Breaking down affordable housing policy so tenants can make their voices heard

Community Partners

Community members participate in an Affordable Housing Toolkit workshop.

The phrase “affordable housing” seems plain enough, but it doesn’t always mean what people think it does. It actually has a technical definition, which can determine what gets built and who gets to live there. The Affordable Housing Toolkit helps communities answer the all-important question, “Affordable to whom?”
The kit is an interactive workshop tool with activities that break down affordable housing policy into easy-to-understand visuals. A felt chart lets communities look at income demographics, rents, and proposed developments in their neighborhoods. A guidebook explains New York’s affordable housing programs and who is eligible to use them. The guide also provides step-by-step instructions on how to facilitate a workshop using the toolkit activities. The online map lets you instantly chart the income demographics of any NYC neighborhood and print it out to share with elected officials or other audiences.

CUP designed the toolkit in collaboration with designer Glen Cummings of design studio MTWTF. We also worked with an advisory group of dozens of community organizations, advocacy groups, and policy experts to make sure the toolkit could meet the specific needs they faced in engaging their constituents on neighborhood development issues.
Over 100 organizations throughout New York City have toolkits and conduct workshops for thousands of participants each year. Workshops regularly take place at community meetings, classrooms, staff trainings for organizers, and many other locations.
CUP updates the numbers in the toolkits every few years, and we've update the guidebook twice to include new and changing housing programs. Get your updated copy today!

See How it Works

“The Affordable Housing Toolkit bridges the gap between the people in power and the people on the ground by helping them understand these terms like “Section 8.” These issues that could be confusing to anyone – let alone those who are living inside of them and are burdened by all sorts of other issues in their lives."

The toolkit includes a guide and an interactive wall chart.

Check Out the Project

We can arrange workshops anywhere in the five boroughs with 3-4 weeks of notice. Some organizations may qualify for reduced rates depending on the ability to pay, audience reached, and level of customization. <a href="https://airtable.com/shrsQVMYw7pZPSdhm">Contact us</a> to find out more.

Want A Workshop?

CUP is committed to helping housing advocates, community boards, and others teach their constituents about land use and development. Get in touch to find out if you qualify for subsidized pricing. <a href="https://airtable.com/shrsQVMYw7pZPSdhm">Contact us</a> to find out more.

Get a discounted toolkit!

<a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/images/What_Is_Affordable_Housing_Guidebook_English.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Download in English ↓</a>

<a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/images/What_Is_Affordable_Housing_Guidebook_Spanish.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Descargar en Español ↓</a>

<a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/images/What_Is_Affordable_Housing_Guidebook_Chicago.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago version ↓</a>

Download the Guidebook

CUP 
Created by:<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/john-mangin"></a>
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/john-mangin">John Mangin</a> 
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/margot-walker" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Margot Walker</a>
 
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/rosten-woo">Rosten Woo</a>
Produced by:
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/christine-gaspar">Christine Gaspar</a> 
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/jonathan-palmer-hoffman">Jonathan Palmer-Hoffman</a> 
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/john-mangin">John Mangin</a> 
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/valeria-mogilevich">Valeria Mogilevich</a> 
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/mark-torrey">Mark Torrey</a> 
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/rosten-woo">Rosten Woo</a>

Community Partners
<a href="http://www.aaldef.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/asian-americans-for-equality" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Asian Americans for E</a><a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/asian-americans-for-equality" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quality</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/association-for-neighbourhood-housing-development" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Association for Neighborhood &amp; Housing Development</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/center-for-family-life-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Center for Family Life</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/community-service-society" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Community Service Society</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/fifth-avenue-committee" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fifth Avenue Committee</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/furman-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/good-jobs-first" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Good Jobs First</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/good-old-lower-east-side" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Good Old Lower East Side</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/gowanus-canal-corp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/municipal-art-society" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Municipal Art Society</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/new-york-immigration-coalition-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Immigration Coalition</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/new-york-jobs-with-justice" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Jobs with Justice</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/pratt-area-community-council" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pratt Area Community Council</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/south-brooklyn-legal-services" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Brooklyn Legal Services</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/tenants-neighbors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tenants &amp; Neighbors</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/thread-collective" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thread Collective</a>
<a href="http://159.89.181.18/people/urban-homestead" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Urban Homesteading Assistance Board</a>

Booklet &amp; Chart Design<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/mtwtf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> </a><a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/mtwtf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MTWTF</a>
Glen Cummings Aliza Dzik Dylan Fracaretta Joshua Hearn
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/jeff-lai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
Photography
Anthony Hamboussi
Animation
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/jeff-lai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeff Lai</a>
Web Application
Sha Hwang Zach Watson William Wang

Project Collaborators

<h3> </h3>
<h4>Special Thanks</h4>
Clara Amenyo, Tess Bath, Pema Domingo-Barker, Sam Holleran, Jeff Kasper, Lize Mogel, Valeria Mogilevich, Oscar Nunez, Sarah Serpas, Matt Zebrowski, Vicki Been, Michelle De La Uz, Mark Foggin, Anne Frederick, Michael Freedman-Schnapp, Michael Heimbinder, Matt Klein, Brad Lander, Juan Camilo Osorio, Paul Parkhill, Frank Ruchala Jr., Lucas Shapiro, Lacey Tauber, Tom Angotti, Eve Baron, Bettina Damiani, Benjamin Dulchin, Richard Lee, Bethany Li, David Powell, Damaris Reyes, Lisa J. Servon, Susanna Schaller, Elana Shneyer, Ericka Stallings, Vicki Weiner 
<h4>Product Details</h4>
The toolkit Includes a folding game board, plastic blocks, infrastructure tiles, 100 2-sided activity sheets, and 146-page guidebook in a 9″ × 9″ × 19″ toolbox. 
<h4>Funding Support </h4>
Support for this project was provided by The Nathan Cummings Foundation; the Surdna Foundation; public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; and Sappi Ideas that Matter. Additional support was provided by Council Member Carlos Menchaca and Council Member Brad Lander.

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Hyperakt is a purpose-driven design and innovation studio that elevates human dignity and ignites curiosity. Since 2001, co-founders Julia Zeltser and Deroy Peraza, along with the Hyperakt team, have been partnering with change-makers moving society forward. We believe in design’s power to build a future filled with courage, optimism, and honesty.

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The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of design and art to increase meaningful civic engagement in partnership with historically marginalized communities.

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