Ascendant Neighborhood Development primarily serves communities in East and Central Harlem. But our network of affordable housing providers, advocates, and residents extends across Northern Manhattan and throughout the city. With a population of about 130,000 residents, East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino neighborhoods in New York City — the result of waves of Puerto Rican and Latin American immigration to the area after World War I, followed by more South and Central American and Chinese arrivals throughout the 20th century.

In spite of demographic changes over the last decade, and a more recent influx of higher-income, white inhabitants, East Harlem is still mostly populated by people of color, and remains an immigrant neighborhood.

East Harlem and Northern Manhattan, like many areas of New York City, are facing a new kind of housing challenge today: rapid for-profit development of residential and commercial properties is driving astronomical real estate speculation, raising rents far beyond the reach of long-time community members, paving the way for the displacement of residents, and threatening the social and cultural fabric of the area. 

Organizations like ours must evolve to address these city-wide challenges, and to meet the needs of our residents in the face of these changes. We serve our neighborhoods by approaching community development holistically, and by working to secure not only affordable housing, but also critical services, socioeconomic support, and community-driven planning for New Yorkers most at risk of displacement.