ATTENTION: PACC Hosts Community Meeting to Discuss Navy Greene; 2/9; 6PM

The Pratt Area Community Council is hosting a Navy Greene Community Meeting to discuss the development and future plans for the site.

WHEN: Thursday, February 9, 2012
6PM- 8PM
WHERE: 45 Clermont Avenue (Community Room)
(between Park Place and Flushing Avenue)
Fort Greene/ Wallabout, Brooklyn

Please confirm your attendance at rsvp@prattarea.org. You may call PACC at (718) 522-2613 for further information.

ATTENTION: LDCCH Hosts Home Buyer Workshop; 1/25; 7PM

The Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights (LDCCH)- in collaboration with Project Brooklyn Homeowners- will host a Free Interactive Home Buyer Workshop on January 25th, 2012 at First Baptist Church of Crown Heights.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 25th 2012
7:00PM to 9:00PM
WHERE: First Baptist Church of Crown Heights
450 Eastern Parkway, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11225

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU????
• Learn How to buy a home
• Learn what to look for in a home and the right questions to ask
• Learn how to qualify for a mortgage. We make sure all attendee’s fully understand the mortgage process from start to finish
• Learn what to do if they have credit challenges and the steps to repair their credit
• ON THE SPOT MORTGAGE PRE-QUALIFICATION
• FREE CREDIT REPORT AND CREDIT CONSULTATION
• Opportunity to preview homes from our inventory of 130 HOMES throughout the Brooklyn and Queens areas and speak to our team of Realtors that will be present at the work shop

To register, email Evantz Saint-Gerard at Evantz@yahoo.com or Yinery Martinez at LDCCH752@aol.com, or call 718-467-8800.

ATTENTION: HEAP Program

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally-funded program intended for low-income households. The program may assist with household's energy bills- which includes electricity, gas, and oil bills. Even if heat and utilities are included in a renter's payments, HEAP may be able to assist. Grants vary depending on household income and type of heating.

There are two HEAP components--
-Regular component opened on November 16, 2011
-Emergency component opened on January 3, 2012

HEAP's regular component benefits households who pay heat, utilities, and cooking gas; have utilities and heat included in the rent; and reside in public housing.

HEAP's emergency component benefits households when heat service is disconnected or scheduled for disconnection; when the household is without heating fuel or has low fuel; and when heating equipment is inoperable.
- One emergency grant, primary fuel grant, and/or heat related emergency grant is available per vendor during the HEAP season
- One boiler repair/replacement is available

A person is eligible for HEAP benefits if they are a US citizen or qualified alien and meet income eligibility guidelines; receive temporary assistance (safety-net or family assistance); receive food stamps; receive supplemental security income (SSI); and/or live in subsidized housing [Mitchell-Lama apartments, Public Housing (NYCHA), and apartments financed with Section 8 Certificates and Vouchers].
- Income eligibility depends on household size in relation to total household income

Those seeking to apply for HEAP must provide proof of residence, identity, utility costs, and income. The HEAP Brooklyn Field office is located at 1 Metrotech Center (Lobby). Customers should call (800) 692-0557 for more information.

CM James Scores A+ On Urban Justice Center- Human Rights Report Card

Council Member Letitia James has scored as A+ on the 2011 Urban Justice Center- Human Rights Report Card. The report card examines Council Members' compliance with universal human rights standards- especially in regards to employment, housing, health, food, education and other economic and social rights.

Council Member Letitia James is a supporter of the Council's living wage legislation, and has spoken against Walmart coming to New York City. She was recently part of the leadership that removed a racist anti-abortion billboard in SOHO; and joined with women's advocacy organizations to hold a press conference in support of a fair trial for Nafissatou Diallo, the Guinean housekeeper who accused former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault.

Council Member James sponsored a law that addressed the Department of Corrections reporting to the Council violent incidents involving adolescents in 2009. She has been a strong advocate for restoring childcare vouchers, and fought to avoid the closure of childcare centers Citywide. She sponsored a 35th District Food Conference last term, and continues to work towards increasing green jobs throughout the City.

Council Member James is the sponsor of legislation that would address inequality in City housing, and paid family leave. She can be seen in the Atlantic Yards documentary Battle for Brooklyn, and was a contributer to the documentary The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till, following her introduction of a City Council resolution to reopen Till's murder case.

Council Member James has scored consistently high scores on the report card (see 2008, 2009, and 2010).

Those interested in reading the report may do so here.

Weeksville Heritage Center Fall 2011 Harvest Festival

The Weeksville Heritage Center presents
the Fall 2011 Harvest Festival - the final day of Weeksville's Farmers Market.

The mission of Weeksville Heritage Center is to document, preserve and interpret the history of free African American communities in Weeksville, Brooklyn and beyond and to create and inspire innovative, contemporary uses of African American history through education, the arts, and civic engagement.

