NHS Brooklyn 2022 Gala Journal

www.nhsbrooklyn.org
Flatbush: 2806 Church Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226
Canarsie: 9701 Avenue L, Brooklyn, NY 11236
Tel: 718-469-4679
Fax: 718-469-4743
October 12, 2022
Welcome, distinguished honorees, partners, friends, and family!
Thank you for joining us tonight at one of our borough’s crown jewels, the
Brooklyn Museum, for our very special 40th Anniversary Gala.
Tonight we celebrate four decades of building communities and
transforming lives, holding fast to our mission of preserving decent, stable, and
affordable housing in Brooklyn and beyond.
Coming together in this beautiful space, we reflect on the humble beginnings
of our organization and the hopes, dreams, and struggles of the East Flatbush
community in the early 1980s.
And we can’t help but be grateful for the courageous residents who
formed our organization half a lifetime ago, who refused to accept the status
quo of economic injustices against people of color that were legal at the time,
who wanted a better life for themselves and their children and their children’s
children, who instead channeled their frustration and galvanized it into action,
becoming community leaders, and eventually forming a housing nonprofit.
We’re grateful, too, for the many people who followed our founders, who
served our organization as it grew, and who serve it today as staff and board
members. Their dedication, hard work, and appreciation for the power of a
shared goal have driven our impact and growth year after year.
And how grateful we are for you, our partners and supporters! We could not
have come this far or helped the tens of thousands of residents we have without
your collaboration, counsel, and financial support.
This evening, we shine the spotlight on some of the special champions who
have helped to build up our neighborhoods, each in their own exceptional way.
Know that as we celebrate tonight’s honorees, we also honor all of you.
Because you, too, are helping us to define and achieve our mission in more ways
than you will ever know. For that, and on behalf of the Board of Directors and
staff at NHS Brooklyn, we extend our heartfelt thanks.
Sincerely,
Tonya Ores
Executive Director
Serghio Adams
Board President
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• ABOUT NHS BROOKLYN •
Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn CDC, Inc. (NHS Brooklyn) is
a full-service, nonprofit housing organization that initiates, develops, and
maintains programs designed to create affordable, decent, and safe housing
and communities. We assist everyone, whether you rent an apartment, would
like to buy a home, or have been a homeowner for decades.
Working in partnership with government officials, businesses, and community
partners; led by local residents; and guided by local needs, we cultivate grassroots
leadership that promotes neighborhood self-sufficiency; create unique
neighborhood revitalization projects tailored to the requirements of particular
communities; and develop new programs that meet the changing needs of
residents.
Contact us for assistance with:
• Homebuyer Education
• Mortgage Questions
• Foreclosure Intervention & Counseling
• Home Repairs
• Financial Education and Empowerment
• Home Insurance & Resiliency Counseling
• Landlord Training
• Tenant Support
• Property Management (New)
Flatbush Office: 2806 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226
Canarsie Office: 9701 Avenue L, Brooklyn, NY 11236
Phone: 718-469-4679
Email: info@nhsbrooklyn.org
Stay connected with us:
@NHSBrooklyn
Call Us.
We’re here to help.
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OFFICERS
Serghio Adams President
Brothers’ Building Blocks
Raul Van Rossum Vice President
Citizens International Realty
R. Gary Campbell Treasurer
Santander Bank
Lois Locke Secretary
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marjorie Faison Retired
Juny E. François, Esq. Attorney
Andrea Hodge Small Business Owner
Lyndrew Nesmith US Department of Housing
& Urban Development
Larry Pampelonne Retired
Yury Polonsky New York State Energy Audits
Carol Reneau NYC Department of Education
Patricia Strong Dime Community Bank
Lalit Tyagi Bank of Baroda
EMERITUS
Vernon Deane
Hazel Foster
Albert Payne
Marjorie Roane
STAFF
Tonya Ores
Executive Director
Parvez Mushtaq
Director of Finance
Angella Cummings
Director of Operations
Angella Davidson
Program Director,
Foreclosure Intervention
Tyrone McDonald
Government & Community
Relations Manager
Laura McKenna
Marketing Manager
Elizabeth Malone
Program Manager,
Resiliency & Insurance
Byron Todman
Program Manager,
Housing Development
& Rehabilitation
Isanna Saxon
Customer Service Specialist
Iremia Bradford
Housing Counselor
Clarence Cleaves
Housing Counselor
Tobias Wingate
Housing Counselor
Kiya Smith
Program Assistant
Eleannet Holguin
Program Assistant
Tammy Isaacs
Office Manager
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EVENT PROGRAM
• WELCOME •
Tonya Ores
Executive DIrector, NHS Brooklyn
Serghio Adams
NHS Brooklyn, Board President
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS & PROCLAMATIONS •
Chaplain Ingrid Lewis-Martin
Chief Advisor to The Honorable New York City Mayor, Eric Adams
• INVOCATION & GRACE •
Lucina Clarke
My Time Inc.
• DINNER •
• VIDEO PRESENTATION •
Tonya Ores
Executive Director, NHS Brooklyn
Serghio Adams
NHS Brooklyn, Board President
• PRESENTATION OF AWARDS •
Housing Champion Award
The Honorable Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
Resident Leadership Award
Marc Jahr
Partnership Award
Dime Community Bank
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS & CLOSING REMARKS •
• DANCING & DESSERT •
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12

Leon Hosang
Former Treasurer & Former Member of the Board of Directors
Leon Hosang is a former Treasurer and former member
of the Board of Directors of NHS Brooklyn. In this Alumni
Spotlight, Mr. Hosang shares fond memories of the
community, the organization, and his role there.
What was your role with the organization?
I served on the Board of Directors as a Member and
Treasurer. As a Board member, I ensured that the
organization’s policies, annual objectives, goals, and
outcomes were reasonable, acceptable, and in line with
available resources. As the Treasurer, I ensured that the
financial accounts and status of the organization were
accurate and in compliance. I also ensured the designated
funds were used for their intended purposes.
