History and Summary of Programs
The Community Services Housing Development Corp. (CSHDC) has more than 40 years’ of experience as the primary provider of housing and related services in it’s overwhelmingly low-income, African American and Latino community of Brooklyn. It has deep roots in this community through its long history of work and service, and through the ties and activities of its staff and its community-based Board of Directors. CSHDC is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization with proven fiscal responsibility and administrative capacity.
CSHDC has a solid record of accomplishments in tenant organizing, education, and counseling; renovating and managing low-income housing; and helping low-income people own and operate cooperative and mutual housing. CSHDC continues to work towards meeting the needs of its community.
The initial focus of CSHDC’s work was to help organize tenant associations in deteriorating privately owned rental housing in the Oceanhill and Brownsville communities. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, CSHDC trained tenant leaders in methods of organizing, strategy and tactics of negotiations, and the intricacies of the legal system. It helped tenant associations use their legal rights and economic power to win substantial repairs and significantly improve living conditions in their buildings. Although the thrust of many community based organizations have turned to ownership and property management, CSHDC has continued to act as an advocate in the community.
CSHDC currently counsels community residents daily, assisting them with various entitlement program applications, SCRIE, Section 8, NYCHA, HEAP, and apartment applications. In addition to CSHDC’s advocacy work, we also provide housing assistance; referrals to Legal Services, information on eviction notices, resolving essential service complaints, working through HPD’s Office of Code Enforcement, and the NYS Division of Housing, Community Renewal.
CSHDC while moving forward maintained its commitment to the community and its residents. Faced with private owners’ increasing abandonment of low income housing in the community, CSHDC began in the 1980s to take direct responsibility for housing renovation and management. Its renovation work has featured the “gut” rehabilitation of over 800 units of low-income housing through the Community Management Program and LISC/Enterprise Housing Production programs of the Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).
CSHDC also repaired more than 400 units of privately owned low-income housing as court-appointed administrator of buildings with long-standing, uncorrected, dangerous violations of state and municipal housing codes. To preserve the community’s stock of decent low-income housing, CSHDC also developed the capacity to provide efficient, socially conscious property management linked with supportive social services (for tenants who need help dealing with public agencies or personal and family problems). It has owned and managed over 1,900 units of low and moderate-income housing, including over 300 apartments for formerly homeless households over the last 25 years. Its training and support enable less experienced groups and low-income co-ops to run their own buildings effectively. CSHDC prepared more than 200 low-income tenants to assume the responsibilities of co-op ownership, and it continues to provide the co-op owners with crucial technical assistance in dealing with financial, legal, and building management issues.
It also formed and managed a 194-unit local low-income mutual housing association governed by a board of directors, which included representatives elected by the tenants of each participating building.
With its housing programs well established, CSHDC began to turn its attention to other major community needs. It developed new, innovative programs which involved youth services, childcare and worker/community owned business enterprises. CSHDC’s youth services featured intensive work with teenagers at high risk of dropping out of school. The object was to help young people become job-ready and community-minded. The program included field trips, counseling, computer and video training, work internships, and a neighborhood youth council. CSHDC’s last housing venture included the purchase of two (2) projects from HUD; one consisting of 385 units, and the other consisting of 88 units. Both of the projects were stabilized and subsequently moved back into the private sector with new responsible owners.
The Food Pantry
The Food Pantry has been in operation since July 2000. We began by distributing donated bread to our tenant population and community residents. The program soon expanded and we are now partnered with the United Way of New York City, the Food Bank for New York City and the Human Resource Administration, providing healthy nutritious food for an average of 18,000 families per year.
The Food Pantry is open every Thursday morning at 10:00 AM and stays open until the all of the prepared food packages have been distributed or to 1:00 PM. The Food Pantry distributes fresh produce, canned goods and non-perishable items.
Food and nutrition workshops are available for participants, and are facilitated by United Way and the Food Bank staff members.
- Open every Thursday 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Provides food, with no conditions place on getting food, simply visit the Pantry and CSHDC will provide you with food for a family of four for three meals for three days.
- Located at 547 Howard Ave, in the community space entrance on Lincoln Place
The Winter Warmth
CCHDC partners with New York Cares to distribute winter wear, coats etc. (children’s, infant’s as well as men & women’s) to community residents annually. Currently the program serves distributes coats to more than 100 individuals. We have been partners with New York Cares for the last seven years.
VITA Tax Prep
Anyone earning up to $60,000 per year can have their tax returns, Federal, State and local prepared free of charge. CSHDC is a drop-off center, providing the initial interview, assessment and collection of documents, the tax information is transferred though a secure web site to the preparation site where th return is completed based on the information provided by the client. This process will allow you to drop off your tax information and continue with your daily activities while your tax return is being preparer. CSHDC prepared over 200 returns a year and been providing the service for the last five years.
Housing Advocacy
CSHDC provides counseling for tenants,
- Landlord not providing essential services, heat and hot water? Is your building entrance door unlocked or constantly broken? Are repairs not being made? Do you think you are being overcharged for rent? This and other assistance is available, Contact CSHDC for assistance.
Owners
- Having trouble meeting your mortgage? Having trouble with rent collection? Having trouble locating financing for repairs or upgrades? Do you prepare an annual budget? We can help you find answers, Contact CSHDC for assistance.
Homeowners
- Are you ‘underwater’ on your mortgage? Should you rent to raise revenue? Are you in fear of losing your home? Are you a first time home buyer? Counseling is available for free, Contact CSHDC for assistance.