Community Development Project, Inc. (d.b.a. TakeRoot Justice)

The global coronavirus has brought uncertainty and anxiety into people’s lives, workplaces, and neighborhoods, particularly for those who work to improve the health of our communities.

During this difficult time, many organizations across New York State are working tirelessly to keep people safe, especially the most vulnerable. In response, NYHealth is supporting statewide and local efforts to address emerging health care and public health needs in the wake of the pandemic. In 2020, NYHealth awarded TakeRoot Justice a grant to help ensure residents of East Harlem, Brownville, and the Lower East Side have access to safe, healthy housing and public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under this grant, TakeRoot Justice offered technical assistance and support to community-based organizations Good Old Lower East Side, Isabahlia Ladies of Elegance in Brownsville, and the Holmes-Isaac Coalition in East Harlem. TakeRoot Justice provided legal support and counsel to these organizations and to resident leaders and associations as they negotiated contracts and advocated for safe, healthy living conditions and community spaces, including proper air ventilation and purification, reliable power and light, and improved sanitation. It also engaged in community outreach to gather testimonies of residents’ experiences and additional housing needs.

View a complete list of NYHealth COVID-19 Response and Relief Efforts grantees.