What was the community like when you were with the organization?
When I joined the Board, NHS Brooklyn was a subsidiary of NHS of New York City.
In 2017, NHS Brooklyn became independent, which allowed it to strengthen and
expand its local representation before government and private donors that were
specifically interested in assisting Brooklyn homeowners.
I also volunteered with the organization during the height of the foreclosure disaster.
During the fiscal crisis, every single day, Brooklyn families were losing their homes to
foreclosure. The foreclosure crisis was a disaster of epic proportions. NHS Brooklyn
quickly stepped up their efforts to stanch the bleeding in the neighborhoods they
served. Their expertise allowed them to understand a crisis fueled by an explosion of
sub-prime lending in communities of color and to create solutions to help save homes
and stabilize communities.
Why do you support NHS Brooklyn?
• ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT •
NHS Brooklyn was and is of great help and support to Brooklyn homeowners,
especially first-time homeowners. It also supports and continues to support
homeowners in keeping and maintaining their homes through grants, housing
information seminars, and housing counseling. During my tenure with the
organization, I witnessed that owning a home is life changing. I saw the wealth
building and growth in once-forgotten communities that helps strengthen families’
economic stability.
As NHS embarks on 40 years of Service to Brooklyn communities, what is
your wish for the organization?
I hope the organization has continued success in its endeavors, so that families can
responsibly purchase a home, retain it for generations, and build their communities.
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• ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT •
Louis Kilkenny
Former Executive Director
Louis Kilkenny was our Executive Director when we were
known as NHS of East Flatbush and part of NHSNYC. In
this Alumni Spotlight, Mr. Kilkenny shares his insights about
and experiences with the organization from its earliest days.
How did you begin your career at NHS Brooklyn?
I began my career with the organization in the early 1980s.
After serving as its first Marketing Coordinator, I held the
position of Executive Director of the Brooklyn Office for
five years, after which I became the Director of Lending for
NHSNYC. I retired in 2015.
What did your role as Executive Director entail?
When I became the Executive Director, we only had a staff of three and many
organizations were focused on the community's deficits. Although every community had
deficiencies such as redlining and a lack of affordable homeownership opportunities
that needed to be addressed, we decided we could also focus on the strengths of the
community and what it does have. As the organization's Executive Director, I expanded
our focus to emphasize these community assets. We then used the organization and
other community strengths to address our residents’ challenges and improve community
life.
What was the community like when you were with the organization?
The community was changing. New residents were mostly people of color and
recent immigrants, many from the Caribbean. Area businesses demonstrated that
transformation: Jewish and Italian delis were replaced with Caribbean catering halls
and restaurants. Banks, however, refused to make loans within the area—which was
still legal at the time. Although some sections thrived, the lack of access to loan
products resulted in community disinvestment, lowered property values, and racially and
economically segregated neighborhoods.
What historical and current impact does NHS Brooklyn have on the borough?
Through redlining, banks decided which communities were a good investment to
issue mortgages to and which neighborhoods might be a financial risk. East Flatbush
was not deemed a "good investment" and a red line—literally!—was drawn around
the community on real estate and bank maps. As a result, East Flatbush and other
neighborhoods we served were systematically deprived of resources. NHS Brooklyn
fought to change that and protect those residents through engagement and resources.
The impact was substantial. Physical changes began to occur, and 40 years later, the
community is thriving.
What is your wish for NHS Brooklyn?
I've always viewed the organization as more than a neighborhood nonprofit and am
inspired by its innovative and renewed direction. Changing the name to NHS Brooklyn
CDC speaks to thinking beyond East Flatbush to serve the entire borough. I wish them
continued success as they continue to educate the community on how to build and
maintain wealth.
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• ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT •
Michael Minott
Former Homeownership Counselor
Michael Minott is a former Homeownership Counselor and
Board member at NHS Brooklyn. In this Alumni Spotlight,
Mr. Minott shares fond memories of the community, the staff,
and those he helped.
How did you begin your career at NHS Brooklyn?
After I graduated Cornell University in 1991, NHS Brooklyn
hired and trained me to be a homeownership counselor and
financial advocate.
What are some of your fondest memories of working
for there?
NHS Brooklyn embraced my curiosity and creativity and
allowed me to try new things. The team encouraged individual success, and the work
we did bore a social return on investment. We truly changed lives.
Please share a situation where you saw the full impact of your work at NHS
Brooklyn.
In 1994, a young couple came to us seeking resources to purchase a home. They chose
a home in East Flatbush, but it would require extensive work. The purchase would only
be possible with two loans, and traditional banks did not have a combined product.
Through creative collaboration with a bank, we created a purchase rehab loan: a form
of financing that allows a borrower to fund the purchase and renovation of a home
using a single loan. We succeeded in getting that young family into their home and the
loan model was replicated across the country.
What was the community like when you were with the organization?
In the 1970s, my parents, like so many Caribbean and Haitian immigrant families,
settled in East Flatbush, a community rich in culture, and bought a home. After the
high-interest rates of the 1980s, potential homeowners became savvier financially and
looked for resources and education to deal with expenses, credit, and other money
matters. NHS Brooklyn formed at the right time to help them learn how to purchase
and maintain a home, and build long-term generational wealth.
What continued impact can NHS Brooklyn have on the borough?
I grew up in a home my parents purchased in the 1970s. Less than two decades later,
purchasing that same home was not possible for my siblings or me. That is happening
to many families in the community. Rent prices are also increasing to the point
that many young people who grew up in Brooklyn can’t afford to rent or buy here.
Everyone has the right to live in a city where fair and equal opportunity for upward
socioeconomic mobility is possible. Homeownership and having a place to call your own
are at the heart of the American Dream. NHS Brooklyn should continue their work
making that dream a reality.
15

• ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT •
Albert Payne
Former Chair, Board of Directors
Albert Payne is the Former Chair of the NHS Brooklyn
Board of Directors. Mr. Payne held the position for 14
years. In this Alumni Spotlight, Mr. Payne shares his
experiences.
