HISTORY

Uniondale received a disproportionate number of subprime loans during the housing boom. More than half of the loans originated between 2005 and 2006 were high-rate, and the community has faced high levels of foreclosures, vacancies, and post-crash speculative investment. The Uniondale Community Land Trust ensures that the community retains affordable housing stock. 

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In mid-2014, we gained non-profit status and remain under the fiscal sponsorship of the Uniondale Community Council. U-CLT has also developed relationships with local non-profit organizations, including potential development partners (Habitat for Humanity of Nassau County), bridge and construction financing providers (Leviticus Fund), and architects (a graduate studio class from the Harvard Design School).

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Initially, we focused on single-family homes in the unincorporated hamlet of Uniondale. The group defines Uniondale in its by-laws as a core area consisting of the 11553, 11555, and 11556 zip codes, and a secondary area that includes those sections covered by the Uniondale School, Water, Fire, and Library taxing and voting districts. The area is multi-racial and multi-ethnic, with more than four-fifths of the population being Black or Hispanic/Latino, or both. Forty-two percent of the residents are foreign-born (primarily first-generation immigrants).