Chhaya Community Development Corporation is a non-profit organization focused on improving access to housing opportunities, resources, and information for South Asian Americans throughout New York City and the metropolitan area. We advocate for community and economic development and justice within South Asian and other immigrant communities.

South Asian Americans, a group that includes immigrants from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Caribbean nations such as Guyana and Trinidad, are New York City’s second-largest Asian community. These newest New Yorkers have a wide range of service needs.

Chhaya provides key housing and immigration services to South Asian newcomers, including:

1. Homebuyer Assistance: Chhaya offers free, multilingual first time homeownership workshops and individual counseling to help clients through the confusing maze of purchasing a home.

2. Mortgage Counseling: Before visiting a mortgage broker, financial or real estate institution, Chhaya provides clients with key information on how to understand and improve personal credit, how to choose the right mortgage product, where to go for assistance, and what to look for while applying for a mortgage.

3.Tenant Rights Assistance and Counseling: When landlords are unresponsive to repair requests or attempt to evict tenants unlawfully, we can provide mediation assistance file complaints, with the appropriate city housing authority, or suggest other resources available to tenants

4. Information on Illegal Conversions: Chhaya works with landlords and tenants to inform them on New York City regulations governing illegally converted apartments and other types of informal housing. We are also actively engaged in systemic policy advocacy to streamline the ‘legalization’ process for both landlords
and tenants.

5. Media Advocacy: Chhaya actively collaborates with the South Asian media to discuss key community issues. In addition to working with print media, Chhaya hosts a monthly call-in show on the ITV Gold cable channel to inform South Asian communities region-wide on pressing public policy and legislative
issues.

6. Housing Education: Chhaya organizes multilingual workshops on tenant rights, housing discrimination, and forms of public housing assistance available to the community.

7. Referral Services: Chhaya answers basic questions on a wide range of issues from immigration, to public benefits eligibility, and Section 8 housing programs, provide referrals to government agencies and other service providers for more specialized assistance.

8. Assistance with Discrimination or Harassment: If you have been harassed or attacked in your home or neighborhood, you can contact us for assistance with filing a complaint.

9. Lead Poisoning: Chhaya works with local schools, clinics, and community organizations to promote awareness of lead paint poisoning, and trains community members to detect and report signs of lead paint in their apartments and houses.

10. Legal Clinics: Periodically Chhaya hosts free legal clinics where attorneys provide free or low-cost initial one-one counseling to families and individuals on housing and immigration issues.