What was once an empty lot in Cypress Hill has been transformed into a beacon of hope and stability. The Atlantic, the neighborhood’s newest 100 percent affordable housing development, is now home to 183 individuals and families who previously lacked a permanent place to live. The project is the result of a partnership between the Institute for Community Living (ICL), the New York City Department of Social Services, and Camber Property Group. Together, they’ve created permanent housing designed specifically for people transitioning out of the shelter system, offering not just apartments, but the foundation for long-term stability and healing. “Housing for individuals leaving shelter can feel very limited in the city,” said Dr. Jeanine Costley, Senior Vice President of Transitional Services at ICL. “This environment allows them to have an apartment, to have their own space, and really heal from the trauma of homelessness.” For residents like Victor Rivera, the move has been life-changing. Victor and his 88-year-old mother spent years moving from place to place before landing in a shelter, where they shared a single room with others and struggled with basic daily needs. “We had to share a room with other people - sometimes they weren’t clean,” Rivera said. “I like this place here because my mom is comfortable. She’s happy. She got her room and I got my room.” While in the shelter, even meals were a challenge. Rivera recalls rigid meal schedules and limited options. “They had certain times to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We ate hero sandwiches for like four months every day for lunch,” he said. “I’d be buying breakfast, lunch, and dinner all at the same time and keeping it in the room.” Today, life looks very different. Residents now prepare warm meals in their own kitchens and have access to amenities such as a gym, a rooftop deck, and on-site health services, features that support both physical well-being and a sense of dignity. Another unique aspect of the development is what’s coming next door. An adjacent space will soon become an Institute for Community Living office, bringing essential programs and services even closer to the residents and the surrounding community. “We have all of these services on site that help provide tenants with the support that they need to continue living here,” Dr. Costley said. For Rivera, the true value of The Atlantic goes beyond modern amenities or added security. It’s about belonging. “At the end of the day, it didn’t matter about it being a new building, that’s cool,” he said. “It didn’t really matter about the security. It’s just it’s ours.” Dr. Costley tells News 12 that The Atlantic is expected to be fully occupied by March 2026.