Brooklyn Neighborhood Improvement Association, Inc. (BNIA), is a non-profit, 501© (3), neighborhood preservation organization founded in 1980 by a voluntary association of community organizers, youth workers and other community residents who were concerned about the urban decay in their neighborhoods. With a devotion to building community strength, stabilizing and preserving the neighborhoods and a need to develop on-going programs in the community, the organization grew.

From its inception, BNIA served the residents of Neighborhood Development Area #8 (Crown Heights North) by providing housing counseling and tenant organizing. The organization strived to develop programs to upgrade and rehabilitate the deteriorating housing stock, stimulate commercial revitalization, spurn economic development and improve the general living conditions of community residents. In addition to community involvement and pride in those on-going efforts, BNIA perhaps more importantly has been committed to stimulating human development. Thus the purpose of the organization is to improve awareness, commitment and empowerment in the community so as to increase enrichment of lives.

Later, BNIA added to its repertoire, an array of services and programs – housing development, rehabilitation and management; youth employment, life skills training and development; home counselling and credit counselling. Because of the agency’s successful track record in Board #8 and wishing to expand our footprint further, BNIA extended its service area to Neighborhood Development Area #16 (Ocean Hill-Brownsville).