Views from the Northwest Bronx

On June 15th, UNHP, over fifty guests and our panelists concluded our #ViewsNWBX blog series with breakfast, a presentation and discussion of the emerging community development and affordable housing issues raised in our locally-focused on-line essay series.

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 is sharing the northwest Bronx views of neighborhood residents, community leaders, Bronx community development professionals and UNHP board members.

The Bronx is under construction: cranes, excavators, scaffolding, and green demolition fences are everywhere. For long-time community staffers and residents in the northwest Bronx, the building and demolition we see as we walk to work, lunch, or the train is unprecedented.

Along with a new name, The Wilton, etched above their front door, the 32 families who reside in the buildings at Anthony and Tremont Avenues have also received new windows and public improvements in time for the holidays.

​For most people affordable housing is the housing they live in now. UNHP is expanding our services at the Northwest Bronx Resource Center to include assistance with the NYC Rent Freeze Program for Bronx senior citizens and people with disabilities to help insure that they can continue to remain in their apartments despite fixed and low-incomes.

March Madness at UNHP means a busy schedule of free financial services for senior citizens, including four mobile free tax preparation days at low-income senior residences and a Homeowner Resource Fair with foreclosure prevention services for at-risk older homeowners in our community.

​The Northwest Bronx Collaborative hosted a Memorial Day Barbecue for the senior citizens and handicapped residents of 5 affordable housing projects in our northwest Bronx community. The seniors and party-goers enjoyed a great afternoon of tasty barbecue, raffles, games of skill, music and dancing thanks to the shared efforts of the three groups that are members of the newly formed collaborative.

UNHP had the opportunity to file taxes for some long-time Bronx residents, who shared a slice of their life history and good humor.

In addition to our tax days held at the Northwest Bronx Resource Center at Refuge House, UNHP takes our free tax prep program on the road to accommodate Bronx seniors living in local partner senior housing developments. The senior or HUD 202 Housing offers affordable, independent-living rental units for low income senior citizens. UNHP partners with Rose Hill Apartments, Serviam Gardens, Edison Arms and Msgr. Fiorentino Apartments.