About Us

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The East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust (EHEBCLT) works to develop and preserve community-controlled, truly and permanently affordable housing, commercial, green and cultural spaces in East Harlem/El Barrio that prioritizes households of extremely low to low incomes.

As a strategy to ensure permanent affordability, the East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust will own land and lease it to buildngs on that land, as well as develop a resident-controlled Mutual Housing Association.

We work hand in hand with East Harlem residents to build community ownership of land and housing. Our work begins with organizing—listening to tenants, building leadership, and supporting neighbors as they step into decision-making roles over the future of their homes and their community.

Through ongoing education and leadership development, residents prepare to govern Community Land Trust (CLT) properties themselves. This work ensures that community control is not symbolic, but real—rooted in shared responsibility, transparency, and collective power.

When a building is secured, EHEBCLT rehabilitates it to meet health, safety, and sustainability standards, ensuring homes are dignified and built to last. Residents are then relocated into CLT housing and trained in Mutual Housing Association practices, preparing them for democratic self-governance and long-term stewardship.

EHEBCLT works across East Harlem to preserve existing housing and create new community-led spaces, keeping land permanently affordable and in the hands of the people who call the neighborhood home.

Our work is rooted in real buildings and real people across East Harlem:

• 53 E 110th Street – Our office and first CLT property, home to nine residential apartments
• 304 E 126th Street – In development with the City; residents temporarily relocated
• 201 E 120th Street – Commercial space and residential unit
• 204 W 121st Street – In development; residents temporarily relocated

 We are growing—and community members help shape what comes next.

We partner with the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to move land and housing into community control. Together, we:

• Acquire buildings for long-term community ownership
• Fund critical repairs and full-scale renovations
• Establish permanent ground leases that guarantee affordability
• Plan housing transitions that center resident voice and stability

By working with public agencies, EHEBCLT helps bring public land and public resources into community hands, ensuring they serve East Harlem residents today and for generations to come.

1. Rosa Custodio, Board President and Resident liaison EHEBCLT  

Contact Number EHEBCLT ( 646 ) 647-7197  Email Address: rcustodio@ehehbclt.nyc 

2. Devan Cronshaw, Board Vice-President and HRA Chair Committee EHEBCLT 

Email Address: dcronshaw@ehebclt.nyc

3. Nilsa Orama Board Secretary 

Email Address: norama@ehebclt.nyc

4. Cristian Chirila ( Cris ) Board Treasurer and Financial Chair Committee 

Email Address: CChirila@ehebclt.nyc

5. Christina Curry Board Grant Writer and Fundraising Committee 

CCurry@EHEBCLT.NYC

Brian Peters (Former Board, Community Land Trust Manager)

BPeters@Ehebclt.nyc 646.647.9365

The East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust (EHEBCLT) develops and stewards community-controlled, truly and permanently affordable housing, along with commercial, green, and cultural spaces in East Harlem/El Barrio. We center the needs of extremely low- to low-income households.

To ensure permanent affordability, EHEBCLT owns land and leases it to buildings through long-term ground leases. We are also building a resident-led Mutual Housing Association to give community members direct control over their homes and neighborhoods.

We are currently recruiting candidates for three vital board roles:

• Legal Board Member: Ideal for someone with a J.D. and deep experience in New York State housing or real estate law. This role involves advising on acquisitions, reviewing contracts and policies, and guiding legal compliance to ensure sound and equitable development.
• Fundraising Board Member: Perfect for a fundraising professional who can support donor cultivation, develop fundraising strategies, and help grow EHEBCLT’s funding base. We’re looking for someone eager to champion our mission and build meaningful relationships with donors and supporters.
• Housing Finance Board Member: Suited for someone with experience in affordable housing finance (LIHTC, HOME, Section 8, etc.), this person will help us assess financial feasibility for projects, explore innovative financing models, and support strategic partnerships with CDFIs and other lenders.

All three are volunteer working board roles requiring hands-on engagement, committee participation, and a strong commitment to racial and housing justice.
You can find detailed descriptions for each position attached. We’d love your help forwarding this to your networks, professional associations, or anyone who may be a strong candidate.

Interested individuals can apply by sending a resume and short statement of interest to info@ehebclt.nyc with the relevant board title in the subject line (e.g., “Legal Board Member”) if there are any questions. The positions and postings will remain opened until filled. 

Thank you for helping us build a board that reflects the strength, knowledge, and dedication of our community! mething exciting your business offers? Say it here.

East Harlem—El Barrio—has long been shaped by grassroots movements fighting for dignity, self-determination, and community control. From the organizing of the Black Panther Party and the Young Lords, People’s Church, and other tenant, labor, and faith-based movements, residents have consistently come together to defend their neighborhood against displacement, disinvestment, and exploitation.

The East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust (EHEBCLT) stands in direct lineage with these struggles. Our work is rooted in the belief that the people who live in a neighborhood should have the power to shape its future.