How did you begin your work with NHS Brooklyn?
I learned about the organization when I was the Chair
of the local Community Board. I was impressed with their
authentic community engagement. I began as a Board
member and eventually became the chair of the Board of
Directors.
What did your role as the Chair of the Board of
Directors entail?
I worked closely with Ms. Ores, the Executive Director. Due to the hard work of the
staff and board, the organization grew from a $500,000 to a $3 million annual
budget. I oversaw the organization's governance and ensured that fiscally responsible
principles and actions drove the impact made in the community.
What was the community like when you were with the organization?
Because the community had a lot of properties that required rehab, we did extensive
outreach to make sure anyone who needed our services was aware of them.
Our NeighborWorks Week projects were grassroots efforts. Local and national
retail stores got involved to help, and the collaboration created a groundswell of
community engagement and good.
What historical and current impact does NHS Brooklyn?
NHS Brooklyn has an undeniable legacy in the borough. When the organization was
working on a community garden project, they secured resources from The Brooklyn
Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Terminal Market. They then secured $25,000 from
Sears, allowing homeowners on a selected block to receive updated appliances. Bob
Vila of the long-running PBS television program This Old House provided a home
inspection for one of the properties. When the funding arrived, I was elated because
the organization’s efforts to transform the community were being recognized.
What is your wish for NHS Brooklyn?
NHS Brooklyn makes the impossible possible for individuals who don't believe they
will ever own a home. They help with budgeting and credit improvement; help people
qualify for affordable mortgages; and help people maintain and keep their homes.
Their mindset is "Together, we can do this!,” and their heart is in every project. My
wish for the organization is that they continue their good work and that elected
officials and financial institutions realize the asset it is to the community.
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• ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT •
Nia Rock
Former Board Member & Finance Committee Chair
Nia Rock is a former NHS Brooklyn Board member and
Finance Committee Chair. In this Alumni Spotlight, she shares
fond memories of the organization and community during
her service.
What was your responsibility to the organization and
community as a Board Member from the late 1980s to
mid-1990s?
I participated in the overall planning process, assisted in
executing and monitoring our goals, and provided financial
oversight. The Board determined which programs were
consistent with our mission and monitored their effectiveness.
Our meetings were very community-driven and hands on. We so wanted to be an
integrated into the community that we purchased the East Flatbush building.
What was the community like when you were with the organization?
In the 1990s, East Flatbush was a burgeoning community of mostly African-American
and Afro-Caribbean families. Vibrant with multifamily homes, minority businesses, and
a unique culture, it was booming with opportunities, including home buying. Many
residents rented, and NHS Brooklyn provided guidance in weighing the option of
renting versus buying. We were also focused on supporting and protecting the assets of
current homeowners.
What impact has NHS Brooklyn had on the borough?
NHS Brooklyn has always been at the forefront and on the pulse of the community’s
needs. They are constantly seeking a new frontier, such as when they opened an office
in Canarsie. Canarsie has a different population than East Flatbush but the same
need for housing services. Many Canarsie homeowners were former residents of East
Flatbush, and the organization's footprint there has helped support them with familiar
and trustworthy resources, especially after Superstorm Sandy. Their development of an
affordable property management program is a great example of their ability to pivot.
They knew how important this innovative service would be because they have always
had boots on the ground and listened to the community's needs.
What are your thoughts on the organization’s past and future?
NHS Brooklyn has the same goals now as it did four decades ago: to build wealth in
the community by supporting home buying and maintenance. Unfortunately, we see
the same things today that we did then: predatory lending, rising interest rates, and
housing discrimination. Now, however, data is used as a veiled redlining tool and the
financialization of the housing market and housing speculation are driving up rents.
Coupled with the 2008 foreclosure crisis, this reality has stripped half of all Black
wealth while expanding the racial wealth gap. NHS Brooklyn’s awareness of and
concern about these trends is apparent in their efforts to reduce inequality brought on
by these social changes. I have no doubt NHS Brooklyn will be serving the needs of
Brooklyn for years to come.
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• IN MEMORIUM •
Steve Schnall
CEO, Quontic Bank
1967-2022
Steve Schnall, CEO of digital bank Quontic and
a champion of our work at NHS Brooklyn, passed
away unexpectedly in August 2022 from injuries
he sustained in a motorcycle accident on his way
back from a hiking trip in Canada. He was 55.
“Steve was a charismatic leader who inspired
progress, got results and managed to have fun
along the way,” George Lazaridis, Quontic’s
co-founder and interim CEO, said in a prepared
statement. “He will be greatly missed.”
“Meeting Steve was a breath of fresh air. He
wholeheartedly embraced NHS Brooklyn’s mission
and sincerely believed that our work made a difference,” said Tonya Ores,
Executive Director.
Founded in 2009, Quontic is a US Treasury-designated Community
Development Financial Institution that largely caters to immigrant
borrowers, seniors, and gig workers. Their unique loans accommodate
those who may require down-payment assistance and alternative income
documentation to qualify. Because so many of our clients need these types
of loans, Steve chose to support NHS Brooklyn, and Quontic has been a
great partner.
Not just an entrepreneur but also philanthropist, Steve was a founding
director of Urban Angels, a non-profit that provides 100,000 meals to the
homeless each year. He also served on the board of the Arthur Project, a
non-profit focused on youth mentoring. In addition, he pledged $5,000 a
year in perpetuity to NHS Brooklyn and our mission—generosity for which
we are deeply grateful.
Steve is survived by his wife and two sons.
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• AFFORDABLE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT •
NHS Community Property Managers LLC,
a subsidiary of NHS Brooklyn, helps owners
of 1- to 4-unit properties manage some or
all of their home’s or building’s day-to-day
operations and maintenance. The program
is made possible by a generous grant from
Deutsche Bank.
Clients include small property owners who
are stressed managing their property; who
don’t have the time, energy, skills, or support
to manage their property or property-related income and expenses; or who don’t
live at or near their property.
