Senate Resolution No. 1401

BY: Senator HELMING

COMMEMORATING the 40th Anniversary of Unity House
of Cayuga County, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
exemplary institutions within our midst that are dedicated to serving
the community and the needs of its citizenry; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc.
to be celebrated at a Gala Board and Awards Dinner on Monday, April 24,
2017, at Emerson Park Pavilion; and

WHEREAS, The Unity House started in 1972 when it began offering
housing services to emotionally disabled veterans at the historic Case
mansion on South Street in Auburn at the First Presbyterian Church; and

WHEREAS, Five years later, Unity House hired its first Executive
Director, Reverend Frederick Harrison and filed its articles of
incorporation on March 28, 1977; by April, the agency obtained
not-for-profit status and the following year, the program was certified
as a community residence by the state's Department of Mental Hygiene;
and

WHEREAS, In addition to the mental health services Unity House began
to serve adults with developmental disabilities and those recovering
from drug and alcohol addiction; in 1988, employment services were
added; two years later, they introduced housing, day habilitation and
case management for the People with Developmental Disabilities (PWDD)
population; and

WHEREAS, Unity House opened Cayuga County's first halfway house for
individuals in recovery from addiction, serving nearly 2,000 people
since its inception in 1995; and

WHEREAS, In 1997, Unity House was named by the state as the
successor agency for HOMES, Inc. in Ithaca, New York; this introduced
the agency to Tompkins County, where they currently operate nine group
homes, a day habilitation center, employment services, two respite beds,
and a number of independent apartments; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of four decades, the agency has empowered
and enriched the lives of many people; today, Unity House serves 700
individuals daily in six central New York counties, employs more than
400 staff members and oversees a large budget; and

WHEREAS, The success of Unity House is in direct correlation to the
efforts of its staff, whose involvement is, and always has been,
characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and
an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of
the organization and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be recognized and applauded by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc.;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc.