2021 - 2022 Annual Report
2021 - 2022 Annual Report
STAND BESIDE OUR COMMUNITIES
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven strengthens neighborhoods by developing affordable housing and increasing homeownership opportunities; providing homebuyer education and financial coaching; making homes safe, beautiful and energy efficient; and working to improve the perceptions of the neighborhoods in which we are working by helping residents take charge of their communities.
Message from our Executive Director & Board President
Affordable Real Estate Development
Affordable real estate development has been at the core of our business for the past 42 years, and we have been proud and honored to consistently provide affordable homeownership opportunities to residents in New Haven.
We have developed homes throughout the City over the years, but for the last 12 years, our real estate development has been focused on the Newhallville, Hill, and Dwight neighborhoods.
In 2022, we completed the total gut rehabilitation of the final 2 houses in our inventory on Ivy Street and West Hazel Street, providing beautiful, efficient homes for 5 families.
In a hot housing market with few abandoned homes available, we are pivoting our attention to vacant lots for new construction. Future developments may include the adaptive reuse of existing buildings not currently designated as residential properties.
Future plans include 4 vacant lots for new construction of two-family homes on Bassett Street, West Hazel Street, and Butler Street, and a new single-family house on Lilac Street.
We believe it is important to support local contractors and businesses through our projects. In 2021 – 22 we worked with:
- 212 Exchange Street LLC
- Alco Home Improvement LLC
- American Rooter, LLC
- Amity Safe & Lock Co.
- Can Vaccum & Jet LLC
- Emerge CT, Inc.
- Elias Rigging LLC
- F.A.D. Mechanical LLC
- Gallo’s Appliance Inc.
- J. Celi Landscaping LLC
- Juliano Associates LLC
- Micarelli Construction LLC
- MMK Electric LLC
- North Haven Sewer Co. LLC
- Ronald Proto LLC
- Ysabel’s Cleaning Service, LLC
“I would like the community to see me as a homeowner and have hope that anything is possible even when the cards are stacked against you!”
The HomeOwnership Center
As a leader in homebuyer education, financial coaching, credit counseling, and foreclosure prevention, the New Haven HomeOwnership Center guides people through the process of qualifying for, finding, purchasing, and maintaining their first home.
Through one-on-one counseling and workshops, we prepare individuals and families for homeownership.
In 2021-22, our services supported 954 new homeowners. We had 97 new mortgage-distressed customers, provided 54 workshops for homebuyer education and landlord training with 835 new customers completing workshops.
- Customers improved their credit scores after completion of their Credit Coaching action plans 71%
- Pre-purchase customers increased their savings with help from their Budget Coaches 68%
We provided 5 special virtual homebuyer education seminars for Yale University Employees for their employer-assistance program 106 employees received certificates.
Housing is a key ingredient in promoting the vitality of every neighborhood, every community, and every city and town in the state. The HomeOwnership Center staff continues to work tirelessly to accommodate to the homeownership needs and demands of our prospective homebuyers.
Through June 2022, the HOC has managed…
UniteCT customers over the phone
UniteCT customers assisted in-person
MyHomeCT emergency mortgage assistance calls
UniteCT is a Rental and Utility Assistance Program from the Department of Housing. Subcontractors, like the HOC help people submit applications, answer some technical questions, and provide status updates.
Under the American Rescue Plan Act, Connecticut has established MyHomeCT, a program funded by the Homeowner Assistance Fund. By providing assistance to eligible Connecticut homeowners who have experienced a COVID-19-related financial hardship, MyHomeCT cures and/or prevents mortgage and housing-related delinquencies and foreclosure.
Through June 2022, the HOC has managed…
UniteCT customers over the phone
UniteCT customers assisted in-person
MyHomeCT emergency mortgage assistance calls
UniteCT is a Rental and Utility Assistance Program from the Department of Housing. Subcontractors, like the HOC help people submit applications, answer some technical questions, and provide status updates.