The program is designed to stabilize clients’ finances, allow efficient property
upkeep, increase the value of the property, develop the clients property
management knowledge, help clients overcome economic hardships due to
COVID-19, and more.
Program services include but are not limited to: ​
• An analysis of operating expenses and ways to reduce them
• Securing estimates from licensed, insured contractors and managing their work
• Counseling on refinancing, reverse mortgage, and foreclosure avoidance
• Tenant referrals for affordable units
Our professional network of licensed, insured contractors offer services such as:
• ​Construction and small repairs
• Roofing, plumbing, electrical
• HVAC, furnace, boiler, maintenance and repair
• Seasonal cleanups, snow/tree removal, landscaping
• Masonry, pointing, concrete work
• Weatherization, waterproofing, window repair and installation
• Asbestos, mold, and lead removal; security upgrades; pest treatment
• Counseling for mortgage matters and property insurance
• Legal and real estate referrals
Interested property owners should contact Isanna Saxon at
NHS Brooklyn at 718-469-4679 or propertymanagementdept@
nhsbrooklyn.org for more information and an application.
Senior Scholarship. NYS Senator Kevin Parker (District 21 -
Brooklyn) is offering his constituents age 62+ 1-year scholarships
for the program. Eligible seniors must own a 1- to 4-unit property
in East Flatbush, Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington,
Park Slope, or Windsor Terrace. Contact NHS Brooklyn to apply.
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THANK YOU, PARTNERS,
SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS!
Heartfelt thanks to the many businesses and organizations who have helped
our organization thrive and made tonight’s celebration possible.
• Co-Chairs •
• Benefactors •
• Patrons •
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• Friends •
• Sustainers •
• Supporters • • Event Sponsors •
Center for NYC Neighborhoods
My Time Inc.
The Glorious Church of God in
Jesus Christ, Inc.
Apple Bank
Walsh Gilad Law PPLC
Nationwide Mortgage Bankers, Inc.
Intrinsic Technology Group
Cocktail Hour Flowers
BNY Mellon
Cocktail Hour Beverages
Horizon Contractors
Maximum Giraud Contracting
Entertainment
Brothers Contracting
Photography
GVG Contracting
Printing
K&A Contracting
25

• REPORT FROM THE •
Executive Director Tonya Ores
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff of
Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn CDC,
Inc. (NHS Brooklyn), we are delighted to welcome
you to our grand celebration of forty years building
communities and transforming lives in Brooklyn and
beyond.
For four decades, working tirelessly, and with
your steadfast help, we at NHS Brooklyn have
accomplished what we set out to do: create a viable,
transformational, full-service nonprofit housing
organization and community development corporation. Together, we have
achieved so much, and though our work is far from over, we would like to
share with you highlights of our recent accomplishments.
2017–2022 MILESTONES
• Successfully re-branded our organization in January 2017 as NHS Brooklyn
CDC, Inc.
• Increased our general operating budget by 57%
• Secured $5.5 million in government funds to support our programs and
services
• Secured an additional $3.5 million in state funds to support our officebuilding
acquisition and rehabilitation project
• Maintained and made accessible an office in Canarsie
• Strengthened our presence in East New York and Coney Island
• Contracted 26 additional partnerships, resulting in program and monetary
support
• Strengthened two new programs: Financial Capabilities and Tenant Support
Services
• Launched an anti-displacement, anti-harassment campaign, “My House is
Not for Sale”
• Secured funds to develop a Strategic Plan, Leadership Development Plan,
and Succession Plan
• On-boarded a new Board President and recruited four new Board Members
• Expanded our Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness Education efforts
• Developed internal policies and plans for Business Continuity, Employee
Remote Work, and Infectious Disease Prevention
• Complied with HUD Mandate and achieved 100% Housing Counselor
Certification
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• REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TONYA ORES •
• Hosted 352 Webinars since May 2020, educating over 10,000 participants
• Launched an affordable property management program, NHS Community
Property Managers, LLC, and hired a Customer Service Specialist.
• Released new rounds of home repair grants, including Project HELP and
the Round 3 of the Affordable Housing Corporation Grant, as well as
a special grant, Home Help for Heroes, designed to help veterans with
disabilities to live independently and at home.
NEW PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES
Affordable Property Management Program for Owners of 1- to
4-Unit Properties
NHS Brooklyn launched its newest program, NHS Community Property
Managers, LLC, thanks to an award from Deutsche Bank’s Working Capital
Initiative. Our goal is to manage at least 120 units within the communities
we serve by December 31, 2023. We will measure our success by the number
of executed agreements. So far, we are managing 33 units.
Home Help for Heroes Grant for
Veterans with Disabilities
Designed for veterans with disabilities whose
income is at or below 120% of Area Median
Income, the Home Help for Heroes Grant
provides funding of up to $25,000 for a
veteran with disabilities to make accessibility
modifications or emergency repairs to his
or her home. Eligible alterations include installation of a roll-in shower,
chair lift, or ramp, and door widening. Veterans for this program who have
service-related injuries, or age- or health-related disabilities, may be renters
or homeowners, and the residential unit being modified must be the primary
residence of the veteran. This program is made
possible by New York State Homes and Community
Renewal.
Emergency Preparedness & Response
NHS Brooklyn has educated thousands of residents
about emergency preparedness through in-person
events and webinars, often with NYC Emergency
Management as a partner. We also post frequently
to social media about a variety of emergency
and disaster preparedness topics relating to lifethreatening
weather events. These include heatwaves,
27

• REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TONYA ORES •
blizzards, hurricanes, and flash flooding. We also share advice and offer
workshops on how to avoid financial disasters that natural hazards and
other life circumstances can cause. In 2012, we responded to Superstorm
Sandy by opening an office in hard-hit Canarsie, being active in recovery
coalitions, and providing repair and recovery case management. More
recently, we provided counseling to residents impacted by Tropical Storm
Isaias (2020) and Tropical Storm Ida (2021) and advocated on their behalf.
