Wrapping Up 2013
It’s hard to believe that it’s already December. As we look back on the year, our 15th year as a Community Development Corporation for the Lower West Side community, we have so much to be grateful for. With the help of our funders and supporters, we were able to invest $1,432,906 directly into the neighborhood this year!
In 2013 alone, we have restored two vacant houses under our H.O.P.E. Program while simultaneously providing two families with their first owned-homes. After six years of planning, we finally completed our two townhome in-fill project on Hudson Street, known as the Cynthia Gardens Apartments, and provided eight families with affordable, green, rental homes. In addition to these major developments, we provided minor home repair assistance to 13 units of owner occupied housing in our neighborhood, assisting 7 low-income homeowners and six of their tenants. These repairs were made possible through our Green & Healthy Homes, Planning to Stay, and Stable Homes Programs.
In addition to our housing work, we educated over 300 individuals through our financial fitness course, and were able to host a Community Planning Workshop for Lower West Side residents this summer, working to connect neighbors and hear straight from you what you’d like to see happen in our neighborhood. We can’t wait to see the exciting initiatives and projects that will enhance Niagara Street happen next year, and look forward to continuing to work with residents to make sure their voices get heard as investment happens in our community.
Thanks to your continued support, we were able to help lower maintenance costs for nine homeowners, provide safe, healthy, affordable housing for fourteen tenants, and restore vacant homes. Two rehabs, eight rental units, and thirteen home repairs later, we can’t wait for what 2014 will bring! We’ll be completing a gut-rehab on another vacant home on Whitney, 178 Whitney Place, as well as continuing to provide minor home repair to homeowners in the area with the welcomed addition of a $552,000 grant the NYS Affordable Housing Corporation has just awarded us this past month.
We send you our sincerest gratitude for your continued support this holiday season. The work we do is made possible by friends like yourself who believe that everyone has the right to a safe, affordable home.
Thank you for all of your support in 2013! And on behalf of our staff and board, we hope you and yours have a very happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Simeon
Executive Director