Recognition Event for HousingPlus Founder, Rita Zimmer
In a heartwarming celebration at the Prince George Ballroom, Rita Zimmer, the founder of HousingPlus, was recognised for her 40 years of dedicated service to the people of New York City. Zimmer, a veteran advocate for the homeless, was honoured at the Good Person Awards for her tireless efforts in creating shelter and homes for the city's most vulnerable residents.
Established in 2003, HousingPlus is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation that provides community-based housing and comprehensive support services to women impacted by poverty, homelessness, trauma, addiction, and incarceration. Over the years, Zimmer's focus has been on women and families, as well as veterans and other groups disproportionately likely to experience homelessness.
Karen Ford, the new CEO of HousingPlus, acknowledged Zimmer's significant impact on the housing landscape for the disenfranchised. In a touching gesture, Ford announced that the next HousingPlus co-developed building in East New York will be named the Rita A. Zimmer House. This new development will feature more than 70 units of housing for formerly homeless individuals.
Ford, a Brooklyn native who joined HousingPlus in early May, also highlighted the organisation's recent achievements. HousingPlus has earned top scores in 2023 and 2024 in the annual Continuum of Care Evaluation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, ranking first among over 150 housing service providers in New York City.
The event also honoured four tenants who reside in housing built by Rita Zimmer and three staff members for their significant contributions to the community. One of the honoured tenants, Shelby Webb, described Zimmer as genuine, compassionate, and understanding.
The Good Person Awards Celebration raised nearly $400,000 for HousingPlus, funds that will support the organisation in building units of permanent supportive housing and providing transitional housing for women leaving incarceration.
Before her role at HousingPlus, Zimmer most recently served as executive vice president for Homeless and Support Services at CAMBA. Ford, who previously served as the City of New York's inaugural executive director for the Mayor's Office for Nonprofit Services, also recognised Zimmer's significant impact on the housing landscape for the disenfranchised.
Zimmer's work continues to inspire and impact the lives of countless individuals in New York City. Her dedication to addressing homelessness and her leadership in founding HousingPlus underscore her importance in this area. As the Rita A. Zimmer House rises in East New York, it serves as a testament to her legacy and her unwavering commitment to helping those in need.
- Rita Zimmer's significant impact on the housing landscape for the disenfranchised extends beyond her work at HousingPlus, as she previously served as executive vice president for Homeless and Support Services at CAMBA.
- The new Rita A. Zimmer House, a HousingPlus co-developed building in East New York, not only provides more than 70 units of housing for formerly homeless individuals but also reflects her influence in the realms of home-and-garden and lifestyle, as it represents a tangible symbol of her lifelong dedication and exceptional work in the field of criminal justice and housing.