Protecting Intergenerational
Wealth
NHS Brooklyn hosts annual Estate
Planning events that present
the basics of wills, trusts, healthcare
proxies, power of attorney,
third-party authorizations, and
guardianship. These educational
sessions focus on issues that homeowners and their families may face if they
fail to plan properly. These issues range from loss or possible loss of the
family home; probate complications due to lack of a will or a proper will;
and risks families take if they do not have health care proxies and other
advance directives in place; to how minor children or those with disabilities
will be cared for, if the primary caretaker cannot. When COVID-19 took
many lives in our community, we offered a webinar entitled “After a
Homeowner Dies,” designed to help families understand what to do in the
event of the death of a household member whose name is on the deed or
mortgage. We also added our first home-seller webinar as well as sessions
on refinancing, reverse mortgage, and foreclosure avoidance.
Covid-19 Outreach
NHS Brooklyn has been at the forefront of
dispelling myths, sharing information, and
educating Brooklynites about COVID-19,
testing, and vaccination. In partnership
with the NYC Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene and the Fund for Public
Health, we have worked diligently to improve
outreach by sharing our hyperlocal knowledge of the communities we serve,
advocating for educational resources for non-English speakers (especially
speakers of Haitian Creole), and disseminating reliable, accurate information
almost daily, all in an effort to help our clients and other members of the
public access resources that will decrease the chances of their contracting
COVID-19, getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, or dying. Early this year,
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• REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TONYA ORES •
staff and board members teamed up to distribute 500 COVID-19 at-home
test kits and 1,000 KN-95 masks at the Church Avenue subway station and
to businesses in and around our East Flatbush office. We also distributed
hundreds of these kits and masks to area houses of worship.
FIVE YEARS OF IMPACT:
KEY FINDINGS:
• Requests for Services: 89% increase (and growing) due to:
− Housing and financial challenges triggered by COVID-19
− Expansion of our service area
− A stronger, more targeted social media presence
− Consistent collaboration with nonprofit partners, elected officials, and
government agencies
• Homeownership Preservation & Promotion (First-Time Home
Buying) The 92% (and growing) increase is directly attributable to:
− Our having added webinars, virtual town halls, and telephone
counseling sessions
− Residents having more time to set homeownership and savings goals.
− The fact that we have permanent physical offices in East Flatbush and
Canarsie and are accessible at partner locations in East New York and
Coney Island.
29

• REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TONYA ORES •
• Homeownership Mortgages Even though it is a “seller’s market,” the
number of home purchases has decreased due to the state of the current
housing market post-pandemic.
• Foreclosure Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, some homeowners were
facing foreclosure, but the pandemic pushed many more into foreclosure
due to loss of income, the death of a contributing household member,
marital issues, mental health challenges, and illness. A mortgage
moratorium preventing foreclosures was in place until January 2022, but
now that it has ended, foreclosure filings are on the rise and homes are
going up for auction. There are also currently a high number of homeowners
in forbearance. Once the forbearances end, some of those loans will go
into foreclosure. NHS Brooklyn continues to work with homeowners to find
solutions to their foreclosure issues.
• Home Repair Services NHS Brooklyn facilitates home repair loans and
issues home repair grants. We have secured additional funds from the
City and State to provide emergency home repair grants to homeowners
in need and are in the process of reviewing applications and providing
home assessments. The launch of the 3rd Round of Affordable Housing
Corporation (AHC) funds and Project HELP will result in at least 50
homeowners receiving a grant of up to $20,000 for home repairs.
• Tenant Support Services This relatively new program at NHS Brooklyn
has grown largely due to the expiration of the eviction moratorium; the
uncertainty of future mandates, policies, and resources; and residents’ strong
interest in help applying for affordable housing lotteries.
• Resiliency Services & Emergency Preparedness NHS Brooklyn had
already incorporated resiliency services and emergency preparedness into
all our counseling and education services when the pandemic hit in March
2020. We routinely urge the public to prepare for emergencies like fires,
heatwaves, blizzards, and hurricanes; to download apps such as NotifyNYC
to receive alerts in real time; and to understand the hazards they may face,
given the location of their home. We warn residents living in basements and
near coastal areas that they are at higher risk. We encourage all residents
to actively engage in preparedness planning; have a Go-Bag; have a plan
for themselves, their families, and their pets; and know their evacuation
zone. We also educate residents on how to avoid financial disasters due to
natural causes, lack of adequate insurance, and unexpected hardships.
• Property Management (PM) The PM Program was created to combat
the mismanagement of 1- to 4-unit family homes and to avoid predatory
lending practices. The program is offered as a resource for senior, new
homeowners, and absentee owners who do not reside in New York City.
30

• REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TONYA ORES •
DEMOGRAPHICS
In 2021, 78% of NHS Brooklyn’s clients earned less than 80% of the Area
Median Income for New York City’s Metropolitan Statistical Area.
We work with diverse groups of residents that represent the rich cultural
mosaic of Brooklyn. During the past five years, our clients were 53% Black,
29% Latinx, 7% White, 6% Asian, 5% self-identifying as Other, 58% female,
42% male, and 30% female-headed households. In addition, 88% of NHS
Brooklyn’s clients last year earned less than 80% of the Area Median Income
for New York City’s Metropolitan Statistical Area.
BROOKLYN’S HOUSING MARKET LANDSCAPE: NOW & BEYOND
• Population & Poverty Rates. According to www.census.gov/quickfacts,
as of April 2021, Brooklyn is the most populous borough with 2,736,074
residents. The poverty rate is the worst in NYC (second only to the Bronx),
with 19.2% of households below the poverty line compared to 14% in the City
of New York. In April 2021, Brooklyn reported a total of 1,009,804 housing
units and homeownership rate of 30.3%.
• Housing-Cost Burden. 41.8% of NYC homeowners spend over 30% of
their income on housing, which qualifies them as housing-cost burdened.
