Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation was founded in 1975 by civic and community leaders who were concerned by the spread of deterioration from surrounding communities. Their goal was to stabilize, preserve, and upgrade the housing stock of Queens Community Board 5. The service area includes the Queens communities of Ridgewood, Maspeth, Glendale, and Middle Village.

To insure neighborhood stability and improvement, GRRC provides the following services:

Landlord/Tenant Counseling;

Tenant Organizing and Outreach;

Workshops on Rights and and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants;

Property Management;

Neighborhood Planning/Building Condition Surveys

Lien Sale/In-Rem/ Problem Building Program;

Assistance with Debt Consolidation and Credit Counseling to Building Owners;

Marketing of Low Interest Loans;

Research for Historic Designation and Landmarking;

Graffiti Removal/Crime Watch Program;

Partnerships with Local Agencies and Private Sector to Provide Technical Assistance;

Surveying for Planting and Counting of Street Trees.

Established in1978, Woodside On The Move, Inc. (WOTM) offers a diverse range of programs and services for the maintenance and improvement of the quality of life in Woodside, Queens.

Woodside on the Move Inc. provides a Housing Assistant Program, providing counseling and refferal services to tenants and landlords. Cases include, but are not limited to, evicton proceedings, rent overcharges, pest control infestation, repairs and maintainence problems, mediation services, advocacy and more.

Affordable Housing Opportunity, tenant education workshops, legal clinics for housing court assistance are some of the projects coordinated to address these services.

The Astoria Restoration Association (ARA) was first organized in 1977 by a group of concerned merchants and residents. Our first project was the completion of a $1.7 million physical improvement project for the area.

The ARA's current Neighborhood Preservation Program consists of two major components: Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development. Our Housing Program includes Individual Assistance and Referrals. Our outreach efforts are directed primarily to low income Senior Citizens, and people living on Disability Benefits which constitute a majority of our target population. ARA would like to make Senior Citizens and others more aware of the variety of available City and State programs and the direct assistance the Astoria Restoration Association offers in applying for these programs. We assist them in applying for rent increase exemptions (SCRIE & DRIE), home energy assistance grants (HEAP, Energyshare and Neighborhood Heating Fund), and property tax abatements (SCHE & STAR).

The Neighborhood Economic Development Program consists of marketing the Ditmars Boulevard-31st Street commercial strip and sponsoring at least two annual Street Festivals. Over the years, the Astoria Restoration Association has concentrated its efforts on the overall economic development of the Astoria area. The maintenance of affordable housing and the assistance of businesses help to maintain the sense of community and economic vitality that are integral aspects of a viable and dynamic neighborhood.

Queens Community House (QCH) serves residents of all ages, classes, races and ethnicities while supporting the viability of neighborhoods and the borough as a whole. QCH was founded in 1975 as Forest Hills Community House and has expanded its reach over the years. Today, we provide programs for children, teens, adults and older adults at 23 program sites in 11 different neighborhoods. Since our beginning, we have helped thousands to thrive in school, to make healthy life choices, to succeed in educating themselves and become engaged neighbors, to stabilize their housing situation, and to make the most of their senior years.

Queens Community House offers a wide array of programs, services and activities to 25,000 individuals each year. We serve communities throughout Queens through our 24 program sites in 11 neighborhoods.

QCH's housing programs include eviction and homelessness prevention and neighborhood preservation programming. Eviction prevention and homelessness prevention intervention is borough-wide and funded through NYS Office of Temporary Disability Assistance and NYC Department of Homeless Services.

QCH's Neighborhood Preservation Activities funded through NYSHCR cover communities: Corona, Elmhurst, Forest Hills and Rego Park, among NYC's communities with the highest foreign born population and challenged by increasingly high cost of housing, housing density, and low vacancy rates.

Since the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Penninsula (JCCRP) was founded in 1972, it has been providing services on a non-sectarian basis to those in need and advocating for issues of concern to the community.

Those services include:

Career Counseling - The career counselor assists clients with identifying the ideal job, conducting job search, preparing for interviews and assistance with resumes. Securing a job can be the most important factor in alleviating a client's crisis.

Crisis Intervention & Disaster Case Management/Recovery Planning - Our crisis intervention team provides grants to clients to help pay for rental arrears, first month's rent of a new apartment, and moving costs for seniors, beds, utility shut-off and other housing emergency needs. Our Disaster Case Managers provide financial assistance FEMA assistance, counseling, and they serve as a referral source to all of our services.

Financial Counseling - The JCCRP offers on-site financial counseling.

Housing & Landlord/Tenant Mediation - The JCCRP organizes home buyer counseling workshops, renders tenant counseling, landlord/tenant mediation, and community rehabilitation and renewal initiatives for those in need. Through the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development consultant, we inspect neighborhood homes for violations and assist landlords and homeowners in correcting them.

