Views from the Northwest Bronx

​At the Northwest Bronx Resource Center, UNHP works every day to bring needed, crucial financial help and resources to the residents in our community. Our resources offer alternatives to predatory services and assist local residents take the steps needed to achieve their financial goals. This work can be time-consuming and requires persistence and follow-up by the participant. It is gratifying to us at UNHP when someone can resolve a problem and move forward. Mr. Preston Patterson is one of those stories.

It was a packed house on Wednesday, June 11th, for the UNHP Credit Extravaganza! The informative and well-attended credit resource fair was sponsored by the UNHP Northwest Bronx Resource Center at Refuge House. 55 Bronx residents attended the event which included two credit presentations, hands-on help printing out their credit reports, a brief credit report analysis and access to services from a variety of non-profits.

On Wednesday, June 11, University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP), a non-profit with over 30 years of experience, will sponsor a Credit Extravaganza at the Northwest Bronx Resource Center located at 2715 Bainbridge Avenue Bronx, NY from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm. The Credit Resource Fair will help attendees review their credit and meet with advisors about ways to stretch their incomes, and create better spending habits.

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.

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.

Debra made a good living as senior document specialist – good enough to raise her four children and afford to live in her beautiful Norwood Bronx apartment of 23 years. Then she was downsized.

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.

University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP) celebrated our 30th Anniversary in 2013 with multiple events towards our affordable housing mission, including a 30th Anniversary Forum, significant progress in our work to improve distressed multifamily buildings, and two celebrations.

UNHP's Executive Director, Jim Buckley, was honored with The Andrew Heiskell Community Renaissance Award for his community organizing, neighborhood reinvestment and affordable housing work in the Northwest Bronx.

A pen set and community organizers have a special connection to UNHP, the Northwest Bronx, and Dollar Savings Bank. That story, and its connection to our 30th Anniversary Celebration, brings our event full circle.