UHAB | Urban Homesteading Assistance Board

Cooperatives need steady guidance, especially in a city where real estate moves faster than subway trains. UHAB has spent decades helping tenant groups take control of their own buildings—converting rentals into limited-equity co-ops, securing financing, and navigating the maze of city regulations. The office sits on the 20th floor of 120 Wall Street, a tower that feels worlds away from the walk-up buildings it serves.

From Chinatown to Washington Heights, the organization offers technical assistance, low-interest loans, and training for co-op boards. Resident groups can call (212) 479-3300 to schedule a session on everything from budgeting to boiler repairs. It’s the kind of support that keeps aging buildings viable and long-term tenants in place, a quiet counterpoint to the luxury condos rising across the five boroughs.

Directions to the office are easy enough—just follow the map to the Financial District’s canyon of glass and steel. While the address suggests corporate polish, the work inside remains firmly rooted in the neighborhoods where New Yorkers actually live, not just invest.