OCTOBER 29TH / FROM 11AM-4PM
(Free Admission)

WEEKSVILLE HERITAGE CENTER
1698 Bergen, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Directions are available on website at http://www.weeksvillesociety.org/

~ Children’s Cooking Classes
~ Canning & Seed Saving Workshops
~ Iron Chef Competition
~ Food Vendors & Farmers Market
~ Youth Art Exhibition
~ Tours of the historic Weeksville houses
~ DJ

This event is funded by the National Grid Foundation, Valentine Perry Snyder, and Con Edison. For additional information, please contact 718-756-5250 or info@weeksvillesociety.org

ATTENTION: 40 Vanderbilt Housing Application Available

Pratt Area Community Council (PACC) is now accepting applications for 38 affordable units in the newly constructed building located at 40 Vanderbilt Avenue (Wallabout Section- Fort Greene, Brooklyn). The building participates in a government-assisted affordable housing program supervised by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

For interested and qualified applicants, please visit here to access the application. The application deadline is November 2, 2011. One application per household; applications will be received through a lottery process. You may find further guidelines here.

The 38 available affordable units are studios for one individual. Eligible income range is from $21,774- $28,650, and the rent is a maximum of $664.

Please contact PACC at 718-522-2613 with any further questions.

ATTENTION: Bed-Stuy Affordable Housing Unit Application Available

Madison/Putnam Sponsor LLC is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 47 affordable housing rental apartments that are currently under construction, located at 924 & 926 Madison Street and 1007, 1013, 1023, 1052 & 1054 Putnam Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.

These buildings are being constructed through the Low Income Rental Program of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

The application may he found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61065947/Madison-Putnam-Application#. Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, express or overnight mail will be accepted) to a post office box number that is listed on the application. All applications must be postmarked by September 23, 2011. Please contact the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (212) 788-7081/ (718) 260-9191 or teamtish@gmail.com with any further questions.

ATTENTION: Navy Greene Applications Available

The application for the Navy Green Apartments- which are located at 45 Clermont Avenue in Fort Greene, Brooklyn- has been made available. The 100 affordable rental apartments now under construction are being developed through the Low Income Rental Program (LIRP) of the City of New York’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), The Low Income Affordable Marketplace Program (LAMP) of the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and the State Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (SLIHC) of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

For interested and qualified applicants, please visit here to complete the application. Applicants will be required to meet income guidelines, and will be selected by lottery. Eligible applicants currently residing in Brooklyn’s Community Board 2 will receive preference for 50% of the units. Applicants residing in New York City will receive a general preference over Non-City residents. Limit one application per household.

Please be sure to include a self-addressed envelope with your request for an application.

Completed applications must be returned by regular mail ONLY to--

Navy Green R3

PO Box 373002

New York, NY 10037

Applications must be postmarked by September 6, 2011.

ATTENTION: Internship Available At Office of CM James

The Office of Council Member Letitia James is looking for summer interns. Please note this is an unpaid summer internship but applicants will have invaluable experience for future careers in social advocacy, political affairs, and community activism. Interns should be motivated and have a passion for public service. The ideal candidate must possess outstanding organizing skills, the ability to gather data, as well as communicate and listen to constituent needs.

• You will be assigned to a specific project developing from areas such as Housing Development, Homeless Issues, Environmental Issues, Public Health, Education and After-School Programs as well as other needs.
• You will be required to work outside of out of the office at least three days per week.

All interested parties should email cover letter and resume to Ms. G. Davis-Elliott, Chief of Staff at gdaviselliott@council.nyc.gov

CM James Joins BK Tenants to Protest Collapsing Building

On August 17th, Council Member James joined tenants at a press conference for a building on Grand Avenue in Brooklyn to address long-standing maintenance issues, and to protect their shaky, collapsing building. The tenants noted that the building had been neglected by management for the past decade.

Read more here: Council Member Letitia James Joins Brooklyn Tenants To Protest Shaky, Collapsing Building

ATTENTION: Met Council Accepting Applications for Senior Affordable Housing

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty is pleased to announce that they are accepting applications for the waiting list of senior affordable housing rental apartments in a building located in the Lincoln Square section of Manhattan.

These studio apartments are for one person households only. The age eligibility requirement is 62 years of age at the time of completing the application. Rent range is below $900 a month, and there is an income limit.

Monthly rent includes heat, hot water and gas for cooking. Seniors will be required to meet income guidelines and additional selection criteria to qualify. Income limits are subject to change based on the area median income. One application per household.

Applications may be downloaded from: http://www.metcouncil.org/, or requested by mail from-
Council Management/West 61st Street Residence
80 Maiden Lane, 21st floor
New York, NY 10038

Please include a self-addressed envelope. There is no application fee.

Job Opportunity- NY Fdtn for Senior Citizens Positions Available

New York Foundation for Senior Citizens has the following positions available at their soon-to-open, new 77-unit Housing & Urban Development (HUD)-subsidized senior citizen apartment building at 31-21 Surf Avenue and 31st Street in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

· Social Service Worker (BA/BSW degree required)

· Building Manager

· Superintendent (Bilingual English/Russian and English/Chinese preferred; position is for live-in placement)

The qualifications for the superintendent position are five years experience as superintendent of an apartment building, knowledge of gas fired boiler maintenance (ability to read gauges, check temperature, to oil dynamos and circulating pumps and to check burner’s eye), as well as sprinkler systems, air conditioning, plumbing, elevators (basic knowledge of wear and tear of ropes and brake pads) general building and apartment repairs. Applicant must possess valid Fire Department Certificate of Fitness.

