Click Here To Watch Video
IMPACCT Brooklyn’s goals have always been to preserve and develop safe and affordable housing, a basic human right; support vibrant local commerce through which small businesses serve the needs of community residents; sustain and develop an economic, racial, and cultural diversity to enrich the lives of all, promote knowledge, initiative, and concerted action to advance individual and common interests, and to foster an ethic that all members of the community bear personal responsibility to contribute to the greater good. “As a local community based organization not only do we fight for tenants rights, but we also can provide the expertise needed to actually produce and create affordable housing,” said IMPACCT’s Former Executive Director, Deborah Howard.
The Joint Ownership Entity (JOE) helps Community Development Corporations (CDC) like IMPACCT strengthen their ability to finance their development projects in their neighborhoods, which will ensure long-term affordability. “We have to be effective and at the same time sensitive to our mission which is people based, not building based. It’s about how do you improve the quality for people in the neighborhoods where they live and preserve their ability to live there for as long as they want,” mentioned Harold DeRienzo, President of Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association, another CDC under The JOE umbrella.
Because of IMPACCT and The JOE, residents like Concepcion Quiñones have been able to reside in the same apartment for over 27 years. “The rents are going up,” says Quiñones with granddaughter in hand, “so without affordable housing I wouldn’t be able to live here.” Concepcion is one of many IMPACCT clients who believes that affordable housing opportunities that have been provided to her by IMPACCT have made a difference in her life and in the lives of her family members.
Through the help of The Joe and the community, IMPACCT will continue to fight for tenants’ rights and continue to provide the resources tenants need in order to sustain longevity in Brooklyn.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