About 22% are considered severely cost-burdened, spending over 50% of
their income on housing. One out of 5 NYC households with a mortgage
are extremely house burdened. (State of NYC Housing and Neighborhoods
in 2020, Furman Center).
• Foreclosure Moratorium. The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and
Foreclosure Act of 2020, signed into law on December 28, 2020, placed
a moratorium until May 1, 2021, on evictions and foreclosures for people
experiencing a hardship related to COVID-19. During a moratorium,
evictions and foreclosures may not proceed. On September 2, 2021, the
moratorium was extended to January 15, 2022, at which point it was lifted.
TENANTS
According to a July 2022 article by Janaki Chadha in Politico, “As the
Covid-19 pandemic hit New York City in the spring of 2020, a subsequent
exodus of residents ushered in a seemingly new era for the city’s everturbulent
rental housing market. Landlords offered months of free rent in
some of the priciest neighborhoods, amid grim predictions of long-term
damage to the city. It did not last. As the nation’s largest city bounces back
from the pandemic, a housing crisis decade in the making rages. Stories
abound of apartment hunters fighting bidding wars and languishing in
hourlong lines for packed open houses.”
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• REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TONYA ORES •
• Loss of household income. An estimated 735,000 renter households in NYC
have at least one member who has lost his or her job due to COVID-19
(Impacts of Covid-19 on New York Renters and Housing Stock, Furman
Center). Many also died of natural causes or due to COVID-19, which
impacted communities of color disproportionately.
• Government relief. As of September 22, 2022, $2.9 billion of the NYS
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) has been paid to landlords
across the state. ERAP also paid $108 million for utilities as of September
23, 2022.
• Median cost of rent increase. During the pandemic, the real estate market
caught fire. Following a temporary drop in rental prices due to vacancies by
people leaving the city, the rental market has rebounded, with the median
price for a one-bedroom apartment having increased from $1,782 in August
2020 to $1,977 in August 2021 (NY After COVID: Housing Are Rent &
Real Estate Prices Doing? Forbes.com, July 28, 2021).
HOMEBUYERS
• Brooklyn continues to be a place where many New York City residents want
to purchase a primary residence and live.
• Between August 2020 and August 2021, Brooklyn home prices increased
by 1.4% (NY After COVID, Forbes.com). Currently, the median price for
a single-family home in Brooklyn is $885,000, making homeownership
unaffordable for many (NY After COVID, Forbes.com).
• Higher prices have also increased the gap in homeownership rates for
Blacks and Latinos, who have lower homeownership rates than Whites and
Asians.
• In recent months, some buyers have lost interest in purchasing a home right
now due to having been passed over for all-cash offers; low inventory of
affordable properties; and an increase in the mortgage interest rate from
2% to almost 7%. This trend is projected to slow in the first quarter of 2023.
HOMEOWNERS
• By the end of 2020, an average 11.8% (533,313) of New York homeowners
were delinquent on their mortgage, according to US Census data. This rate
is triple the last high of 3.8% in January 2009 at the height of the Great
Recession and over five times the 2.2% delinquency rate in January 2020.
• By March 3, 2021, New York State faced its highest mortgage default rate
since the Great Recession.
• Homeowners of color—the majority of our clients—are twice as likely to
experience mortgage distress than their White counterparts.
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• REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TONYA ORES •
IMPORTANCE OF STRONG PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Strong neighborhoods are rooted in strong leadership and community
involvement. At NHS Brooklyn, we commend and support our resident
leaders and partners for their great work and commitment to the
communities in which we all live and work.
NHS Brooklyn envisions a city filled with affordable, healthy, and
sustainable housing. We welcome partnerships, programs, and initiatives that
support our mission and this vision.
Please contact us with your ideas for making Brooklyn the best it can be!
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PROUDLY PRESENTS OUR
2022
Community
Champions
Congressman
Hakeem Jeffries
Marc Jahr
Dime Community Bank
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• COMMUNITY CHAMPION •
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
Hakeem Jeffries represents the diverse Eighth
Congressional District of New York, an area that
encompasses large parts of Brooklyn and a section of
Queens. Serving his fifth term in the U.S. Congress, Rep.
Jeffries is a member of the House Judiciary Committee
and House Budget Committee.
Rep. Jeffries is Chairman of the House Democratic
Caucus, fifth highest-ranking Democrat in the House of
Representatives, former Whip of the Congressional Black
Caucus, and former co-chair of the Democratic Policy
and Communications Committee.
In Congress, Rep. Jeffries is a tireless advocate for social and economic justice.
He has worked hard to help residents impacted by the devastation of the COVID-19
pandemic, reform our criminal justice system, improve the economy for everyday
Americans and protect health care.
Rep. Jeffries has played a major role in shaping the Congressional response to
the COVID-19 pandemic. He has fought hard to assist state and local governments
whose budgets have been devastated by the virus, pushed for an extension of
the emergency unemployment benefit, and supported efforts to keep everyday
Americans in their homes. He also partnered with Governor Andrew Cuomo to
expand testing in hard-hit communities of color by establishing walk-in sites at houses
of worship throughout New York City.
Rep. Jeffries has been actively involved in the passage of a number of key pieces
of legislation, including the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (H.R. 152),
a bill that provides billions of dollars in Superstorm Sandy recovery to the Eighth
District and other affected areas.
Prior to his election to the Congress, Rep. Jeffries served for six years in the
New York State Assembly. In that capacity, he authored laws to encourage the
transformation of vacant luxury condominiums into affordable homes for working
families and improve the quality of justice in the civil court system.
Congressman Jeffries holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from SUNY
Binghamton, a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University, and
a law degree from New York University Law School, all with high honors. He has
practiced law at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and served as
counsel in the litigation department of Viacom Inc. and CBS. He also worked as ofcounsel
at the NYC litigation firm of Godosky & Gentile.
Rep. Jeffries was born in Brooklyn Hospital, raised in Crown Heights and is a
product New York City’s public school system, having graduated from Midwood
High School. He lives in Prospect Heights with his family.
