KeyBank Partners With Hudson River Housing to Provide Employment Assistance and Training Services to Dutchess County Residents Experiencing Homelessness

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., February 23, 2022 /3BL Media/ – KeyBank and Hudson River Housing, Inc. (HRH), the County's largest provider of supportive housing and other services aimed at addressing homelessness, announce a community partnership to support HRH’s Employment Assistance and Training Services (EATS) program.  Specifically, KeyBank Foundation has made a two-year, $100,000 community impact grant to help support an array of EATS programming geared toward adults experiencing homelessness and low-income individuals with employment barriers, including supervised employment opportunities, vocational training, linkage to community employment/training resources, job search assistance, help with résumés and applications, mentoring, job readiness, life skills, and career planning workshops.

EATS, which operates out of the historic Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory, is part of HRH’s multi-faceted approach to equitable community investment that enhances economic opportunity.  “We are grateful that KeyBank understands the importance of fostering local opportunities for people and places to thrive,” said Elizabeth Druback-Celaya, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Hudson River Housing. “Through EATS, HRH helps individuals overcome homelessness or housing insecurity as a limiting factor, and instead develop the skills and confidence to use their innate talents to strengthen our local communities and economies and meet their individual goals.”

KeyBank’s donation will help provide EATS programming to an estimated 50 adults annually, helping them successfully increase their housing stability. EATS participants develop soft skills, increase confidence, build fulfilling community connections, and are better prepared to enter the workforce and remain gainfully employed. Current EATS vocational tracks include HRH Made, which includes screen printing and textile production, Heroes Making Heroes, a culinary program with a specific emphasis on veterans, and Main Street Stewardship, a downtown beautification program.

“A critical step in addressing chronic homelessness is creating workforce opportunities and support for at-risk populations that lead to self-sufficiency,” said KeyBank’s Hudson Valley and Metro NY Market President, John Manginelli. “Key is proud to support the work that Hudson River Housing does to help individuals facing homelessness achieve employment and housing stability.”  

KeyBank Foundation’s grant to Hudson River Housing is made under Key’s National Community Benefits Plan established in 2017, which has already delivered more than $18 billion in lending and investments across Key’s national footprint supporting affordable housing and community development projects, home and small business lending in low- and-moderate income communities, and philanthropic efforts targeted toward education, workforce development, and safe, vital neighborhoods.

About Hudson River Housing, Inc.

Hudson River Housing is dedicated to building strong, sustainable communities by developing and preserving quality affordable housing and helping families and individuals obtain and maintain housing through education, advocacy and supportive services. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live in safe, affordable housing that meets their needs, regardless of income, family makeup, race or ethnicity, physical or mental health, or any other defining factors. We work to create long-term opportunities for individuals and families throughout Dutchess County and the greater Hudson Valley. www.hudsonriverhousing.org

About KeyCorp/KeyBank  

KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $186.3 billion at December 31, 2021.  Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. 

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KeyBank Media Contact:  Karen Crane | karen_crane@keybank.com | 203-789-2752

HRH Media Contact:  Elizabeth Celaya | ecelaya@hudsonriverhousing.org | 845-416-4182