Our Mission Housing Conservation Coordinators is a community-based, not-for-profit organization anchored in the Hell’s Kitchen/Clinton neighborhood of Manhattan’s West Side. We are dedicated to advancing social and economic justice and fighting for the rights of poor, low-income and working individuals and families. With a primary focus on strengthening and preserving affordable housing, we seek to promote a vibrant and diverse community with the power to shape its own future. Our Sevices: HCC’s dedicated legal services include full legal representation, pre-litigation advocacy, assistance in identifying and applying for public benefits like SCRIE and SNAP, support for consumer debt reduction, abuse prevention and redress, immigration services, and elder law including end of life directives. HCC leverages its own expertise in housing and benefits law and advocacy in partnership with “our partners” other CBOs and citywide legal service organizations to coordinate services and fully address client needs. HCC also provides complementary programs to preserve and create quality affordable housing, including its Weatherization Assistance to increase the energy efficiency of affordable housing properties and HDFC Revolving Loan Programs to help stabilize viable low-income cooperatives in our community and maintain them as affordable ownership options. Access is paramount to HCC’s mission: Unlike some legal service programs, clients do not need to have an active court case to qualify for services. Intake forms can be filled out online, and all of HCC’s services are offered free of charge. Home visits are made for those unable to come to the office and referrals are regularly made by the local community boards, elected officials, neighborhood not-for-profit agencies, NYC HRA/DSS Waverly Job Center, NYC DHS, Housing Court Judges, citywide referral lists, including www.lawhelpny.org, and other state and federal resources. Who we serve: HCC’s programming and services target the 43,740 New York County residents in the Hell’s Kitchen/Clinton and Upper West Side neighborhoods (34th to 100th Street, west of 5th Avenue to the Hudson River whose incomes are below 200% of the poverty level. In the past decade, HCC’s catchment area has experienced a striking increase in seniors needing assistance to remain safe and independent in their own homes. According to the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy, the UWS ranks second in NYC in its percentage of senior residents, with 19.9% of its population over the age of 65. HCC’s catchment area is situated in prime districts on the west side of Manhattan adjacent to the theater and midtown districts and Central Park. These neighborhoods are primarily rental communities and largely rely on rent regulation of privately-owned multi-family buildings for its affordable housing, with additional affordable units subject to some form of subsidy. The vast difference between rents charged in regulated units compared to those at market-rate provides tremendous incentive to evict long-term tenants, many of whom are seniors who have resided in their homes for decades, or to opt-out of affordable housing programs restricting affordability (such as Section 8, 421-a tax abatements, etc.) at expiration. In the coming years, the west side will potentially lose more than 3,500 affordable units due to expiring subsidies. Our Mission Our History Our Board Our Staff HCC in the News Donate Job Opportunities Contact Us