Collaboration for Compassion

The Collaboration for Compassion (CfC) is a group of professionals representing 23 organizations in the White Plains and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to advocating for the housing insecure/homeless population in White Plains. Below includes a timeline outlining our work to date.

2020

The Sisters, Associates and Companions of the Divine Compassion affirmed the exploration of the Charter for Compassion at their Chapter Meeting

2021

Research and Development began, including meeting with the White Plains Mayor and othercity officials about the top “discomforts” in the White Plains Community

• Discomforts are issues that are causing pain and suffering to individuals, groups or the entire community—which can be addressed and relieved through compassionate action.

• It was recommended that we consider working to help with housing insecurity/ homelessness in White Plains

2022

A Collaboration for Compassion (CfC) Advisory Committee, including Sisters, Associates, Companions and Alumnae from Divine Compassion schools was established, and early planning and recruitment began to establish a Community of Compassion pilot program in White Plains

2023

The Divine Compassion Community became a member of the worldwide Charter for Compassion, and the CfC Advisory Committee continued to meet with government officials, nonprofit and membership organizations, corporate citizens and more to:

• Find out what is already being done, or has been done, to address the housing insecurity/homelessness challenge in White Plains, and learn what has worked and not worked, and recognize and acknowledge those successes

• Invite people to join us in creating a Community of Compassion in order to give voice and services to people in need in White Plains.

In December 2023, we hosted a meeting of professionals from the government, health care, faith-based, nonprofit, small business and corporate sectors to discuss and identify priority focus areas for the initiative.

2024

In January 2024, our proposal to create a Community of Compassion initiative in White Plains was reviewed and approved by the Charter for Compassion organization

The CfC began to meet quarterly, focusing on identifying and prioritizing our objectives for the initiative

• Advocating for the elimination of the shelter contribution for the homeless population became the focus of our work.

2025

CfC continued to focus on advocating for the elimination of the shelter contribution and raising awareness about the housing insecure/homeless population in White Plains and Westchester County in order to:

• Obtain a waiver to eliminate the shelter contribution in Westchester County

• Support New York State Bills which call to remove the requirement that any earned income from a homeless family in Westchester County receiving temporary housing assistance be applied to room and board, or to eliminate a need for temporary housing assistance, or as a condition to receive temporary housing assistance.

2026

• With the support of elected officials from the federal, state and local government, we are working to change the shelter contribution legislation for Westchester County. Sen. Shelley Mayer and Asm. Amy Paulin have amended their bill to exempt new shelter residents in Westchester County from the shelter contribution for their first six months living in the shelter.

• As we continue our advocacy efforts, the CfC began initial work in public awareness, creating and sponsoring an advertisement placed in Westchester Magazine, which addresses the Executive order about the homeless population.

• CfC members will design education programs to address the stigma associated with the housing insecurity/homeless population as well as the shelter contribution.