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• COMMUNITY CHAMPION •
Marc Jahr
Marc Jahr began his 40-plus year career in community
development and affordable housing as a VISTA volunteer.
He then became a tenant and community organizer with
the NYC Commission on Human Rights and Director of
its East Flatbush office. He was also a local coordinator
with the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, helping
to organize NHSNYC and becoming the first Executive
Director of its East Flatbush program, now NHS Brooklyn
CDC, Inc. From there, he become Deputy Director of the
Small Homes Unit of the New York City Department of
Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and then
of its Multi-Family Housing Unit.
In 1989, Marc became the Fund Manager for the New York Equity Fund, a
collaboration between the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the
Enterprise Foundation. There, he oversaw the creation of the 1989 New York Equity
Fund, a $49MM fund which, in collaboration with HPD, financed approximately
1,100 units developed by nonprofit community development corporations (CDCs).
He transitioned from that position to become LISC’s NYC Program Director, where
he managed the program’s housing efforts and also played a leadership role in
LISC’s support for the development of two huge economic development projects:
the 53,000-square-foot Pathmark supermarket, developed by the Abyssinian
Development Corporation on East 125th Street, and the New Horizons shopping
center, developed by MBD in the South Bronx. Under his leadership, the program
also launched and administered a Child Care facilities development program, which
served as a model for a national effort. Marc then became a LISC Vice President,
supervising local programs in New York, Buffalo, Cleveland, Greater Cincinnati/
Northern Kentucky, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Southwest Pennsylvania, and Toledo.
In 2002, Mr. Jahr became Citi Community Capital’s New York Metropolitan
Area Market Director and supervised its community development real estate lending
group. From 2002- 2007, lending activity increased ten-fold and cumulatively his
group originated over $2.2 billion in loans and letters of credit.
Mr. Jahr served as President of the NYC Housing Development Corporation
(HDC) from 2008-2013, when he oversaw the provision of over $6.6 billion in
financing for 214 developments (81,290 units of affordable rental housing), and grew
the Corporation’s assets 57.9% to $12.9BN and net assets 55.7% to $1.65BN.
Currently, Marc is a Senior Advisor with Forsyth Street, a nationally recognized
leader in structuring, sourcing, and investing capital for the preservation and
development of affordable housing. His clients include the Office of the New York
Attorney General, the Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department,
the Joint Ownership Entity (“JOE”), LISC, the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust,
Highbridge Community Development Corporation, Los Sures, the Greystone
Foundation, the NeighborWorks Alliance of New York State, the YMCA of New
York, and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
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• COMMUNITY CHAMPION •
Dime Bank
Dime Community Bank, Brooklyn Heights Branch
Headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, Dime Community Bank (“Dime”)
(NASDAQ: DCOM), has over $12.3 Billion in assets and operates 59 convenient
locations from Montauk to Manhattan. Dime is committed to providing exceptional
service, the latest in technology and an experienced, dedicated team to help
customers achieve their financial goals.
The Bank offers a full range of products and services for businesses and
consumers. Title insurance services are offered through Dime’s wholly owned
subsidiary, Bridge Abstract. Dime Financial Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
of Dime, offers financial planning and investment consultation. Dime also has a rich
tradition of involvement in the community by supporting programs and initiatives
that promote local business, the environment, education, healthcare, social services
and the arts.
For more information, visit dime.com.
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• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT •
Elizabeth Malone
Program Director for Resiliency & Insurance Services
Elizabeth Malone is Program Manager of
NHS Brooklyn’s Resiliency and Insurance
Services, providing information and counseling
on insurance to residents and organizations.
Ms. Malone counsels residents on property
insurance issues and represents NHS Brooklyn
as a subject matter expert in homeownership,
insurance, and the National Flood Insurance
Program.
She organized and delivered recovery process
and insurance trainings for the New York
State Disaster Case Management Program,
the Center for New York City Neighborhoods,
The New York City Citizen Corps Council, and the NY Legal Services Task
Force, among others.
She was a Vice-Chair of the Brooklyn Long-Term Recovery Group, a
coalition of nonprofits and agencies supporting residents and businesses
recovering from Superstorm Sandy. She is currently the co-chair of the
Finance Committee of the Rise 2 Resilience Project.
Ms. Malone has been involved with community-based organizations on
insurance and housing recovery issues since 2000. She works closely
with numerous organizations at the local, state and national level on the
development of insurance-related policy and programs.
41

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THE ASSEMBLY
STATE OF NEW YORK
ALBANY
RODNEYSE BICHOTTE HERMELYN
Assemblymember 42 nd District
KingsCounty
COMMITTEES
Chair, Subcommittee on Oversight of
Minority and Women-Owned Business
Enterprises (MWBE)
Chair, Task Force on Women’s Issues
Banks
Education
Governmental Operations
Health
Higher Education
Housing
Ways and Means
October 12, 2022
Dear Friends,
Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, Inc. was birthed from a
community in need of housing revitalization and rehabilitation, then known as Neighborhood Housing Services of
East Flatbush, Inc. Forty years later, Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn Community Development Corp.
Inc., best known as NHS Brooklyn, still stands strong with our community.
It gives me great pleasure to congratulate NHS Brooklyn on this milestone. Their services provide critical support to
the Brooklyn community, covering a broad scope of needs from first time homeownership, to financial resources, to
maintenance. In addition, they address the needs of not only homeowners, but small landlords and tenants. NHS
Brooklyn understands the value of education and has passed along their knowledge through an array of workshops
and forums. Their dedication and commitment to providing the necessary tools to sustain a vibrant community
shows us that they are true community partners.
I would like to congratulate Executive Director, Tonya Ores for her great leadership and to the NHS Brooklyn team,
who together make this organization a place the community can count on.
I would also like to congratulate this year’s distinguished honorees: Dime Community Bank; Marc Jahr; Senior
Advisor at Forsyth Street Advisors; and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, NY 8 th District.