Food Assistance -The JCCRP's food pantry provides food packages to close to 1,800 residents a month. Our holistic approach to our food pantry provides clients food, access to SNAP enrollment and emergency food vouchers to supermarkets.

Legal Assistance - The JCCRP has a longstanding partnership with NYLAG who assists clients by providing free legal advice and representation on a variety of matters.

Medical Insurance Enrollment & Medicare Advocacy/Enrollment - Our navigator guides clients through the process of obtaining health insurance through the marketplace. The navigator will help you sign up for Medicaid, Child Health Plus and other insurance.

Margert Community Corporation is an independent, charitable, community-based, nonprofit housing agency that provides neighborhood preservation services, housing assistance, energy affordability, accessibility modifications, health & safety improvements, client education and housing counseling to low-to-moderate income (LMI) tenants, homeowners, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
 
While our primary service area is Far Rockaway, Queens, we also provide vital housing services to all of Queens County and the entire NYC Metro Area. These services are provided by leveraging a variety of public and private funds primarily designed to assist households at or below 90% of our area's medium income and/or in severe financial distress. These sources, leveraged through the core administrative budget provided by the Neighborhood Preservation Program, include:
 
* HCR Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
* HTFC Access to Home Program (LPA)
* HTFC RESTORE Program (LPA)
* HTFC HOME Program (LPA)
* HFA HUD Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program
* WAP-coordinated utility programs
* NYSERDA residential energy efficiency programs
* NY Rising Community Centers Housing Counseling Services
* Center for NYC Neighborhoods Foreclosure Prevention Services
 
Margert is a Building Performance Institute (BPI) GoldStar contractor and an EPA certified RRP agency (lead safe).
 
 

Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica (NHSJ) is a 42 year-old not-for-profit organization committed to revitalizing neighborhoods in Southern Queens. We offer pre- and post-purchase homeownership counseling; first-time homebuyer down payment and closing cost assistance grants; financial coaching and technical assistance to low- and moderate-income residents; affordable home repair loans and grants; foreclosure intervention and prevention services; free or reduced-cost energy audits and equipment installation; and storm recovery case management assistance.

NHSJ also provides affordable housing, creates an awareness of resources available to community residents, motivates individuals to upgrade and also preserves property to improve the quality of community life.

NHSJ is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of volunteers who give their time and expertise to the organization and the community. The majority of the Board Members are residents of the communities we serve. The day-to-day business of NHSJ is managed by a professional staff of employees. NHSJ's lines of business are reflective of community needs:

Below-Market Rate Home Improvement Loans

Home Rehab Grants <br>· Emergency Repair Loans

One-on-One Pre-Purchase Counseling

Homebuyer Pre- and Post-Purchase Education

Mortgage Facilitation

Closing Cost Assistance Forgivable Loans and Grants

Down Payment Assistance Grants

Handyman Certification Training

Foreclosure Prevention Services

Storm Recovery Case Management Services (NEW)

Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica, Inc. takes the full-cycle approach to homeownership and neighborhood stabilization. Our Housing Counselors who have been trained by our banking partners; NeighborWorks America® and other groups are certified in all areas of Housing Counseling.

We work closely with elected officials, community leaders, other community groups and public and private agencies to revitalize and preserve housing in our community.

Northwest Queens Housing Corp. is a non-profit neighborhood preservation company whose purpose is to revitalize our community.

NWQH's activities focus on providing clients with access to assistance in applying for resources that support quality affordable housing (renters or homeowners). This includes information on New York City's housing subsidy programs, landlord/tenant problems. Also, NWQH's services assure that clients have access to relevant subsidy and tenant and/or homeownership benefit programs for which they are eligible.

NWQH's assistance services included: Tenant Assistance, Counseling, Tenant/Landlord dispute resolution, Legal Aid information and referral. NWQH also assist clients to renew leases and assure they are not overcharged, provide information regarding rent regulations, MCI, Fuel Cost adjustments, help seniors and low income clients to apply for NYCHA - project apartments and other affordable housing alternatives.

NWQH staff assist clients to apply for benefits such as SCRIE/DRIE. NWQH also provides tenant assistance in applying for HEAP, free cell phones with free monthly minutes, free air conditioners and helps qualified clients to apply for the Con Edison reduced electric rate. The program helps our clients to apply for IT 214, NYC 210, and other entitlement and benefits.

Since 1979, the mission of the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition has been to conduct activities designed to combat neighborhood deterioration and preserve and enhance Astoria/Long Island City as a vibrant, affordable, harmonious and desirable community in which to live, work, and do business.

