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JUNE 11 - 17, 2026
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Bringing resources closer to residents Urban Upbound marked a major milestone on the Rockaway Peninsula with the grand opening of a new service center inside the Hammel Houses, expanding access to workforce, financial and mental health services for NYCHA residents and the surrounding community. The new office will provide neighborhood-based support through programs that include workforce development, financial counseling, tax preparation and filing, small business assistance and mental health counseling. The May 29 opening ceremony highlighted the organization’s long-term investment in Far Rockaway and public housing residents. “This expansion represents a continued investment in the people and communities of the Ro c k aw ay s, ” s a i d B i s h o p Mitchell G. Taylor, CEO and cofounder of Urban Upbound. “By bringing services directly into the Hammel Houses, we a re re m ov i n g b a r r i e r s t o accessing the tools residents need to build long-term economic stability and escape cycles of poverty.” The service center is designed to offer residents easier access to critical services without having to leave their neighborhood. Officials said the office would also serve as a hub for community engagement, featuring space for job fairs, financial literacy workshops, wellness pro g rams, entrepreneur seminars and resident meetings. NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble said the new office would help provide direct pathways to opportunity for residents of Hammel Houses and the wider Rockaway community. “The new Urban Upbound service center guarantees NYCHA residents at Hammel Houses have direct access to the resources and opportuni-
Courtesy Dhrupad Mamun Urban Upbound
Urban Upbound opened a new service inside the Hammel Houses in Far Rockaway on May 29. ties they deserve — in their community and close to home,” Trimble said. Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson, Councilwoman Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, representatives for Rep. Gregory Meeks, local clergy members and community leaders, including Hammel Houses Resident Association President Lisa Johnson and Rev. Evan Gray Sr. of Macedonia Baptist Church of Arverne, attended the ceremony. State Sen. James Sanders Jr., who grew up in the Rockaways, reflected on his personal connection to the community and the significance of the investment. “ To d ay m a rk s a p r o u d moment for the Rockaways as we celebrate the grand opening of Urban Upbound’s new office at Hammel Houses — a community that I know well and hold close to my heart,” he said. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. emphasized the importance of bringing financial services directly
to NYCHA residents. “NYCHA families deserve the same access to critical financial services, like tax prep and counseling, as any other family in this city,” Richards said. “I’m grateful to Urban Upbound for bringing a litany of financial resources directly to the residents of Hammels Houses.” Brooks-Powers called the n ew c e n t e r a n i m p o r t a n t investment in Far Rockaway families and praised Urban Upbound’s continued work in helping residents achieve economic stability. “Today’s grand opening is a powerful investment in the people of Far Rockaway and the residents of Hammel Houses,” Brooks-Powers said. “Urban Upbound has long been a trusted partner in helping families achieve economic stability through workforce development, financial counseling, tax preparation assistance, and pathways to long-term financial independence.” Urban Upbound’s expansion
builds on its years of work in the Rockaways following Hurricane Sandy. After the storm devastated many public housing communities, Taylor began visiting residents door-to-door, particularly seniors who had been heavily impacted by the disaster. Seeing similarities between the Rockaways and the Queensbridg e Houses community where he grew up, Taylor established Urban Upbound’s first office in Downtown Far Rockaway. The organization focused on delivering workforce development programs, financial counseling and tax preparation services to residents facing economic hardship. Since then, Urban Upbound has continued to expand its
partnerships with resident associations, nonprofits, elected officials, clergy members and local businesses to strengthen access to services across the peninsula. Officials at the grand opening said the Hammel Houses office reflects a broader effort to bring resources directly into underserved communities and remove barriers that often prevent families from accessing support programs. The new center is expected to serve as both a service hub and gathering space for residents seeking financial stability, career advancement and long-term economic opportunity within the Rockaways. –Jeffrey Bessen