A Hawthorne nonprofit boasts an impressive record creating some 2,000 regional housing units since its 1989 inception, all under the guidance of the same woman: Kim Jacobs.
Three cheers from a grateful county and a nothing-to-sneeze-at check are headed her way June 13 when she accepts the Stanley Schear Leadership Award, named for the now-deceased Westchester Senior Housing and Services Coalition chairman.
Helping with home and small business finances, Community Capital of New York (CCNY) under Jacobs”™ leadership last year teamed with Westhab Inc. to convert the former homeless shelter site at 22 Tarrytown Road in Greenburgh into 28 rental units for working families.
Other CCNY projects include assisting Grace Church in White Plains with financing of a homeless shelter and the Croton Housing Network on Symphony Knoll at 15 Mount Airy Road, a senior-restricted residence with 11 one-bedroom apartments. It also worked with the Greenburgh Housing Authority on six home-ownership units on Warren Avenue at the corner of Florence Avenue. And in April it completed renovations on a formerly abandoned 1880s Victorian home in Peekskill, reporting, “A first-time home buyer, who would not have been able to afford to live in Westchester or own a home, will be moving in shortly.” The Victorian is one of 12 affordable homes renovated as part of Westchester County”™s neighborhood stabilization program.
The nonprofit claims to have assisted a total $341 million in Hudson Valley development, with its efforts amounting to $10 million in annual tax receipts. It also notes just one of its loans equates to five jobs and that the majority ”“ 75 percent ”“ of loan beneficiaries are women and minority clients. CCNY”™s small business clients include Sabor Latino restaurant and Sabrosa Deli in New Rochelle, Mancino”™s Custom Tailoring and Clothiers in Larchmont and the Peekskill Coffee House.
It”™s an impressive track record and the county has taken note.
Jacobs, long-serving executive director of CCNY, will receive the $3,500 award and a plaque will be presented at the Westchester Senior Housing and Services Coalition”™s breakfast and recognition ceremony at the White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave.
CCNY describes itself as “an alternative lender and economic catalyst that revitalizes main streets and helps underserved people in the Hudson Valley become stakeholders in New York”™s economy.”
Stanley Schear was a leading Westchester advocate for affordable housing who died in 2006. He was a founding board member of the Housing Action Council and fought for the needs of the homeless and for banning racial discrimination in housing.
County Executive Robert P. Astorino said Community Capital New York is a leader in developing affordable housing and helping small businesses. “Thanks to Community Capital”™s work, more people are able to continue to live in Westchester,” Astorino said. “Its significant contributions and strong partnerships have had a long and positive impact on the county.”
Commissioner Mae Carpenter of Westchester County”™s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) will present Jacobs with the $3,500 check from Atlantic Philanthropies, a sponsor of the program. DSPS is also a sponsor as are the White Plains Public Library and The Wartburg Adult Care Community in Mount Vernon.
“We cannot think of a more appropriate recipient of the Stanley Schear Leadership Award than Kim Jacobs and Community Capital New York (CCNY),” said Jane Lindau, chairwoman of the senior housing coalition and director of senior housing with HUD-certified Westchester Residential Opportunities Inc. “As a Community Development Financial Institution, CCNY has been an irreplaceable player in the construction of thousands of units of affordable housing in our region.”
Joan P. Arnold, co-founder and executive director of A-HOME, received the award in May 2012 for building and managing affordable housing in northern Westchester.
Admission to the June 13 event is free. Reservations are preferred by June 10, but not required. To sign up, contact Jane Lindau at (914) 428-4507 ext. 313 or write: jlindau@wroinc.org.
