
Care Center; created, in collaboration with the New York Medical
College, the first Interim Lead-safe House in Westchester County; and
sponsors "Embracing Ossining," a cultural arts organization; and
WHEREAS, IFCA is also the primary fiscal sponsor of the Ossining Farm-
ers' Market in downtown Ossining and is one of two community agencies

that provided case management services to over 100 families through the
Westchester County Department of Planning's Family Self Sufficiency
(FSS) program; moreover, its volunteers established a retail-clothing
co-op for low income families; and
WHEREAS, These numerous accomplishments are reflective of IFCA' s
individual and community investment in the future of its first neighbor-
hood preservation area in Ossining, New York; and
WHEREAS, IFCA also advocates for affordable/workforce housing policies
and programs in both the private and public sectors, to ensure afforda-
ble housing for all in New York State; and
WHEREAS, The success enjoyed by IFCA is in direct correlation to the
efforts of the many individuals and volunteers who have supported the
development of the organization over the years; and
WHEREAS, Equally commendable are IFCA's superbly-skilled staff, whose
involvement is and has always been characterized by an impressive
commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of
excellence in all of their efforts on behalf of the organization and the
population it serves; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Interfaith Council for Action upon the occasion of receiving the
Stanley Schear Leadership Award from the Westchester County Department
of Senior Programs and Services Senior Housing and Services Coalition;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Interfaith Council for Action.