Members of the Carroll Gardens Association meet with Senator Montgomery to lobby for funding for the Neighborhood Preservation Program.

Senator Montgomery meets with members of the Carroll Gardens Association (CGA) during the organization's annual visit to Albany to lobby for funding for the Neighborhood Preservation Program.

The Carroll Gardens Association was formed as a strong grassroots neighborhood organization that organized in the 1960’s.  It was incorporated in May of 1971, as a not-for-profit organization chartered by the State of New York, to assist the disadvantaged and to create a spirit of community participation and comradeship by making the interests of one the interest of all. CGA is dedicated to community empowerment through programs that preserve and develop affordable housing, enforce quality housing through real estate management, promote financial literacy and small business economic development, and providing and linking residents to social services and resources to improve the quality of their lives.

The Carroll Gardens Association and a statewide network of non-profit housing organizations receive funding through the Neighborhood Preservation Program. The program, administered through the Division of Housing and Community Renewal provides financial support for 205 not-for-profit community-based housing corporations to perform housing and community renewal activities statewide. These corporations, known as Preservation Companies, provide assistance including, but are not limited to, housing rehabilitation, home buyer counseling, tenant counseling, landlord/tenant mediation, community rehabilitation and renewal, crime watch programs, employment programs, legal assistance, and Main Street Development.

A majority of Preservation Companies are also involved in the planning and development of capital projects including new construction and/or rehabilitation of older housing stock. Companies perform this work with the assistance of DHCR administrative funds and leveraged funds from the private sector and other governmental sources.Preservation Companies are located in most areas of the state and primarily serve low- and moderate-income residents. Preservation Companies are required to serve areas where there are significant unmet housing needs for the low and moderate income population.

For more information about the Carroll Gardens Association and their work in our community, visit http://www.carrollgardensassociation.com.