At more than four decades old, a Bronx housing organization is expanding its reach to additional sectors and a new borough.
The South East Bronx Community Organization will mark its 44th anniversary Friday at Marina del Rey and celebrate 100 jobs created over the past year, said Peter Cantillo, president. The jobs are linked to a new homeless shelter for men on Hoe Ave. in Longwood and security work at three shelters run by Samaritan Village, including two in East New York, Brooklyn.
"To create 100 jobs is quite significant in our current economy," said Cantillo. "It shows that SEBCO is continuing to grow."
Founded by the Rev. Louis Gigante in 1968, SEBCO helped rebuild the gutted neighborhoods of Longwood and Hunts Point with affordable housing subsidized by the federal government.
Now SEBCO, a nonprofit, boasts three sister firms that offer property management, maintenance and security. The for-profit firms create jobs and allow SEBCO to operate hundreds of buildings on its own, said Cantillo.
The security firm, Sentry, added the most new jobs in 2011, thanks to four new shelter contracts in the Bronx and - for the first time - in Brooklyn. Sentry was founded to serve SEBCO buildings but now also provides security to medical centers and schools. Jobs at the firm start at just $8 an hour but experienced guards make up to $15 an hour.
Meanwhile, SEBCO has added non-security jobs on Hoe Ave., where three brownstone houses comprise the new Father Smith Residence. The shelter for homeless men is staffed 24/7 by social workers, job counselors and addiction counselors, Cantillo said.
Affordable housing is still the main focus for SEBCO. The nonprofit has partnered with the city and developers to build new projects for seniors on Webster Ave. in Norwood and Intervale Ave. in Morrisania.
Financed through low-income tax credits, the Webster complex will house senior couples and families that make roughly $20,000 to $50,000 a year. The apartments will rent for $540 to $836 a month. The application deadline for the Webster complex is April 30. Call (718) 617-2800 for more information.
Holding landlords accountable for neglect
Manhattan College, City Limits magazine and BronxMatters.com hosted a forum on housing code enforcement Monday. Journalists, policy experts, a landlord and a tenant discussed Bronx housing and how slum conditions led to the death of 8-year-old Jashawn Parker in a fire in 2002.
The panelists debated potential solutions such as licenses for landlords and an administrative tribunal for housing offenses.
"You need a license from the city to operate a hotdog cart or drive a taxi but not to own a building where people live," said Margaret Groarke, Manhattan College government professor.