Under the American Rescue Plan Act, Connecticut has established MyHomeCT, a program funded by the Homeowner Assistance Fund. By providing assistance to eligible Connecticut homeowners who have experienced a COVID-19-related financial hardship, MyHomeCT cures and/or prevents mortgage and housing-related delinquencies and foreclosure.
Great Hill Cottage Community
We are working with the Green Planet Development Company in identifying
homebuyers for the Great Hill Cottage Community in Guilford CT,
a wonderful cottage community of two- and three-bedroom homes.
Phase 1 saw the completion of 2 three-bedroom homes which are now home to two wonderful families. The HOC hosted a wonderful ribbon-cutting ceremony this past June for the first family that closed.
Phase 2 will be comprised of 8 condominium units, 4 of which will be two-bedroom, with the remaining 4 being three-bedroom units. These are slated to be completed by late fall/winter 2022/23 and we look forward to another ribbon-cutting ceremony for these townhomes as well.
HOC Realty
Connecticut’s first and only nonprofit real estate company, HOC Realty, serves all people, but especially those seeking low-cost housing options.
In 2021 – 2022
transactions completed with
$280,000 gross revenue
accomplished by 1 full-time and 2 part-time Realtors
In 2021 – 2022
transactions completed with
$280,000 gross revenue
accomplished by 1 full-time and 2 part-time Realtors
HOC Lending
HOC Lending processed 14 loans within the last 18 months.
12 of those loans were Greater New Haven NAACP Homeownership Matters down payment and closing costs assistance 5-year forgivable loans. The other two were a Neighborhood Assistance Act forgivable energy conservation loan and Rescue Relief Deferred Repayment loan.
Aging in Place
We created a CDFI-compliant development service entitled Aging-in-Place (AIP) for all age- and income-eligible homeowners in Connecticut. We received over 30 inquiries and requests for information and housing assistance/guidance.
Aging in Place
We created a CDFI-compliant development service entitled Aging-in-Place (AIP) for all age- and income-eligible homeowners in Connecticut. We received over 30 inquiries and requests for information and housing assistance/guidance.
We successfully obtained HUD’s approval as a nonprofit secondary financing provider to provide financial assistance to homebuyers who have FHA mortgage insurance.
Community Building & Organizing
First-Place Prize
New Haven Civic Innovation Prize awarded $7,000 to Project Lighten Up, which aims to improve street lights and install exterior house lights in New Haven neighborhoods.
7 homes received motion detector side and rear yard lights as part of Project Lighten Up
Community Building & Organizing By the numbers…
Resident Leaders Trained
Online Resident Leadership Program Applicants
New Community Mural
Community Gardens Supported
Watershed Stewardship Projects
Urbanscapes Nursery
Beaver Ponds Park
Home Rain Gardens
Resident-Driven Groups Supported
CPEN, Inspired Communities, Neighborhood Rx, Newhallville Community Management Team, Menunkatuck Audubon Society, Urban Non-Profit Network
Resident Leaders Trained
Online Resident Leadership Program Applicants
Community Gardens Supported
New Community Mural
Watershed Stewardship Projects
Urbanscapes Nursery
Beaver Ponds Park
Home Rain Gardens
Resident-Driven Groups Supported
CPEN, Inspired Communities, Neighborhood Rx, Newhallville Community Management Team, Menunkatuck Audubon Society, Urban Non-Profit Network
Volunteers
By the Groups
- Action Button
- Community Management Teams
- CPEN
- Dwight Hall @ Yale, FOCUS
- Quinnipiac University, The Big Event
- Redemption House
- Southern CT University
- Squash Haven
- State of CT Judicial Branch Community Service
- Turnbridge
- The University of New Haven, President’s Public
- Service Fellow – Choate Rosemary Hall
- Yale School of Architecture
- Yale School of Public Health
Volunteer Project Locations
- Carriage Hill Condo
- Ivy Street Community Garden
- Stevens Street
- Truman Street
- Edgewood Properties
- Beaver Ponds Park
- Learning Corridor
- Dr. Bouchet Mural
- Orchid Mural
- Raingardens
- West Division Street
- Sherman Avenue
Volunteers
By the Groups
- Action Button
- Community Management Teams
- CPEN
- Dwight Hall @ Yale, FOCUS
- Quinnipiac University, The Big Event
- Redemption House
- Southern CT University
- Squash Haven
- State of CT Judicial Branch Community Service
- Turnbridge
- The University of New Haven, President’s Public
- Service Fellow – Choate Rosemary Hall
- Yale School of Architecture
- Yale School of Public Health
Volunteer Project Locations
- Carriage Hill Condo
- Ivy Street Community Garden
- Stevens Street
- Truman Street
- Edgewood Properties
- Beaver Ponds Park
- Learning Corridor
- Dr. Bouchet Mural
- Orchid Mural
- Raingardens
- West Division Street
- Sherman Avenue
Community Sustainability
Starting with residents and their homes, Community Sustainability promotes energy justice, environmental equity and infrastructure that supports neighborhood resilience.
