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Co-Op City Succeeds With Census While Much of NYC Struggles. What's Its Secret?

Gabriel Sandoval

May 19, 2020 |

The City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

In New York City, where the average census response rate is only 49 percent, the city's largest co-operative housing complex achieved over a 70 percent response rate, well above the 40 percent rate typical in the co-op's neighborhood of the Bronx. Co-op City, as it is known, has a strong sense of community and promoted the census through its internal TV station, robo-calls, and community newspaper.

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Helping Tenants and Landlords Resolve Issues — Before Going to Court

Jared Brey

May 19, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The city of Philadelphia piloted a mediation program that showed how landlord-tenant disputes could be resolved short of an eviction lawsuit. Though the program only lasted two months and heard just a handful of cases, it demonstrated that landlords will participate voluntarily in a system that can equalize a power imbalance and resolve disputes in ways that prove less damaging to both parties. Demand for the mediation program could ramp up if an expected wave of evictions hits because of the pandemic's effects on the economy.

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Tenants Organize to Keep Building Affordable Through Nonprofit Purchase

Laura Wenus

December 20, 2019 |

San Francisco Public Press |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Affordable housing in San Francisco is becoming more and more unattainable. When the landlord tried to change its status to not be rent-controlled to not, a group of residents at said building banded together with a nonprofit to preserve the building. A nonprofit, the Mission Economic Development Agency, bought the property from the landlord so that its residents could maintain their rent in a very expensive city. Organizations like MEDA are key to helping the city and its residents transition over time to ownership.

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A New Kind of Cooperative in Oakland Fights Against Speculative Development

Oscar Perry Abello

December 03, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Real estate cooperatives are able to raise capital from their members, ensuring re-investment in the communitie they serve. In Oakland, California, the East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EB PREC) finances real estate acquisitions through California’s cooperative ownership model. EB PREC also works with partners from the Sustainable Economies Law Center and the People of Color Housing Network, which provide additional resources and expertise.

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They were evicted and had to take their homes with them. But they also won something in return.

Cristina Bolling

September 09, 2019 |

La Noticia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

When the mobile park they lived in was sold and evictions were imminent, residents of Oakhaven banded together to demand relocation packages and other rights. While they were eventually forced out, they succeeded in winning more money than they were originally promised, and they credit this to their ability to organize and petition.

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This Oakland Community Hub Was Designed for Restorative Justice

Emily Nonko

August 08, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Partnerships between nonprofits strengthen efforts to promote economic justice. Working together, several nonprofits focused on economic and restorative justice in Oakland have succeeded in opening Restore Oakland, a community and multipurpose center. The new building, which received funding from private donations and from the Akonadi foundation, provides a space nonprofits like the Ella Baker Center and the Restaurant Opportunity Centers United (ROC United).

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A Worker Cooperative and a Community Land Trust Bought a Building Together

Oscar Perry Abello

June 18, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Cooperative ownership provides an avenue through which local nonprofit organizations and businesses can retain ownership of real estate. In Oakland, California, the Oakland Community Land Trust uses federal grants and donations to then acquire and retain ownership of commercial and residential properties. In cases where funds offered by the Trust or from crowdfunded donations are not sufficient, as with the Hasta Nuerte worker owned co-op coffee shop, offering up equity in the venture to private investors can help raise capital.

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'Someone To Speak For You': Low-Income Tenants Get Lawyers For Housing Court

Jenifer McKim

April 03, 2019 |

NPR |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York

New York City has pioneered one of the nation's first programs to provide free legal services to low-income tenants under threat of eviction. Recent studies have indicated that evictions declined more in cities that had implemented right to counsel, and more cities are looking to follow New York's example as they work to prevent housing instability and homelessness.

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When Your Sexual Harasser Has Keys to Your Apartment

Christina Colón

March 18, 2019 |

Sojourners |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Syracuse, New York

Strategies for combatting sexual harassment in housing across the United States begin with increased awareness and reporting. With incidents of sexual harassment in housing chronically underreported since the passing of the Fair Housing Act in 1974, recent initiatives by nonprofits like CNY Fair Housing and programs by the Departments of Justice and Housing and Urban Development seek to address the issue. These initiatives focus on increasing awareness and education, informing both landlords and tenants of Fair Housing policy.

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New York Has a Public Housing Problem. Does London Have an Answer?

Michael Kimmelman

March 01, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, London, England

It takes political will to create mixed-income housing and manage the social impacts of gentrification. In contrast to New York, the London borough of Hackney has taken steps to fix its housing crisis by putting the interests of residents ahead of the interests of developers. Several housing developments slated for development in the East London neighborhood now blend subsidized and market-rate units.

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