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Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council, Inc.

Organization Details:

Logo Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council, Inc.

Since 1959, Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council, Inc. (SBNC) has existed to assist low- and moderate-income families of the Upper West Side by providing direct counseling and services in the areas of affordable housing, neighborhood stabilization, development. At SBNC, we believe that these issues are interrelated, particularly on the familial level; thus, in addressing all of these concerns, we offer families and individuals the resources, tools, and skills necessary to combat the most pressing problems that they face on a day-to-day basis, and through this process we play an integral role in breaking the cycle of poverty and welfare dependency.

Description and/or History:
SBNC is a critical anchor for low-income residents of the Upper West Side. We are a small, grassroots, social service and youth organization that provides counseling, makes referrals, and serves as an advocate for low-income families on a walk-in basis; therefore, every household that we help to sustain and improve through any of our services is a marked accomplishment. Our programs are integrated and unified to insure we can address household problems holistically. Our main programs are:





Housing Counseling and Eviction Prevention Program
Strycker’s Bay is one of only four Housing Counseling Agencies certified by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in Manhattan. Certification by HUD allows us to access federal funds to support our counseling program. We are also funded by New York State and the City of New York to deliver counseling and direct assistance to families facing eviction and/or who occupy apartments with unsafe living conditions.
Through this program:

  1. We counsel low-income people facing the possibility of losing their homes due to eviction. We help them navigate the legal and social service systems to insure they keep their apartments.

  2. We help families to apply for and secure affordable housing.

  3. We help obtain one-time emergency grants for rent and/or utilities through organizations such as The Bridge Fund, Catholic Charities and Coalition for the Homeless.

  4. We educate tenants and advocate on their behalf to get landlords to make much-needed repairs and improvements. In this way, tenants are not forced to vacate their apartments because of unlivable situations.



Entitlements and Benefits Counseling Program
We also assist over 150 families per year with obtaining entitlements and benefits, which include public assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, and unemployment insurance. Our staff often finds that many working families who struggle to make ends meet are unaware that they are eligible for food stamps and/or Medicaid, two programs that greatly reduce the financial burden of many low-income families and help them meet important needs.

LACASA Youth Program -- Learning Action Center for Academic Success and Achievement
Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council’s youth development program, LACASA (Learning Action Center for Academic Success and Achievement), works with children between the ages of 5 – 21 from all academic and social backgrounds. Our goal is to motivate children to achieve their academic and social potential by showing them how to become independent and enthusiastic learners and thinkers. Through the long-term relationships that youth participants develop with LACASA staff, volunteers, and with fellow participants, LACASA students strengthen their interpersonal skills, confidence, and self-awareness. These are all essential components to becoming independent learners and thinkers who are self-motivated to reach their potential throughout high school, college, and even into the work force. Our program serves more than 200 young people annually through our after school literacy program, summer camp, counseling and on the job training opportunities.



Contact people:

Kelley Williams, Executive Director, (212) 874-7272, (email)
Ramon Cuevas, Program Director, (212) 874-7272, (email)
Indera Singh, Administrative Assistant, (212) 874-7272, (email)


Office fax number: (917) 591-4995

Address:

61 West 87th Street
Basement
New York, NY 10024
(See a map)

Web Site: http://www.stryckersbay.org

Directions:

There are several sources of public transportation within a 15-minute walking distance of our organization. Two blocks to the southeast there are the B and C subway lines on West 86th Street and Central Park West, and to the. . . (more)
  Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: B,C, and 1,
  Walk distance (in minutes): 2-5
  Nearest Bus Stop: M10, M86, M7, M11, M104, 2-5 minute walk
Last updated on April 30, 2009
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