Bushwick Houses

Brooklyn

NeighborhoodStat

For over a year, a team of residents from Bushwick Houses has been meeting with neighbors, city agencies, and community-based organizations to prioritize the community safety issues most important to their development. These teams are at the heart of NeighborhoodStat (or “NStat”).   The Bushwick NStat team meets regularly and has been trained in surveying their community and generating solutions with concrete implementation plans. Through this process, the NStat team has recognized a need to improve cohesion and connectivity in the Bushwick community, particularly among young residents. The team, in collaboration with the Grand Street Settlement Bushwick- Hylan community center, has hosted a series of themed sessions to equip and empower young people to reach their personal and professional goals. As many young Bushwick residents have experienced trauma, they have also received conflict mediation and mental health care support.

The Bushwick Nstat Team led a participatory budgeting process through Local NeighborhoodStat in which residents were invited to submit their own ideas to strengthen safety and build community through built environment projects and/or social programming.

MAP Agency Partners

Since its launch in 2014, MAP agency partners have focused their programming to meet a variety of needs, ranging from support of seniors and kinship caregivers, mentorship of young adults, family-friendly programming of playgrounds, safe spaces for teens, assistance with public benefits, youth employment, and more.

Participate

The Bushwick Nstat Team is currently building a digital network to stay connected to one another during this time and to develop platforms to reimagine digital public space, co-create safety responses, support community building, and convene city agencies to leverage resources and collaboratively solve local problems. To learn about selected projects, or to participate in Bushwick Houses ongoing campaign, contact the MAP Engagement Coordinator Sandra Tapia at stapia@lossures.org or 347-874-3909.

Community Stories

Peace and Paint

Bushwick Houses 

Health & Well-Being

Some areas of Bushwick Houses are neglected and in need of improved management of waste and pest control and residents express concern about the homeless individuals who often enter the campus and need supportive services. Together, these conditions contribute to a space that feels neglected and unsafe. Improved collaboration between the NStat team, Bushwick property management, as well as linkage to service agencies like the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) will help to build out an effective, non-enforcement strategy for responding to these concerns.

Justice

The NYPD Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) at Bushwick Houses have modeled positive relationships and are actively engaged with the NStat team, but there is a need to build out similar relationships with all local NYPD officers who regularly interact with Bushwick residents of all ages. More intentional and transparent communication is needed to improve feelings of respect in the community.

Youth Development

Although several organizations offer youth programming in North Brooklyn, Bushwick youth face barriers to seeking support and would benefit from more strategic connection to employment, education, arts, and other programming. There is a need for youth development and community partners to identify the young people most in need of this support and to determine how to best assist them in meeting program requirements, as well as to work with local organizations to relax existing requirements that sometimes prevent Bushwick young people from accessing programs.

MAP Programs

Please note: In response to the COVID-19 emergency, some programs have been modified. For more information about modified program activities and availability, please click here

  • Human Resources Administration (HRA) Outreach Specialist is based at Bushwick Houses on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 4pm. The HRA Outreach Specialist can help with benefits navigation, SNAP, Cash, and Emergency Assistance for rent arrears. HRA also holds pop-up events in Bushwick to make sure as many people have access to public benefits support as possible.
  • Department for the Aging (DFTA) Community Advocate is based at Bushwick on Tuesdays. The DFTA Community Advocate offers Parenting a Second Time Around groups, support groups and individual counseling for seniors and kinship caregivers, intergenerational activities, and more.
  • Conflict Mediation through the New York City Peace Institute offers free conflict mediation for pairs or groups. They also provide different training opportunities to those interested in learning mediation skills.
  • Next STEPS Mentoring for Youth through CASES offers group mentorship for young people between the ages of 16-24 who may have experienced conflict and trauma. During group sessions, young people learn skills and build relationships with each other over hot meals.
  • Grand Street Settlement Cornerstone/Bushwick-Hylan Community Center offers free and engaging programming to Bushwick youth and teens. The community center is located at 50 Humboldt St. in Brooklyn.
  • Green Jobs Training through Green City Force (GCF), an Americorps service-year program that trains young NYCHA residents (18-24 years of age) in clean energy and urban agriculture and pays a monthly stipend and MetroCard to Corps Members for their service.
  • Shape Up NYC through the Department of Parks and Recreation offers free, drop-in fitness classes in or near MAP developments. Shape Up classes don’t require any advanced registration or fee, and are conveniently located for MAP residents to engage with each other and enjoy low-barrier fitness activities.

Contacts