Views from the Northwest Bronx

UNHP delivered our free financial and affordable housing services to 71 Bronx bank customers at six branches, attended the Grand Openings of three new Bronx bank branches and assisted 69 Bronxites at two off-site events in the past 5 months.

UNHP's Free Tax Preparation Program is in its 9th season and still growing and improving thanks to new partners, increased volunteer efforts and enhanced on-site services.

West Farms Social Services and UNHP were on the ballot this Election Day to offer a financial security workshop in the community room of the 8 building, 526 unit complex known as West Farms Square Plaza.

UNHP’s Bronx Free Tax Preparation Program filed taxes for 1,501 people with 1,725 filed returns, trained 84 student volunteers, and delivered $1.9 million dollars of fee-free refunds back to the Bronx.

Our blog has been a little quiet in 2015 and no we have not been hibernating – we have been so busy preserving distressed multifamily housing and delivering a wide range of financial services in the Northwest Bronx that we have not had time to brag about it!

West Farms Social Services joined forces with University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP) to host a well- attended Credit and Savings Extravaganza at the West Farms Square affordable housing development on Wednesday, November 5th from 1 to 7pm.

Even as we marked our 30th anniversary in 2013, much of our work continues to address the lasting impact of redlining, disinvestment and speculation in the Bronx. In the past two years, UNHP has made significant strides in our work to identify and improve distressed multifamily housing and bring needed resources to the Northwest Bronx.

UNHP's 2014 Free Tax Preparation Program was a resounding success! UNHP and our partners Ariva and Fordham Bedford Community Services helped clients receive $1.7 million in fee-free refunds, and access our wide range of financial education programs. Over 80 VITA trained student volunteers from Fordham University and Manhattan College provided the tax power for our program. As UNHP's 2014 tax season draws to a close, we reflect on the privilege of meeting and assisting over 1,400 residents in our community.

2 partner organizations, 90 student volunteers, and UNHP staff are ready to meet our goals of providing 19 free tax preparation days, and a range of financial services to 1,000 low and moderate income Bronx residents.

Volunteers, Partners, Funders and our Neighbors join together for a great tax season in the Northwest Bronx!