LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Neighborhood Housing Services of East
Flatbush upon the occasion of hosting its 28th Annual Corporate Meeting

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush upon the occasion of
hosting its 28th Annual Corporate Meeting; and
WHEREAS, Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of New York City
envisions a city of healthy, sustainable and affordable communities; it
revitalizes underserved neighborhoods by creating and preserving afford-
able housing and providing opportunities for homeownership education,
financial assistance and community leadership; working in partnership
with government and business, it is led by local residents and guided by
local needs; and
WHEREAS, The core values of NHS are: integrity and fairness; embracing
and respecting diversity; open, honest communications; responsive,
respectful customer service; resident leadership; empowerment through
education; and a working environment in which employees are accountable,
respected and appreciated; and
WHEREAS, NHS of East Flatbush was founded in 1982 as a result of the
efforts of community residents who, unable to obtain conventional
financing for home repairs, influenced banks and the city government to
become involved in providing financing to low- and moderate-income home-
owners in the East Flatbush area; and
WHEREAS, NHS opened seven offices and merged with NHS of Jamaica,
Queens; at that time, NHS' focus was to help homeowners improve their
homes and neighborhoods through rehabilitation lending; in order to meet
increased demand, it began providing services to help residents achieve
first-time homeownership, culminating in the launch of the nation's
first Homeownership Center in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Offering a full range of pre- and post-purchase services, the
Center serves as the administrative headquarters of its citywide
Homeownership Program; since 1982, NHS' efforts have assisted over
200,000 residents, and stimulated a significant amount in public and
private investment; and
WHEREAS, NHS's in-house rehabilitation specialists have made over
30,000 home inspections and conducted over 3,820 home repair workshops;
on average, it reaches over 17,000 potential and existing homeowners
through its innovative programs, and in 2008, was directly responsible
for investing a total of $185 million in underserved communities; and
WHEREAS, Today, with six offices across five boroughs and two satel-
lite offices, NHS enables neighborhood residents to achieve their goals
through a broad range of products and services, and continues to target
low to moderate-income populations and geographic areas; and
WHEREAS, In order to help New York City residents, NHS provides a
full-range of Homeownership Promotion and Preservation programs that
include: pre- and post-purchase education and counseling and subject-
specific seminars such as: Homebuyers' Clubs; Financial Fitness; Land-
lord Education; Foreclosure Prevention; and the Home Maintenance Train-
ing Program; and
WHEREAS, Ably led by both Executive Director Tonya Ores and Board
President Lois Locke, NHS continues to prosper today and into the
future; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush upon the occasion
of hosting its 28th Annual Corporate Meeting; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Executive Director Tonya Ores and Board President Lois Locke,
Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush.