nh
d inc.
the READER JUNE 9 2010
Volume XXXV Number 12
1976-2010
funding
the good fight
why funding the housing preservation initiative matters
ANHD ANNOUNCES
community
S
hortly after reinvestment
Act training
one of Michelle
Gordon’s third floor
tenants gave birth ANHD is planning a half-day
to a baby, the Department of training on the Community
Health and Hygiene socked Reinvestment Act (CRA)
Gordon with 53 lead related viola- on Wednesday, June 30th,
tions. She was the landlord and from 9:30 AM until 1:30 PM.
the violations were valid. Confused
on how best to remove these viola- The training is designed
tions and lead-based threats facing for organizers and advo-
her tenants and self, Gordon eventually cates who are interested
in learning about the CRA
brought her confusion to the doorsteps of and strategies for utilizing it
Neighborhood Housing Services of Ja- to hold banks accountable
maica. to residents and neighbor-
hoods.
There, Gordon got help. That same week
NHSJ administered a risk assessment on Specific topics will include:
Gordon’s property and NHSJ placed Gordon in a
free Lead Prevention Seminar. “I went to NHSJ for • Overview of CRA
advice and learned more about lead”, said Gordon. • How federal and state
“I attended a lead training class that was very infor- Bank Regulators qualify
loans, investments and
mative and I received a certificate at the end. Shortly services for CRA credit.
after, I received my grant.” • How to voice your opin-
ion on a bank’s CRA
The seminar gave Gordon a better understanding of how to image: websource
performance including
preserve her investment property. The grant paid for her property to comment letters, com-
be pristine of lead. And, the experience strengthened both Gordon and the Jamaica munity contacts, meet-
community against the threat of lead-based paint poisoning in the borough. ings with bank leader-
ship and direct actions
cont’d on page 3
3 june 9, 2010
volume xxxv, number 12
Lead paint, loan modification, and spiking foreclosures top Queens’ list of the
borough’s most bedeviling housing preservation fights, according to NHSJ. In re-
sponse to these pervasive problems in their catchment area, NHSJ administered
a lead paint-related seminar or foreclosure prevention workshop on average of
once every four days last fiscal year. Indeed, according to NHSJ Executive Direc-
tor Cathy Mickens, “From July 2009 to June 2010, we’ve conducted 13 lead semi-
nars to 176 people, 21 outreach seminars [training the trainers] to 705 people; 72
foreclosure workshops to 1,422 people, and 19 first-time homeownership trainings
to 269 people.” In all, Mickens recounts that these various trainings were admin-
istered by NHSJ over 125 times to an audience of more than 2,000 people. An When ANHD
pushed
the City Council to
accomplishment worthy of praise by any yard stick!
adopt the HPI as a
In addition to providing direct services, NHSJ is also intent on educating policy staple discretionary
makers about housing-related problems facing working class New Yorkers. “We item, the goal was
were also able to bring staff members from the FDIC on a bus tour to see first-hand to get more in-need
just how hard foreclosure hit Queens”, says Mickens. These activities and achieve- neighborhoods ad-
ments would have been impossible without funding from the Housing Preservation equate funds to fight
Initiative (HPI). neighborhood hous-
ing threats with grass-
Simply stated, HPI is a City Council-funded program that is focused on helping
neighborhood-based not-for-profit organizations to identify and confront threats roots solutions.
to affordable housing within New York City. Mickens explains how HPI funding is
central to supporting the core work of NHSJ. She says, “HPI is flexible, project- Since, 2007, 19 ANHD
level support. It allows us to do so much like administer our seminars, contract groups have consis-
with a lawyer to provide legal services, or respond quickly to housing needs in our tently received HPI
neighborhood.” funds to service iden-
tified catchment areas
For ANHD Inc., the experience of NHJS in provid- “It’s operational money across this city in ways
ing educational seminars and addressing the root without strings. [HPI] that are grassroots.
causes of the neighborhood’s foreclosure crisis illus-
trates the power and effectiveness of a program like allows us to do things
that we couldn’t do if we If your organization
HPI. Indeed, when ANHD Inc. first fought to get HPI
funded in 2007, we intended the program to be core alone received, lets say has yet to speak with
funding for organizations working on the ground to your city council rep-
$1million”.
deal with housing preservation issues across New resentative, download
York City. HPI was meant to increase the ability of Cathy Mickens Executive director
Neighborhood Housing Services
this HPI fact-sheet
neighborhood-based groups to respond to a variety of Jamaica and include it in your
of problems in their own grassroots way. conversation.
“The beauty of HPI is its flexibility,” says ANHD executive Director Benjamin
Dulchin. “If you take a look at how this money is being spent, you’ll see this pro-
gram has proven itself to be highly effective.” Indeed, from organizing tenants in
NYCHA developments in Brownsville, to language access and translation services
in Chinatown, to direct counseling to at-risk homeowners in The Bronx, to sup-
porting the Breathe Pilot Program on asthma, to partnering with local media to
keep housing preservation information abuzz in communities, HPI is a targeted
resource that flexibly supports activities beyond bricks and mortar approaches to
housing preservation in the city.
“These funds help us tremendously, in terms of outreach and getting the word out,”
says Cabiria Hylton, a Program Development Specialist at West Harlem Group As-
sistance (WHGA). She says, “We have 12,000 units across Harlem. Each develop-
ment has our logo; the name West Harlem Group Assistance with a green swoosh
on the top, yet, during our outreach...mailings and fliers, people come to us and
tell us ‘we didn’t know you offered these other services.’ With the assistance of the
HPI, we have been able to reach over 600 clients.”
