DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES FOR TENANT ENGAGEMENT AND RIGHTS ADVOCACY

IMPACCT Brooklyn, also known as the Pratt Area Community Council, is a community development corporation that owns over 1,000 units of affordable or supportive housing. Since 1964, IMPACCT Brooklyn has advocated for Central Brooklyn residents and entrepreneurs on issues including affordable housing, tenant rights, small businesses, and homeownership. In 2015, the organization contracted out its property management services, resulting in a degree of separation between IMPACCT Brooklyn and its tenants. A team was engaged to conduct external research—on the community district, housing legislation, local and state representatives, and the 2021 NYC Mayoral race—and stakeholder interviews—of staff members, business affiliates, tenant associations, and board members. The team designed a pilot survey for IMPACCT Brooklyn to use to assess its residents’ satisfaction with their housing, awareness of their tenant rights, and wellbeing during the pandemic. The team created a final report containing a toolkit of recommendations for strengthening the organization's tenant engagement and rights advocacy efforts.