Our Community
We serve the lowest-income members of the Ocean Hill, Brownsville, and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods in Central Brooklyn, three of the most vulnerable areas in New York City:
- Brooklyn Community Board 16 is one of the lowest-income districts in NYC, ranking 51 of 59 districts.
- Almost 40% of residents here live below the federal poverty line: double the rest of New York City.
- Nearly half of our community is at risk of hunger due to lack of income.
- More than 50% of our neighbors must rely on government benefits to make ends meet.
- Central Brooklyn is among the two worst “food deserts” in NYC. A food desert is a geographic area where residents’ access to affordable, healthy food options, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, is restricted or nonexistent.
- Residents of Central Brooklyn suffer from among the highest rates in NYC of many chronic conditions that are caused or exacerbated by a poor diet, including obesity and diabetes.
But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Meet our members and learn more about our community.
You can help!