Getting the word out is part of what HPI funding is all about. A few years ago,
WHGA used their HPI funds to outreach beyond their typical catchment area.
cont’d on page 5
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n July, when David Shuffler opens the front doors of
Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice and enters for the
ANHD INC READER STAFF first time as its new Executive Director, it would be as if
he’d travelled full circle to get there before the start of his
David Hanzel day.
Copy Editor
David Kene “YMPJ is located in the South Bronx, “says Shuffler. “[It’s]
Production-Layout
the organization where I first began doing community work Above, David Shuffler
David Kene before joining the staff of ANHD.” “In many ways, the
Content Contributors Center for neighborhood
The mission of YMPJ is to rebuild the neighborhoods of Leadership is a continu-
Bronx River and Soundview/Bruckner in the South Bronx ing tribute to David’s com-
Visit: www.anhdinc.org mitment to local commu-
by preparing young people to become prophetic voices for nity empowerment and
peace and justice. To YMPJ Shuffler will return, with all of progress through organiz-
the leadership skills, relationships and experience that he’s ing. The Center exists
acquired and exhibited while at ANHD. because of the experi-
ence and lessons learned
from INCO. Thanks
“In my new position at YMPJ, also an ANHD member orga- David for your vision,
nization, I will maintain close ties with ANHD and with all of dedication and leader-
you”, says Shuffler, noting that he looks forward to working ship. I look forward to our
with many of his colleagues again in his old capacity fight- future collaborations.”
-Hector Soto
Visit: www.anhd.org ing for justice. Shuffler spent 6 years at ANHD, as Director Director,Center for
of the Initiative For Neighborhood and Citywide Organiz- Neighborhood Leadership
ing (INCO), where he nurtured the 20 member organiza-
tions receiving INCO funds and took extra time incubating “David, you will be sorely
the capacity and community organizing wherewithal of as missed here at ANHD
and INCO but I have
many as ANHD’s 100 plus members who needed it over zero doubt that you will
the years. make a major impact as
ED of Youth Ministries
“I have learned a lot”, says Shuffler. “ And I’m more com- for Peace and Justice
(YMPJ). We’re all very
mitted now to be the change I wish to see in the Bronx and excited for you and the
in the world.” new challenge..”
-Ken Inadomi
Join ANHD in a celebratory farewell to Shuffler on Friday, Director
June 11, 2010 at the of the Mad Hatter at 360 3rd Avenue New York Mortgage Coalition
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©2008 Bank of America Corporation AD-TL-T3
7 june 9, 2010
volume xxxv, number 12
Resources-Grants
1Join1celebration tions, reverse mortgages, for Camp to raise money for D and F are August 15.
insurance options, iden- activities at St. Nicks Alli-
ANHD in a celebra- tity thefy and more! Bring ance and School Settlement
tory farewell to David your questions and meet Association Summer Day Although income guide-
Shuffler on Friday, June our community members! Camps. The walk will begin lines may change,
at 11 Catherine St, Williams- applicants, depending
11, 2010 at the of the Mad Restoration Plaza burg, Brooklyn.
Hatter at 360 3rd Avenue 1368 Fulton Street on number of occu-
(rain date Friday, May 28) pants and apartment
in Manhattan, between Call For Your Fresh Start
size, must make at least
30
26th and 27th Streets. & RSVP Today:
718-636-7596 x14 $37,680, and no more
cra training
1Join2Bridge
than $115,830.
ANHD is planning a half-
Street Devel- 23 annual meeting
free seminars day training on the Com- Each application no-
munity Reinvestment Act tice will contain a chart
opment Corporation and On Wednesday, June 23, (CRA) on Wednesday, June
of income giudelines
Egypt from WBLS On PACC will celebrate its 46th 30th, from 9:30 AM until
Annual Meeting. The meet- 1:30 PM. specific to the apartment
Saturday, June 12th from in focus. Click “vew
10am-4pm at Restora- ing will take place at 6:30pm The training is designed
at South Oxford Art Space. for organizers and advo- advertisment” above for
tion Plaza for an informa- cates who are interested specific details.
tive day of education and
27
in learning about the CRA
empowerment. Our work- and strategies for utilizing it
shops will cover prada- walk for camp
On Thursday, May 27 to hold banks accountable
tory lending, foreclosure to residents and neighbor-
prevention, loan modifica- St. Nicks Alliance
staff & supporters will Walk hoods. (SEE COVER)
9 june 9, 2010
volume xxxv, number 12
- Free and trustworthy local credit counseling services you can turn to;
- What affects your credit report;
- How your credit score affects you;
- Pitfalls to avoid when choosing a credit card;
- Steps you can take to improve your credit score;
- What you need to know about recent credit card reforms.
This is a FREE service for congregations, schools, community groups and other venues that
can provide space for a presentation and an audience of 10 or more people.
All inquiries are welcome. For more information or to schedule a presentation for your
group, please contact Tristan Dreisbach at tdreisbach@habitatnyc.org or 212-991-4000 x318.
For additional materials, or to learn more about other financial issues, please visit:
http://www.habitatnyc.org/advocate.
10 june 9, 2010
volume xxxv, number 12 Job Listings
Place your want ads in our job listings for free. Email: david.k@anhdinc.org