East New York's Nehemiah Housing Proving Resilient
When the Nehemiah project launched in the 1980s, it sold houses to residents of East New York for as little as $39,000. The church-run program would buy abandoned, city-owned properties and erect inexpensive homes for residents that met the program’s strict financial credibility checks. Nowadays, Nehemiah (named after the post-exile Biblical character who rebuilt Jerusalem)…
When the Nehemiah project launched in the 1980s, it sold houses to residents of East New York for as little as $39,000. The church-run program would buy abandoned, city-owned properties and erect inexpensive homes for residents that met the program’s strict financial credibility checks. Nowadays, Nehemiah (named after the post-exile Biblical character who rebuilt Jerusalem) homes sell for as much as $120,000, but this is still well below market rates for similar properties. NPR profiled the organization this week, pointing out that the project has stringent financial checks to ensure that applicants are not involved in any criminal activity and to ensure that they will not default on their mortgages (applicants can spend no more than 20 percent of their income on the mortgage; no more than ten out of over 4,000 homes have been foreclosed in the program’s entire history). Zandra Brockman, an applicant to the program, said the application process was worth the result: “Where else could we live at the prices we had?” she told NPR. “It was truly a blessing for us.” The article adds that applicants who are rejected often organize their finances and re-apply later successfully. Sarah Plowden, who works for Nehemiah and also owns a home through the program, said: “We more than just bought homes. We bought into one another as a people.”
Low-Cost Brooklyn Housing Sees Few Foreclosures [NPR]
Affordable Houses Infused With Color [NY Times]
Low-Income? You’re Kidding! [NY Magazine]
“stringent financial checks to ensure that applicants are not involved in any criminal activity”
That’s a nice way of saying they discriminate against convicted felons who are trying to turn their life around.
The projects do the same thing and last time I checked the PJ’s were none too nice…
I have a question for rob. A a long-time reader here I have often seen you state that things are not “affordable”. I am just curious as to what your standards of affordability are. What is an affordable monthly expense for studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, etc.?
Nothing substantive to add to this, but just wanted to say well done on a really awesome program.
Nothing substantive to add to this, but just wanted to say well done on a really awesome program.
mopar- please check your email. I sent you some pictures.
Houses look very pretty in the photos too.
You started it, Rob. I tried to resist, but eventually I had to respond in kind. You’re right, my response was less than classy. But, considering who I’m dealing with, it was probably appropriate.
again with the personal insults. classy as ever ENY! i could probably qualify for a program like this except that programs like this are anti single people who don’t believe in families. everything in nyc these days grossly caters to family life. ugh!
*rob*
“and a 120,000 house in ENY is NOT affordable no matter how much you think it is.”
It’s not affordable to broke-ass underachievers who spend their spare time drinking 40s and bean-bagging. I think that’s why you’re confused about this.