All interested applicants (for all positions) are advised to send their resumes to:

Fax: 212-410-4462

Email: nancy_wan@yahoo.com

ATTENTION: NYC and NYS Announce Public Housing Restorations

Recently, New York City and State announced a major plan to restore Section 8 vouchers for more than 6,000 families across the five boroughs.

Last December, the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) was forced to withdraw its offer of Section 8 vouchers for roughly 2,500 approved families as a result of a major shortfall in its Section 8 budget. Vouchers for an additional 4,000 families were also at risk of being terminated. Upon learning of this problem, the NYC Council held two hearings, entered into discussions with NYCHA and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), and has now committed to providing $7 million so that these low-income New Yorkers won't end up on the street.

The full plan includes: using $23 million in HPD Section 8 reserves; transferring 750 vouchers from the NYS Division of Housing & Community Renewal (DHCR) to HPD; using federal HOME program funding to fund additional vouchers; and allocating Council capital funding to replace the shifted HOME funds. This plan will restore or save all 6,500 vouchers. Because of the steps that we're collectively taking today, thousands of New Yorkers will soon receive the vouchers they need to remain safe and sheltered.

And in another major victory for NYC tenants, last week the NYS Supreme Court's Appellate Division upheld Justice Emily Jane Goodman's decision earlier this year striking down the Rent Guidelines Board's (RGB) 2008 supplemental increase. In June 2008, the RGB approved rent increases of 4.5 and 8.5 percent for 1-and 2-year renewal increases respectively. The board also approved a $45 to $85 supplemental increase on tenants who've lived in their apartment for 6 years or more and pay less than $1,000 in rent. As a result, these tenants were forced to pay a higher increase than what's legally allowed under current RGB guidelines. The NYC Council has long denounced this supplemental increase as a "poor tax" on working and middle-class New Yorkers, and were proud to work with the Legal Aid Society and Legal Services of New York to help take this unjust burden off of tenants.

The Council joins tenants and advocates across the five boroughs in applauding the Appellate Division for recognizing that the RGB had exceeded its authority under city and state housing laws when it attempted to unfairly penalize tenants for living in their homes too long.

You can read more here and here.

ATTENTION: Common Ground Senior Housing Affordable Apartments Available!

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED AFFORDABLE SENIOR APARTMENTS FOR RENT
STUDIOS & ONE BEDROOM ELEVATOR BUILDING

Beginning September 1st, 2010, The Domenech (aka Common Ground Senior Housing), a 71 unit building including 11 units that are handicapped accessible, located at 1501 St. Marks Avenue in Brooklyn will available for rent to persons 62 years of age or over.

Upon completion, The Domenech will offer 24-hour security, on site laundry, green roof terrace, spacious court-yard, resident activity space, and other amenities. Qualifications will be based on HUD Section 202 PRAC Federal Guidelines.

Tenants pay approximately 30% of qualified income
- Income Eligibility Guide
* 1 Person Household with an income of no more than $26,900 per year
* 2 Person Household with an income of no more than $30,700 per year

Applications may be requested by calling (212) 624-1471. The application can be downloaded here, or by submitting a written request to:
Common Ground Community Housing Operations
The Domenech
505 8th Avenue, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10018

Completed applications must be returned to the PO Box listed on the application and must be received by June 28, 2010.

Demystifying Affordable Housing

The South Brooklyn Accountable Development Initiative (a project of Fifth Avenue Committee) presents a bi-lingual workshop to broaden understanding about "affordable housing".

The workshop seeks to answer the following questions, among others, about affordable housing;

• How do city and federal governments define "affordable"?


• What is the difference between "affordable housing" and "subsidized housing"?


• What is New York City's "Area Median Income", why is it important and how does it compare to income levels where we live and work?


• What type of housing do non-profit developers like FAC develop and how does our "affordable housing" compare with that of a private developer?

Workshops will be held on:
Wednesday May 19th, 6PM- 9PM and Thursday May 20th, 6PM- 9PM

621 DeGraw Street (between 3rd & 4th Avenues).

The workshop is free but you must RSVP! Please call 718-237-2017 ext 114 or email mklein@fifthave.org.

The workshops will be conducted in English and Spanish.

The Center for New York City Neighborhoods

The Center for New York City Neighborhoods (CNYCN) here to help!

Created by Mayor Bloomberg, the New York City Council and corporate leaders to provide free, local non-profit housing and legal services to residents who are at risk of losing their house to foreclosure.

CNYCN has helped thousands in the 5 boroughs each year. The sooner you take action the more options you will have; CNYCN will connect you with free local non-profits working in your community that can provide one-on-one support and help you avoid scams.

CALL 311, it is the simplest, fastest way to access resources that are safe, reliable and ready.

The CNYCN call center number is 646-786-0888, alternatively you can visit forclosurehelpNYC.org for more information.