Our Director of Community Sustainability, Kathy Fay, was appointed to represent low-income residents on the Energy Efficiency Board, which oversees Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs. Her term runs through 2026.
Our Director of Community Sustainability, Kathy Fay, was appointed to represent low-income residents on the Energy Efficiency Board, which oversees Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs. Her term runs through 2026.
Thank you,
We had invaluable help in 2021-22 from our interns, who were instrumental in expanding our programs and services to the community.
Chamae Mejias, a solar energy professional, works part-time with Mike. Tracy Zhou, a Yale undergrad, conducted electrification research. Lovinia Reynolds, an environmental and energy justice grad student at the Yale School of the Environment, did process mapping. Brittany Swanson, Max Flignor, from the Yale Social Impact Club, drafted a business plan; and Zander de Jesus, our Yale Center for Environmental Justice Fellow, conducted data analysis.
Helping residents make financially wise, energy efficient home improvements.
Better Homes and Buildings Program partnership with Operation Fuel.
Community Outreach Partners in Bethel, Hartford, Middletown, Waterbury, and West Hartford.
We welcomed Carmen Ramos-Perez as program specialist, seen here with our technical lead, energy engineer Mike Uhl, System Smart LLC.
From January 2021 – June 2022,
The number of new residential participants in I Heart My Home CT increased by over 150% to
participants representing
households
homes had weatherization work completed.
had health and safety barriers to weatherization which were either remediated or are moving toward remediation.
deeper energy retrofits were completed, including insulation, windows, solar panels, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and other projects.
Thank you,
We had invaluable help in 2021-22 from our interns, who were instrumental in expanding our programs and services to the community.
Chamae Mejias, a solar energy professional, works part-time with Mike. Tracy Zhou, a Yale undergrad, conducted electrification research. Lovinia Reynolds, an environmental and energy justice grad student at the Yale School of the Environment, did process mapping. Brittany Swanson, Max Flignor, from the Yale Social Impact Club, drafted a business plan; and Zander de Jesus, our Yale Center for Environmental Justice Fellow, conducted data analysis.
Helping residents make financially wise, energy efficient home improvements.
Better Homes and Buildings Program partnership with Operation Fuel.
Community Outreach Partners in Bethel, Hartford, Middletown, Waterbury, and West Hartford.
We welcomed Carmen Ramos-Perez as program specialist, seen here with our technical lead, energy engineer Mike Uhl, System Smart LLC.
From January 2021 – June 2022,
The number of new residential participants in I Heart My Home CT increased by over 150% to
participants representing
households
homes had weatherization work completed.
had health and safety barriers to weatherization which were either remediated or are moving toward remediation.
deeper energy retrofits were completed, including insulation, windows, solar panels, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and other projects.
For me, it’s been good for my soul to know that I’m helping the environment. ~ Trish Helm, I Heart My Home CT customer
