How (HDFC) Housing Development Fund Corporation Program was created

Limited Equity Cooperatives has a legal handbook that was created by Barry Mallin, Esq. under a contract with New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal under the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Sr. and Angelo J. Aponte, Commissioner at the time.

About Barry Mallin the Author

Barry Mallin is an attorney who has specialized for the last 10 years in the field of community development law. During that period, Mr. Mallin has worked with more than 200 low income cooperatives and homesteading groups. He served as the Director of the Community Development Legal Assistance Center from 1980-1985, and it is the co-author of the Legal Handbook for Community Development Organizations.

John Conway, Technical Assistance Program Manager for (DHCR) Division of Housing and Community Renewal, provided editorial assistance and supervised production and distribution of this handbook.

It is my pleasure to provide information of the creation of  HDFC buildings as Limited Equity Cooperatives and how they have been supervised by HPD Housing Preservation and Development with the assistance of UHAB Urban Homesteading Assistance Board.

Bringing today's reality of what was created and the results of the program is part of educating future shareholders and current occupants of HDFC buildings

Lupe Moreno Harlem Lady

Harlem Lady Story

Choosing what to do for the rest of my life was not easy, my past had showed me that my efforts needed to be placed on things that make a difference.

Real Estate showed me the way to do such a thing. How I ended up understanding affordable housing, probably had more to do with destiny that choice. After learning what NOT to do in my new career, I wanted to work in the Community of Harlem, yet it took an elderly man's request for assistance in selling his apartment in and HDFC building back in 2007, that took me in the road of educating myself and learning as much as I could to do the job I was hired for.

So here I am in 2012 not only with expertise in the subject but a feeling of becoming an activist on behalf of people affected by what is happening in affordable housing.

Learning from the source was an eye opener, and sitting among the individuals looking to get assistance  made me wonder how little they were given in the process; don't get me wrong, the reality is that not everybody wants to learn or protect themselves, but the structure of the program is not design to encourage questions or involvement. as you continue to read my story, it will be clear how the program designed to help affordable housing started and why we are today in such a state of chaos with no clear path in sight.

Understanding Affordable Housing in Harlem New York

After 6 years of working in Real Estate in the Community of Harlem, the need for education and understanding of Affordable Housing has become my passion and nothing works better than a healthy exchange of knowledge and experience with individuals affected or interested in the reality of housing for middle and low income families.

For the last 10 months I have been receiving phone calls and emails from families looking for assistance to locate apartments; some with vouchers for programs created by the NYC or in desperate search of an opportunity to have access to an "affordable" apartment. 

My past experience and knowledge of (HDFC) Housing Development Fund Corporation buildings and what is becoming a great concern of what is in store for the future of the stock of affordable units under the supervision of (HPD) Housing Preservation and Development, that created (UHAB) Urban Homesteading Assistance Board with the purpose of assisting Tenants that became Shareholders in HDFC buildings since the creation of the program.

Creating a place for information has been a dream since I branded myself as the Harlem Lady in Real Estate. It is my intention to institute and exchange of knowledge, experiences and suggestions in how to help and find solutions to what is affecting families in the current economy.

Comments and questions will become the most important part of the future along with  a healthy interaction between people interested in Affordable Housing .

Lupe Moreno Harlem Lady