Federal Funds Secured for Housing, Community, and Health Projects

by Gabriele Holtermann, Brooklyn Paper

U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on Monday announced that they secured federal funding for key projects in Brooklyn as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 funding package, which President Trump signed into law on February 3.

Schumer and Gillibrand personally secured $26,355,000 for the projects, which include affordable housing upgrades, community centers and health infrastructure, as congressionally directed spending items.

Brooklyn native Schumer said he was proud to bring substantial federal funding to the borough’s communities and vowed to keep fighting to help organizations continue their work across the borough.

“From increasing affordable housing options and food pantry services, to workforce development training, these local Brooklyn organizations are making a huge impact on our communities,” the Senate minority leader said.

His Senate colleague, Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she was “proud” to deliver federal funding to improve the lives of New Yorkers and help keep New York City flourishing, with tens of millions of dollars going directly to organizations across the five boroughs.

“This year’s funding will help support significant projects in Brooklyn, from critical enhancements at affordable housing developments to new community centers and expansions of green space,” Gillibrand said.

The full list of organizations and projects receiving federal funding includes:

• • $5 million for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) for critical renovations at NYCHA’s Red Hook East Houses as part of the NYCHA Building Line Initiative, which includes comprehensive plumbing and renovation projects aimed at addressing mold and leaks.
  • $5 million for RiseBoro Community Partnership’s Affordable Housing Project for phase one of a rehabilitation effort that will ensure dignified housing for residents and improve the energy efficiency of buildings.
  • $3 million for the Fifth Avenue Committee’s Gowanus Green Project to create a resilient green space and an 8,700-square-foot community facility as part of a 5.8-acre affordable housing development for low- and moderate-income seniors in Gowanus.
  • $2 million for the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association to support a community facility that includes affordable housing and a health and human services center providing accessible day care and comprehensive senior support programs.
  • $1,182,000 for One Brooklyn Health System’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, where 47 percent of all newborn deliveries result in a NICU stay, underscoring the need for state-of-the-art neonatal services.
  • $1 million for the Brooklyn Academy of Music to implement a new strategic plan to enhance education and community programming for youth and students.
  • $1 million for the Brooklyn Museum to replace its antiquated security and fire safety system with a modern system providing security monitoring, fire detection and suppression, and emergency communications for its 560,000-square-foot facility, which receives more than 600,000 visitors annually.
  • $1 million for the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music for expansion and renovation of its facilities to improve accessibility and the quality of clinical music therapy and music education services for thousands of residents in low- and middle-income communities.
  • $1 million for Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH) to support affordable housing services that help families find and maintain housing, combat landlord harassment and displacement, and access resources to prevent other threats to housing stability.
  • $1 million for the Center for New Jewish Culture for renovation of its community center.
  • $800,000 for the Jamaica Bay–Rockaway Parks Conservancy for educational programming at Floyd Bennett Field.
  • $800,000 for the Brooklyn College Perinatal Mental Health Initiative, a community-focused academic program designed to expand perinatal mental health services, empower communities and cultivate a diverse interdisciplinary perinatal workforce.
  • $750,000 for United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg to support social services for aging and disabled community members.
  • $632,000 for Friends of Firefighters to support FDNY mental health and wellness programs, including counseling for current and retired firefighters and their families, as well as wellness programming, peer support, outreach and efforts to reduce stigma around mental health services.
  • $530,000 for APNA Brooklyn Community Center for food pantry and senior case management services, including rental of community center space to provide the programs.
  • $500,000 for Voices of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY) for planning and design of a 24-hour respite center for homeless individuals with mental health needs.
  • $500,000 for the National Domestic Workers Alliance Workforce for workforce development training, know-your-rights resources and legal services for more than 50,000 domestic workers across New York City.
  • $446,000 for Bridge Street Development Corporation to support small business growth in Central Brooklyn through technical assistance, workshops and place-making initiatives that foster local economic development.
  • $115,000 for St. Ann’s Warehouse to expand its youth arts program, introducing New York City public school students and local teens to international theater while promoting leadership skills and cultural awareness.
  • $100,000 for the East New York Community and Land Trust to expand programs that provide low-income tenants and homeowners with the support needed to achieve housing security, build financial stability and create pathways to ownership.

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.

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