HELP USA hosted HELP Heroes Night 2026 at Tribeca 360, bringing together nearly 300 leaders from the housing, healthcare, philanthropy, business, government, and nonprofit sectors to recognize the people and partnerships driving real progress in housing access and homelessness prevention.
This year’s honorees were recognized for their contributions to affordable and supportive housing, homelessness prevention, healthcare access, community investment, and services that help individuals and families achieve long-term stability.
HONOREES
- Debbie Burkart, Managing Director, Supportive Housing for National Equity Fund, for more than 30 years of leadership in affordable housing, particularly her work to expand housing for homeless veterans
- Baaba Halm, SVP of Programs, Enterprise Community Partners, for her career shaping housing policy and practice, including advancing Home4Good as a leading model in eviction prevention
- Robert M. Hayes, CEO, Community Healthcare Network, for his landmark role in Callahan v. Carey, which established the Right to Shelter, and for his ongoing contributions to our field
- David Healy, President, Sun Life U.S., for his contributions to improving health access and advancing Sun Life’s model of community-based investment
- Khreme Tony Laud, Executive Director of WestHELP at HELP USA, for overseeing the placement of thousands of families into safe, permanent housing during 25 years at HELP USA
PRESENTERS
- Pascale Leone, Executive Director, Supportive Housing Network of New York
- Gloribel Cruz, Vice President, TD Bank, N.A.
- Maria Cuomo Cole, Chair Emeritus, HELP USA
- Dr. Helen Arteaga Landaverde, New York City Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
- Thomas C. Ridges, Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations, Richmond County District Attorney’s Office
Together, these honorees represent decades of leadership and innovation that have expanded housing opportunities, advanced healthcare access, strengthened communities, and improved outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.
The evening celebrated HELP USA’s mission of ensuring that everyone has a place to call home while raising critical support for programs that serve more than 35,000 individuals and families each year through housing, shelter, homelessness prevention, supportive services, employment programs, and affordable housing development.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in recognizing this year’s HELP Heroes and supporting HELP USA’s work to address both the immediate needs and root causes of homelessness.