Congratulations again to NHS Brooklyn CDC Inc. for its accomplishments! I look forward to its continued
partnership with the community.
Sincerely,
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
ALBANY OFFICE: Room 727, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-5385, FAX: 518-455-3881
DISTRICT OFFICE: 1312 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11210 • 718-940-0428, FAX: 718-940-0154
EMAIL: bichotter@nyassembly.gov
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DISTRICT OFFICE:
930 FLATBUSH AVENUE
BROOKLYN, NY 11226
(718) 287-8917
CITY HALL OFFICE:
250 BROADWAY, SUITE 1789
NEW YORK, NY 10007
(212) 788-7352
THE COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF NEW Y ORK
RITA JOSEPH
COUNCIL MEMBER, 40 TH DISTRICT, BROOKLYN
CHAIR
EDUCATION
COMMITTEES
CIVIL SERVICE AND LABOR
CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
CULTURAL AFFAIRS
OVERSIGHT
IMMIGRATION
PUBLIC SAFETY
HOSPITALS
Dear NHS Brooklyn Leadership Team,
Thank you for the invaluable work that your organization has done since its inception.
It’s not a secret that the last few years have been difficult for our communities. All over
Brooklyn and New York City, so many of us were irreparably harmed by COVID. Neighbors
lost their jobs, homes, and loved ones. However, even with the challenges that so many
people faced, we always had hope, in part because of the wonderful CBOs like NHS Brooklyn
that so many people were able to rely on. In one of the darkest periods of our city, NHS
Brooklyn served our neighbors in profoundly important ways.
For forty years now, your organization has been doing the tiring, often thankless work of
helping people when they need it most. I salute you for your service, and I am so proud to call
you a partner in the work of helping those who are working to get by.
I thank you for your steadfast leadership in working to ensure that our community is all it can
be. It’s individuals and organizations like you that do the legwork of improving our
neighborhoods and city. I am grateful for your service, but even more grateful that I have the
privilege of calling you neighbors.
Lastly, I would like to offer my most heartfelt thanks to tonight’s honorees: Dime Community
Bank, Marc Jahr, and Congressman Hakeem Jefferies. Collectively, the work you have done is
too great to enumerate here, but please know that the entirety of Brooklyn is thankful for your
leadership.
Should you ever need assistance in fulfilling your mission of service toward others, know that I
am always just a phone call away.
Sincerely,
Council Member Rita Joseph
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OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE
FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK
JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS
September 21, 2022
To the Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn,
On behalf of the City of New York, I would like to offer you my congratulations and
well-wishes as you celebrate your fortieth anniversary. Neighborhood Housing Services
of Brooklyn has long been committed to its mission of serving and housing youth,
families, and seniors throughout our City, and I offer you my gratitude for your tireless
efforts. Your work providing support, training, and education for both homeowners and
renters makes our entire city a better and more vibrant place to live. I have been honored
to work with you throughout my time in government, beginning in the City Council, to
engage and inform constituents.
As Public Advocate, I know the importance of providing housing services and resources
to meet the needs of each unique community. Community institutions like
Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn are vital in supporting our neighbors,
ensuring New Yorkers remain in safe and affordable housing, and providing and
disseminating essential information. I applaud your work and appreciate your successes
over these four decades. I hope that you celebrate today, and continue that work
tomorrow. Congratulations on your achievements, and I wish you success for many years
to come.
Sincerely,
Jumaane D. Williams
Public Advocate for the City of New York
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to all those who tirelessly helped to make our
40th Anniversary Celebration a success!
Serghio Adams
Board President
Tonya Ores
Executive Director
Gary Campbell
Board Treasurer
• FUNDRAISING & COMMITTEE •
Marjorie Faison
Board Member
Andrea Hodge
Board Member
Larry Pampellone
Board Member
Patricia Strong
Board Member
Melissa Marius-Burke
Committee Member
Zenobia McNally
Committee Member
Laura McKenna
Marketing Manager
Venue
Brooklyn Museum
Gala Producer &
Consultant
The DG Group
Graphic Design
Little Moon, LLC
Printing
Flatbush Copy Center
• VENDORS •
Photography
Gear 4 Productions, Inc.
Flowers
Carlota New York
Centerpieces
Keep Interacting
(iPads)
Catering
Great Performances
Sound
Soundhouse Rentals
Lighting
Eventlights
Entertainment
Rhonda Denet Music
DJ
Mister Phantastick
Video Services
Nimble Pictures
• VOLUNTEERS • • SPECIAL THANKS •
NHS Brooklyn would like to
acknowledge and give thanks to our
volunteers for their contributions:
Alycia Benjamin • Keiona
Lightfoot • Jasmin McCraw •
Ashley Mosley • Jaylen Seay
Oneil Ores
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NHS Brooklyn would like to give
special mention to
Board Member Marjorie Faison
for her generous gift-in-kind
contribution.

• UPCOMING EVENTS •
For a complete list of our Upcoming Events,
visit www.nhsbrooklyn.org and subscribe
■ For Homeowners ■ For Tenants ■ For Home Buyers
■
■ ■
■
■
■ ■ ■
■
■ ■ ■
■ ■ ■
■
■
■ ■ ■
First-Time Home Buyer Orientation
Tuesday, October 18 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Landlord Training – Afternoon Class
Tuesday, October 18 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Home Insurance: Know What It Buys, Don’t Overpay
Wednesday, October 19 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Affordable Property Management: Program Overview
Thursday, October 20 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Emergency & Disaster Preparedness
Tuesday, October 25 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Foreclosure Avoidance: Homeowner Assistance Fund
& Court Updates
Wednesday, October 26 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Financial Coaching & Credit Improvement
Thursday, October 27 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Flood Insurance: Who Needs It is Changing
Tuesday, November 1 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Renter’s Insurance: What It Covers & Costs
Wednesday, November 9 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Tenants, Know Your Rights: Repairs, Heat & Forming
a Tenant Association
Thursday, November 10 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Energy Efficiency: Strategies & Resources
Thursday, December 1 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
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