The New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils announced Wednesday that they have joined the efforts of the New York City Housing Authority to create a charitable housing initiative for the homeless.
The two cities are among the biggest recipients of federal funding to help homeless families find housing, and their cooperation in bringing this program to New York was highlighted in a joint letter to President Donald Trump and other governors in January.
The letter, signed by more than 300 local and national organizations, noted that the two cities have been on the forefront of efforts to provide housing to people in need.
In February, the Islanders announced that they would be offering $1 million in matching funds to the Housing Authority.
The Islanders are not the only team to offer matching funds.
The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have partnered on a similar program in which they provide up to $1.2 million in funding to homeless families to help them find a new home.
The league has previously announced it will match $1,000 in the first $25,000 of donated housing.
“The Islanders are a good example of how charities can play an important role in helping our community and helping the homeless,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in the letter.
“Our support is not just about building our team, but also about helping homeless families get off the streets and into homes that can serve them well.”
The letter also noted that New Jersey is working to build new housing and will match any money donated through the Housing Assistance Fund.
The New Jersey City Housing Department will also be partnering with the Islanders and other local and state governments to provide affordable housing to those living on the streets.
The initiative was announced by New Jersey Gov.
Chris Christie, who said in a statement that the team’s move is a “big step forward.”
“We will continue to work with other partners to ensure that homeless families can find a home and the city’s homeless population can live in peace,” he said.
“As a result, we will continue our partnership with the NYCHFA to ensure the homelessness problem in New Jersey and New York remains under control.”
The Islanders, which were in their first season in the NHL since 1999, will begin receiving money through the NHL Foundation this month and will be eligible to receive $1 billion in federal matching funds through the end of 2022.
They have donated $3.6 million to the city, $300,000 to the New Jersey Public Housing Authority and $2 million to New Jersey Community Development Corporation.
The city will receive $100,000.