Fifth Avenue Committee Incorporated

FIFTH AVENUE COMMITTEE IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN SOUTH BROOKLYN THAT ADVANCES ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE GENUINE OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, AS WELL AS THE POWER TO SHAPE THE COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT: FAC MANAGES 454 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND 29 RETAIL AND COMMUNITY FACILITY SPACES AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING AND PRESERVING OVER 1,900 MORE, REPRESENTING $850 MILLION IN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT SOUTH AND CENTRAL BROOKLYN AND JAMAICA, QUEENS, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE COMMUNITY FACILITY SPACES INCLUDING A PUBLIC LIBRARY, 5 PRE-K CLASSROOMS AND A PUBLIC PARK.

ADULT EDUCATION:OFFERING A RANGE OF CLASSES, INCLUDING ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ("ESOL"), ADULT BASIC EDUCATION ("ABE"), HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY ("HSE"), FAMILY LITERACY SUPPORTS AND BRIDGE PROGRAMMING AT LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES, THE DEPARTMENT REACHED 413 STUDENTS IN FY21 (DESPITE THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY COVID). IN FY 2021, THIS DEPARTMENT OFFERED ENHANCED DIGITAL LITERACY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS STUDENTS AND CREATED A DIGITAL DEVICE LENDING LIBRARY TO CONNECT THEM WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEEDED TO ADVANCE THEIR LEARNING AND COMMUNICATE DURING THE COVID CRISIS. PER THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE PROGRAM PERFORMS IN THE TOP QUARTILE OF ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS STATE-WIDE. THE NEW AMERICAN BRIDGE PROGRAM SERVED 113 FOREIGN BORN STUDENTS WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN FY21. THE PROGRAM CONNECTS STUDENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TO FAC AFFILIATE, BROOKLYN WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS' ("BWI") RED HOOK ON THE ROAD CDL PROGRAM AND BROOKLYN NETWORKS TELE-DATA CABLE INSTALLATION PROGRAM.

ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY: FAC'S ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS EMPOWER LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS THROUGH SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND TENANT RIGHTS CAMPAIGNS. OUR ORGANIZERS HELP PREVENT EVICTIONS AND IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. INITIATIVES AND CAMPAIGNS REACH HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANTS, RENT STABILIZED AND PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS EACH YEAR. IN FY21, FAC CONTINUED ITS LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT IN A RANGE OF LOCAL ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS STABILIZING NYC AND THE GOWANUS NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION FOR JUSTICE ("GNCJ"). GNCJ IS A BROAD-BASED COALITION ADVOCATING FOR EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND REZONING OUTCOMES IN GOWANUS.

COMMUNITY SERVICES:COMMUNITY SERVICES AT FAC PROVIDES A RANGE OF FREE SERVICES TO OVER 1,000 NEW YORKERS EACH YEAR. SERVICES INCLUDE BENEFITS ACCESS (I.E., SNAP, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, MEDICARE/AID, AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE), TAX PREPARATION, FINANCIAL AND LEGAL COUNSELING AS WELL AS (IN FY 2021) COVID-19 RELIEF AND SUPPORTS. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID CRISIS, FAC PROVIDED EMERGENCY CASH AND FOOD ASSISTANCE, DIGITAL DEVICES AND HOTSPOTS, PPE, VACCINE, AND TESTING EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS, MORE THAN DOUBLING THE ORGANIZATION'S TYPICAL REACH. FAC'S COMMUNITY SERVICES IS A ROBIN HOOD BENEFITS ASSISTANCE SITE (FORMERLY SINGLE STOP) AND A FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER (FOC) SITEPROVEN MODELS THAT HELP LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS GAIN FINANCIAL SECURITY AND BUILD ASSETS. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:THROUGH ITS AFFILIATE BWI, FAC ASSISTS HUNDREDS OF JOBLESS AND WORKING POOR NEW YORKERS EACH YEAR BY OFFERING SECTOR-BASED JOB TRAINING AND DIRECT PLACEMENT SERVICES. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE ACCESS TO LIVING-WAGE EMPLOYMENT, ESTABLISHED CAREERS, AND CONTINUING JOB SUPPORT. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:IN 2021, FAC CONTINUED TO ADVANCE ITS FAC SOLAR PROJECT TO INSTALL NEARLY 225,000 KW OF SOLAR POWER ON FAC OWNED AND MANAGED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY FACILITY BUILDINGS. THE PROJECT IS HELPING TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, MAINTENANCE EXPENSES, CONTRIBUTE TO PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY AND REDUCE UTILITY EXPENSES FOR LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME TENANTS LIVING IN FAC PROPERTIES. FAC ALSO INITIATED A PILOT PROGRAM, BARRIO SOLAR, AIMED AT CONNECTING LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERS WITH SOLAR IN COLLABORATION WITH ITS AFFILIATE NHN IN FY 2021.