UHAB Programs Overview

For the past quarter century, UHAB’s primary work has been helping to create and support low-income co-ops in New York City.  In 2002, more than 28,000 New York families live in these low-income co-ops – the largest community of its kind in the United States. This is a brief overview of UHAB's programs. Follow the links for greater detail.

I. Increasing Self-Help Housing: Organizing and Development

In 1998, UHAB launched an organizing project to inform residents all over New York City about options for tenant ownership. Our organizers are Americorps*VISTA members, most of them recruited directly from the buildings and neighborhoods we serve. For buildings not eligible for the city's Tenant Interim Lease (TIL) program, UHAB plays the role of co-op developer, negotiating purchase terms with the owner on behalf of the tenants, securing financing, supervising major repairs, and overseeing the co-op conversion process.

UHAB is also the local program administrator for the New York State Housing Trust Fund. In this role, UHAB is responsible for $14.4 million in grant and loan funds which were used for the rehabilitation of 23 homesteading projects.

II. Support for New York City Tenant Associations and Co-ops

UHAB offers a wide array of technical assistance, management training classes, and emergency support programs tailored to meet the needs of New York's 1300 low-income co-ops over the long term.

Training and Technical Assistance

Almost every day of the week, during working hours and in the evening, UHAB’s experienced staff runs training classes and seminars on all aspects of self-help housing, as well as other issues. Class topics include: Building Your Tenant Association, Managing Maintenance and Repair Needs, Becoming a Co-Op, Drug Elimination, Leadership Development, Computers for Beginners.  For a current schedule of classes, email sorce@uhab.org.

Through site visits, telephone contact and meetings in our offices, UHAB’s staff stays in touch with residents even after their buildings have become resident-owned co-ops. Our staff helps them cope with crises and provides additional training and assistance with challenges such as tax problems and loan packaging

Member Services

UHAB member services provide buildings with quality services at lower costs. Over 450 buildings have joined UHAB to gain access to our member services, which include a group fire and liability insurance plan and computerized bookkeeping. Through economies of scale, UHAB members can save money on the goods and services necessary to keep their buildings running well.

Connecting Communities

In 2001, UHAB received a grant to provide wiring, computers, and computer training to various co-ops, as well as work on putting more of its materials on-line. For example, UHAB has now posted a fully searchable resource directory of vendors and services providers for co-ops.

III. Assistance to Community Groups Around the World

UHAB is committed to promoting self-help housing locally, nationally, and internationally by passing on our expertise to other groups that create and assist low-income co-ops.  We have trained and assisted organizations in cities across the United States, as well as in the Russian cities of Moscow and Novgorod.  Every city is a different story, but the essential formula behind UHAB’s success is easily replicated .