As another challenging year draws to a close, all of us at AAFE would like to extend our wishes to you for a happy and healthy 2022. We also wanted to take a few moments to thank you for all you do on behalf of New York’s low-income and immigrant communities. Our work these past couple of years to keep New York’s most vulnerable populations safe during the pandemic would not have been possible without your commitment and friendship. We invite you to have a look at some of our 2021 community impact highlights.
In the past year AAFE provided…
800+ families in AAFE buildings in Manhattan and Queens with a safe and healthy living environment during Covid-19.
450 low-income tenants with anti-displacement counseling and legal services.
152 community members free legal services through our partnership with the Asian American Bar Association.
$1.5 million in payments to community members impacted by Covid through New York State’s Excluded Workers Fund.
877 community members with assistance navigating entitlement benefits and securing affordable health care.
AAFE Health Fair on the Lower East Side, October 2021.
32,000 pounds of food through our pantries in Chinatown, the Lower East Side and East Harlem.
574 hours of community service through AAFE’s reactivated volunteer program.
256 community members with immigration and citizenship counseling.
75 immigrant high school students with college access and youth leadership programs.
Kim Lee and Betty Chung of Simple NYC, one of the small businesses that received financial and technical support from Renaissance.
And in support of small businesses and first-time homebuyers…
167 low-interest loans were dispersed for $3.9 million through Renaissance Economic Development Corporation’s small business aid programs.
176 grants for $2 million were awarded through Renaissance’s participation in the Queens Small Business Grant Program and the NYC Interest Rate Reduction Grant Program.
954 small business owners were provided with technical assistance through Renaissance’s one-on-one technical assistance programs.
78 community members received assistance in securing home loans for a total of $22.7 million through AAFE Community Development Fund.
Note: All impact data preliminary pending year-end reporting.
As Covid cases rise once again, we know 2022 will be full of new challenges. To meet the growing housing insecurity needs citywide, we are preparing to open East Village Homes, our 100% affordable development in Manhattan, and beginning development of a 90-unit transitional housing complex for families with children in Flushing, Queens. We are continuing to build out our resident services program in support of AAFE tenants and expand our community services in new neighborhoods, including East Harlem. And Renaissance, AAFE’s small business affiliate, is working to provide new financial and educational programs for small businesses struggling to recover from the pandemic. There is a lot of work to do in the months ahead, and we look forward to tackling all of it together in the new year. We’ll see you in 2022!
Please consider supporting our work through a tax deductible donation before midnight on Friday, December 31!
