Ecumenical Community Development Organization is a not for profit
organization dedicated to formulate and implement plans and projects
that improve the housing, social, and economic conditions of low and
moderate income residents and businesses of the West and Central Harlem
communities. It is the organization’s goal to assist residents
of West Harlem with a sense of community and a sense of personal empowerment.
ECDO is committed to community revitalization as housing development
has been its primary purpose until the organization expanded its role
in the community. ECDO has broadened and diversified its scope of
projects that includes tenant and community organizing, technical
assistance to community residents and organizations, counseling, education,
youth and adult employment programs and services.
In the basement of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine an idea was
born by a group of concerned residents, neighborhood activists, community
leaders and service providers. This group of citizens decided to form
and organize a not-for-profit corporation whose primary objective would
be to tackle "housing and community deterioration." As observers
who loved, lived and worked in the community, known as West Harlem,
these people as a group had a belief that the ongoing abandonment, deterioration
and demolition of buildings in a community that was once thriving and
viable could and must be stopped. They believed that more support was
needed for neighborhood based housing initiatives and began the advocacy
for the enhanced livability of their community.
In 1983 the Cathedral Housing Development Corporation was established
to revitalize a declining housing community by formulating and implementing
plans for the renewal, rehabilitation and new construction of residential
buildings in the area surrounding the Cathedral. The organizations
primary goal was to provide low and moderate income residents of the
community with decent, safe affordable housing. Cathedral Housing
Development Corporation hoped to accomplish these goals through a
cooperative of local community organizations, religious and educational
institutions. Thus, the organization’s name was officially changed
to, Ecumenical Community Development Organization "ECDO".
ECDO cut the ribbon and opened the doors to its first inter-generation
and special needs housing facility known as ECHO (Ecumenical Community
Housing Organization) Apartments in 1991. Ironically, ECHO is located
directly across the street from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Since then ECDO has developed affordable housing throughout West Harlem,
Manhattanville, Hamilton and Morningside Heights. Today, ECDO is a
multifaceted organization involved in a variety of community and city
wide activities. ECDO has played in integral part in the formulation
of a 197a Plan that was developed by Manhattan Community Board #9.
While implementing the organization’s original goal and mission
of "combating community deterioration," ECDO has organized
and maintains active participation by holding memberships with numerous
consortiums of housing advocacy and community service providers throughout
the country. ECDO’s community services include tenant and community
organizing, counseling, career training, and job placement assistance
to youth and adult along with housing development. The idea of community
unity and cooperation remains a prevalent part in each one of our
programs, projects and overall organizational development.
