Affordable housing is about more than a building. It is about creating places where families can put down roots, where residents can build stability, and where the history and character of a neighborhood can continue into the future.

 

ECDO's housing work grew directly from community organizing. Since our involvement in tenant organizing began in the late 1980s, we have worked to address housing conditions, preserve affordability, rehabilitate distressed properties, and create opportunities for Harlem residents.

 

Over the years, ECDO has developed more than 600 affordable housing units throughout Harlem, along with more than 20,000 square feet of commercial space.

 

Many of the properties connected to this history represent more than real estate. Some carry the names of remarkable Black figures whose contributions to art, literature, medicine, entrepreneurship, and culture helped shape Harlem and the nation.