Breaking Ground

Breaking Ground
(formerly Common Ground)
Founded1990
FounderRosanne Haggerty
Typesocial services organization
PurposeBreaking Ground’s mission is to strengthen individuals, families and communities by developing and sustaining exceptional supportive and affordable housing as well as programs for homeless and other vulnerable New Yorkers.
Location
  • 505 Eighth Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Area served
New York City, Connecticut, and upstate New York
Key people
Brenda Rosen
(President & CEO)
Michael J. Franco
(Chairman)
Benjamin Stacks
(Treasurer)
Nicholas Tsang
(Secretary)
Tony Hannigan
(Board Member)
Michael Lascher
(Board Member)
Kara McShane
(Board Member)
David Neil
[1](Board Member)
David L. Picket
(Board Member)
Richard Roberts
(Board Member)
Michael L. Ryan
(Board Member)
Philip E. Silverman
(Board Member)
Ann Tirschwell
(Board Member)
Websitewww.breakingground.org
Formerly called
Common Ground Community Housing Development Fund Corp. Inc., Common Ground Community
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Breaking Ground, formerly Common Ground,[2] is a nonprofit social services organization in New York City whose goal is to create high-quality permanent and transitional housing for the homeless. Its philosophy holds that supportive housing costs substantially less than homeless shelters — and many times less than jail cells or hospital rooms,[3] and that people with psychiatric and other problems can better manage them once they are permanently housed and provided with services. Since its founding in 1990 by Rosanne Haggerty, the organization has created more than 5,000 units of housing for the homeless. "This is about creating a small town, rather than just a building," according to Haggerty. "It's about a real mixed society, working with many different people."[4] Haggerty left the organization in 2011 to found Community Solutions, Inc.[5] Brenda Rosen was promoted from Director, Housing Operations and Programs to Executive Director, and has led the organization since.[6]

Breaking Ground began by rehabilitating the Times Square Hotel (located at 8th Avenue and 43rd Street), which opened in 1991. It then restored other historic properties including the Prince George Hotel, opened in 1999. In the 21st century, Breaking Ground expanded to new construction, developing a total of 15 residences, with another 1,000 units in various stages of development.[7]

In Australia, following a report by Haggerty to the South Australian Government, Premier Mike Rann and Social Inclusion Commissioner David Cappo backed Haggerty's recommendations with a multimillion-dollar investment in inner city apartment buildings.[8] Common Ground Adelaide and Street to Home were established and have now been adopted in other Australian States.[9]

  1. ^ "David Neil | TRD Research". 14 March 2019.
  2. ^ "CHARITY REPORT - Breaking Ground". Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  3. ^ "Katrina's Most Vulnerable". New York Times. 2008-07-07. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  4. ^ Casciani, Dominic (2003-05-21). "Common Ground on Housing Crisis". BBC Online. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  5. ^ LinkedIn - Rosanne Haggerty [self-published source]
  6. ^ LinkedIn - Brenda Rosen [self-published source]
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ Center for National Policy, Washington DC, "What States Can Do: Social Innovation, Reducing Homelessness", April 24, 2012
  9. ^ "University of California | Office of the President". Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2023-08-13.. commongroundadelaide.org.au