Central Astoria has undertaken programs which stimulate private reinvestment and contribute to economic development, quality of life, and housing preservation goals. Central Astoria has been the leading provider of soft cost housing services for the residents of its service area. These services have been targeted towards individuals with fixed, low, or moderate income as well as seniors and immigrants that make up a large percentage of the service area's population providing tenant/client assistance , lease renewals, preventing unlawful eviction, counseling on housing court, adjusting rent overcharges, restoring basic services, calculating MBR & MCR rent increases, mediating landlord and tenant disputes, and loan/grant applications assistance including but not limited to: SCRIE DRIE applications, HEAP, SCHE, DHE, STAR, EPIC, SNAP, etc.

The Central Astoria LDC provides technical assistance to four merchant organizations working hand in hand with the residential component of the program enhances our ability to impact the programs, all preservation of the community. Services provided include: coordination of special events such as street fairs, sale days, holiday events; marketing promotional efforts; graffiti removal programs, streetscape improvements, all directed at attracting and assisting new business and retaining the old.

Central Astoria also provides social/cultural capital by sponsoring various events designed to bring our multi-cultural population together. Annual events include the Independence Celebration, Waterfront Concert Series; Waterfront Movie Series, Community Holiday Festival and Celebrate Astoria! Multicultural Day.

Established in 1978, Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation is located in Far Rockaway, Queens. Our mission is "to promote the revitalization of the Rockaways economic base and neighborhoods, and to secure an improved quality of life for its residents." RDRC fulfills its mission and commitment to revitalizing the Rockaways by providing programs that focus on the development of people, or human capital development with services that stabilize our residential neighborhoods and create vibrant commercial-retail districts. RDRC's programs and services impact over 1,700 youth, adults, seniors, homeowners, developers, entrepreneurs and business owners annually:

• HUD certified first-time homebuyer, foreclosure and loss mitigation counseling and assistance

• Credit and debt consolidation counseling and assistance

• Business advisory and counseling services via the Rockaway Beach NYS Small Business Development Center located at RDRC

• Small business access to capital assistance including origination, packaging and lending

• Certified adult employment readiness and placement assistance

• Certified construction pre-apprentice vocational skills training programs - OSHA 10, OSHA 30, Scaffolding, Flagger, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery

• Financial literacy workshops and individualized counseling in basic banking, establishing credit, managing paycheck, and financial goal setting/attainment

• Basic and Intermediate Level computer instruction in Microsoft 2013 Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook, and social media via our state-of-the-art Time Warner Learning Center

• Youth leadership development - summer employment, career development and college placement assistance

•Commercial revitalization via merchant organizing, business attraction, district marketing, public space management, and storefront improvement initiatives

Allen AME Neighborhood Preservation & Development Corp. (NP&D) provides housing services and community services and community services to the Southeast Queens community in Jamaica, NY.

Our mission is to help preserve affordable housing in South East Queens, and offer services that will sustain an under-served population. Our program provides workshops on financial literacy, foreclosure prevention and first-time homeownership. We offer resources and case management to victims of domestic violence, the unemployed, seniors and veterans.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Northern Queens (NHSNQ) is a not-for-profit housing organization whose primary goal is to serve the housing needs of residents in Queens Community Districts #1, #2, #3 and #4 (LIC, Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Hts., Elmhurst and Corona. The organization's mission is to increase and protect investment in the neighborhoods it serves by creating, promoting and preserving affordable housing, educating residents, and supporting neighborhood self-reliance.

NHSNQ offers the following services:

Homeownership Acquisition: We help families purchase their first home in our service area by providing eight hours of home buyers education; individual counseling services; generous down payment assistance, typically structured as a forgivable loan; first mortgages when conventional financing is not available; and assistance in applying for affordable mortgages as well as evaluating the resulting offers. NHSNQ provides both pre- and post-purchase services, namely Homeownership Education (individual and group settings), Mortgage Facilitation and Placement, Closing Cost/Down Payment Assistance, Grants and Loans

Foreclosure Prevention/Intervention: NHSNQ provides distressed homeowners with extensive and individual foreclosure prevention counseling services, primarily about successfully requesting a permanent mortgage modification. Additionally, NHSNQ provides foreclosure Intervention, Educational Workshops/Seminars and Refinancing.

Home Improvement Assistance: NHSNQ continues to help homeowners finance critical repair projects --such as fixing a leaking roof or replacing a broken boiler --by providing grants and loans.

Financial Education/Coaching and Debt Management: we integrate the provision of individual financial coaching within our existing homeownership and foreclosure prevention counseling services.

Home Maintenance Training: Our Home Maintenance Training classes provide participants with 24-hours of instruction to complete basic plumbing and electrical projects. Through our Home Maintenance Training classes, we also help participants identify projects that they can do it themselves as well as those projects that require a licensed and certified contractor.