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The past few months have been an exciting and fast moving time for us – we made progress on our work to engage financial institutions and regulators around the issue of distressed multifamily properties, we launched our latest financial education workshop series, we completed a survey of local residents on use of financial products, we hosted a tour for board and staff of UNHP housing development projects, and our Executive Director was honored by Enterprise Community Partners at The Gotham City Gala. We also managed to celebrate our 30th Anniversary in art deco style!
UNHP continues to make significant progress with our work to identify and improve distressed multifamily rental properties in NYC. We share the data from our Building Indicator Project (BIP) with a growing number of banks and community groups, who in turn have been using the data as part of their asset management reviews or as a basis for neighborhood improvement work. Working with Enterprise, HPD, the FDIC, and the NY State Department of Financial Services, we presented our work on the BIP to all of the bank regulators on September 20th. UNHP and other community groups presented information on how the BIP or other like tools can be used to insure the quality of a bank’s investment in low income communities.
Following up on our 2012 Bronx Banking Guide and Bronx Economy forum, UNHP completed a year-long survey of over 250 local residents about their use of financial services. The Bronx Financial Services Survey revealed that the majority of our respondents earned less than $30,000 a year and received some form of governmental assistance. More than 80% worried about their finances and 70% said this worry was constant or frequent. People who used check cashers found their services easier to access and more convenient than traditional banks and many of those who had bank accounts also used the services of check cashers. UNHP will release a report with the findings in December which we will then share with local banks to discuss products and services that are more responsive to the needs of residents. UNHP continues to partner with other non-profits to provide no cost financial education and coaching to residents.
In addition to our serious work to improve the homes and access to financial services for residents our community – we also took some time to celebrate our 30th Anniversary, our Executive Director and our work. Thanks to our sponsors and party goers we raised close to $60,000 at UNHP’s 30th Anniversary celebration held at the landmarked Dollar Savings Bank Building. The 200 plus crowd enjoyed Bronx craft beer, Latin-themed cuisine and honored Dr. Brian Byrne, a long-time UNHP Board member and founding force of the organization. At the Enterprise Gotham City Gala it was Jim Buckley’s turn to be honored with the Andrew Heiskell Community Renaissance Award for his 35 plus years of work to improve the neighborhoods of the Northwest Bronx through organizing, reinvestment work and leadership.
Thank you to all those who made a contribution to UNHP during our 30th year! There is still time to donate; UNHP is participating in Giving Tuesday – a national movement to make the Tuesday after Thanksgiving a day of giving, much as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days for shopping. You can donate to us through our website. We would also appreciate your participation in our advocacy work by viewing our blog, liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and enjoying our photos on Tumblr.
We appreciate the partnership of so many organizations, financial institutions, public agencies and foundations around our mission to create and preserve affordable housing and bring needed resources to the Northwest Bronx. We are gearing up to continue our work with a new administration and look forward to your ongoing partnership and support in 2014.
Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving, a good holiday season and a productive year ahead in what will be a challenging and exciting 2014.
- The Staff and Board of UNHP
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