SBCO Services

The Southern Brooklyn Community Organization

Mortgage Counseling - Guides potential homeowners through the home purchase process including pre- and post- purchase counseling; review of financial readiness to become a homeowner including review of finances, income and expenses; helping obtain a mortgage; applying for down-payment assistance grants.

Foreclosure Counseling - Assists homeowners facing or about to face the foreclosure process, including applying for loan modification from the financial institution.

Financial Counseling – Providing basic financial literacy as required for loan modification and many mortgage loan programs.

Educational Workshops – in partnership with local elected officials to educate the public in basic financial literacy and mortgage acquisition.

SCRIE | DRIE (Senior Citizen/Disability Rent Increase Exemption) - Also known as the Rent Freeze Program, qualifying applicants can receive assistance from a member of the NYC Department of Finance Task Force to have their rent frozen at the current level and be exempt from most future increases. (One staff member is now a member of the NYC Dept. of Finance Task Force for the Disability Rent Increase Exemption and Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption programs).Home Improvements Grants & Loans – Grants offered by NYS, NYC and local financial institutions

GRANTS - Down Payment Assistance | Low-Income Grants | Senior Grants – Down Payment Assistance Grants offered through NYC and various other sources. Low-income and Senior Grants provided by BPHC. Assistance to eligible low/moderate income homeowners and landlords in obtaining low-interest home improvement loans through City programs and private foundations, Assistance to eligible homeowners in obtaining Energy Conservation Grants from NYSERDA.

Housing Relocation - A Housing Registry to assist families and individuals in need of rental housing, in finding decent, sanitary and affordable housing. Matches tenants looking for housing with landlords who have vacant units available.

Affordable Housing Development – SBCO has successfully completed construction of more than 450 units of housing designated for low and moderate-income families. These include:

  • The rehabilitation of low-income rental units for senior citizens under the Federal Section 202 Low-Income Senior Citizen Housing Program, and low-income rental units under the Section 8 Substantial Rehabilitation Program.
  • To create home ownership opportunities for low and moderate-income large families, affordable 3, 4, and 5-bedroom condominium units were developed with the assistance of federal, city and state programs.  In 2000, five previously city-owned buildings were rehabilitated into 22 rental units for low-income tenants, utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits and New York City’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program.
  • SBCO recently completed construction of a new multi-million dollar Community Service Center (funded by State and City grants), which houses its administrative offices and Career Opportunities and Preparation for Employment (COPE), a sister division of Agudath Israel. As a result, housing services, job training and career opportunities are available under one roof, to serve the low-income population in the community.
  • Culver Housing Project - SBCO is in the midst of constructing an affordable housing development in Borough Park, the first of its kind in nearly two decades. While the environment and regulations have changed dramatically since this project was first promised to the community by Mayor Ed Koch, we have been fortunate to actually close on the property and are currently approximately 50% - 60% built.

Senior Services - SBCO Provides a nutritious hot lunch served in a congregate setting, as well as security services for tenants at West End Gardens Senior Citizen Housing Development.