2023 YEAR IN REVIEW
Chhaya builds equitable and thriving neighborhoods by fostering the self-determination, housing stability, and economic well-being of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities across New York City.
Dear friends,
In 2023, as the world slowly began emerging from the pandemic, our community members faced significant challenges: higher rents, a rising number of evictions, and soaring interest rates that put business loans and home mortgages increasingly out of reach. And the stresses of daily living played out against the backdrop of a world that felt—and continues to feel—increasingly volatile, divided, and unsettled; a world in desperate need of healing.
In these times, Chhaya remained steadfast in leveraging the strength, resilience, and hopes of our community members to foster connection, transcend barriers, and make healing possible.
We offered workshops and counseling to new and potential homeowners. We convened tenant association meetings and provided counseling and workshops so tenants could avoid eviction and improve housing conditions. We provided tax prep services and financial counseling to community members, and we worked with small business owners in Jackson Heights and Richmond Hill to help them navigate bureaucracies, attain credit, and continue to contribute to the vibrant spirit of our neighborhoods.
And while we continued to meet the immediate and urgent needs of our community members by providing direct services, we also advocated tirelessly for the systemic changes–be it basement apartment legalization, stability for small businesses, or overall housing security—that would allow our community members to lead less stressful lives and enjoy greater stability and an improved sense of well-being.
On behalf of our staff and board, I am pleased to share this snapshot of Chhaya’s accomplishments and activities in 2023. Fueled by our mission to build the power, housing stability, and economic well-being of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers, we look forward to building on the foundations we have laid, and continuing to create a sense of community, of connection, of healing—and even of joy.
Sincerely,
Annetta Seecharran Executive Director
OUR MISSION
HOMEOWNERSHIP
“MD Shariful Islam, his wife Rifat Farhana, and their two young daughters were the first family I had assisted with the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program. When I received his grant approval letter …, I was overjoyed… After [the closing], as they were handed their keys, his family and I teared up.”
CURRENT AND POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS HELPED TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOME, MAKE NECESSARY UPGRADES AND REPAIRS, OR AVOID FORECLOSURE, THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING, LEGAL CLINICS, HOUSING FAIRS, WORKSHOPS, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES.
— Alysha Habib
CHHAYA HOUSING COUNSELOR
TENANTS’ RIGHTS
NEW CASES OPENED TO PROTECT TENANTS FROM EVICTION, HELP THEM SECURE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND PROTECT THEM FROM ILLEGAL OVERCHARGES AND HARASSMENT.
FACILITATED TENANT ASSOCIATIONS
IN MULTIPLE BUILDINGS OWNED BY TWO NOTORIOUS NEW YORK CITY LANDLORDS, ENABLING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COLLECTIVELY FIGHT TENANT HARASSMENT, UNLAWFUL CHARGES, AND UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS.
“Apnara Na Thakle Kichui Hoto Na“ “Nothing would have happened without you”
“..They charge that the city has approved multiple MCI (Major Capital Improvement) applications despite Zara Realty’s history of harassing tenants, exacerbating rent hardships and decreased services. ‘It started off with tenants coming into the Chhaya office knowing that we provided in-language support. This helped spearhead the organizing with Zara Tenant Coalition,’ said Rima Begum, Chhaya’s assistant director of programs for housing stability.”
BASEMENTS SAFE FOR EVERYONE CAMPAIGN
ADVANCED OUR CAMPAIGN TO LEGALIZE BASEMENT APARTMENTS
“Since Hurricane Ida, Chhaya has dedicated much of its time to advocating for basement apartments. . . to be legalized in hopes of bringing the units up to code. ‘I think in all of this, we’ve forgotten what this is about,’ Seecharran said. ‘Eleven people died. And we can’t forget them.’”
“Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and the Regional Plan Association all support the Basement Apartments Safe for Everyone (BASE) initiative, which advocates for a legal pathway for converting New York City basements and cellars into safe, healthy, and affordable apartments.”
SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HELPED TO NAVIGATE BUREAUCRACIES, NEGOTIATE COMMERCIAL LEASES, AND ACCESS SMALL BUSINESS LOANS AS CHHAYA’S WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS EXPANDS BEYOND JACKSON HEIGHTS INTO RICHMOND HILL.
PROVIDED VEHICLES FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION, ENGAGING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN ADVOCACY FOR COMMERCIAL RENT PROTECTIONS; CONVENING MEETINGS BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND CITY OFFICIALS; AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE CREATION OF A MERCHANTS’ ASSOCIATION.
MORE
“At risk…is the soul of the city: the minority- and immigrant-owned businesses that create a path to the middle class and provide hard-tofind goods and services in ethnic enclaves. ‘For the first time in New York City history, their existence is being threatened,’ said Annetta Seecharran, the executive director of Chhaya, a nonprofit community development group. ‘Their No. 1 problem is rent.’”
FINANCIAL EDUCATION & IMMIGRATION SERVICES
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
PROVIDED IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES 600
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
PROVIDED FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND TAX PREPARATION SERVICES, HELPING THEM REDUCE DEBT, BUILD CREDIT, AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILITY. 800
COMMUNITY TRANSFORMING
LT. FRANK MCCONNELL PARK
INTO A VIBRANT CULTURAL HUB FOR COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, ENGAGEMENT, AND EMPOWERMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STUDIO FOR, THE URBAN DESIGN FORUM, AND ANHD.
WORKING TOWARD ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IN QUEENS TO PRESERVE COMMUNITY SPACE AND COMMERCIAL AFFORDABILITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, TO PREVENT HOME FORECLOSURES, AND TO INCREASE COMMUNITY CONTROL.
FY23 UNAUDITED FINANCIALS
2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ALLISON BALL, Treasurer Goodwill Industries of New York and Northern New Jersey
JEREMY BENJAMIN Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
RYAN BUDHU Arnold & Porter
ANOUSKA CHEDDIE, Co-Chair Environmental Defense Fund
CHRIS HANWAY, Secretary Jacob Riis Settlement House
AMINTA KILAWAN-NARINE South Queens Women’s March
KHONDOKAR (JOMO) MOHIUDDIN Bank of America
RESHMA PATEL, Co-Chair Shadoka
YANKI TSHERING Accompany Capital