West Harlem Group Assistance

What West Harlem Group Assistance does

West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. (WHGA) is a Harlem-based non-profit community development corporation founded in 1971 that develops, preserves, and manages affordable housing while delivering a portfolio of social services to low- and moderate-income New York City residents. The organization has acquired nearly 100 buildings constituting over 1,800 housing units across three historical eras, and operates 20+ multi-family properties, senior housing facilities (Mannie L. Wilson Towers, Joseph J. Yancey Houses), and cooperative homeownership units. Its core program portfolio includes the West Harlem Residence (45-unit transitional housing for DHS-referred homeless families, reporting near-100% transition to permanent housing within 9-12 months), the Convent Avenue Family Living Center (71-family emergency housing for HPD-referred displaced families, established 1989), the historic A. Philip Randolph Houses (283 mixed-income units rehabilitated through a $146 million joint venture with Trinity Financial), the Oberia D. Dempsey Multi-Service Center (a four-story facility housing 22 program-based organizations plus rentable event spaces), the Communities for Healthy Food Hub (serving over 85,000 clients since 2014 across 30 partner organizations), and a free Financial Planning and Homeownership Program operating since 1999 in partnership with NYS HCR and NYC HPD.

The underlying operating model is a referral-driven, government- and grant-funded service delivery platform rather than a technology or product company; the source material explicitly notes "no specific proprietary technology platforms." Revenue is assembled from multiple streams: affordable housing development projects funded by federal (HUD), state (NYS HCR), and city (NYC HPD) financing; operating contracts with NYC DHS and HPD for shelter services; corporate sponsorships from Capital One, Citi, JP Morgan Chase, and American Express; LISC community development financing; client choice pantry and nutrition program funding via Food Bank for New York City; and modest space-rental income at the Dempsey Center. Acquisition is entirely community/government-referral led — DHS for transitional housing, HPD Central Intake for emergency shelter, plus churches and community-based organizations — supported by earned media (New York Times, Amsterdam News, WNYC) and a digital presence (website, Facebook, X, YouTube, Mailchimp newsletter).

Name

West Harlem Group Assistance

Legal name

West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc.

Website

https://whgainc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

West Harlem Group Assistance (WHGA) is a 1971-founded Harlem non-profit community development corporation that develops and manages over 1,800 units of affordable housing and delivers transitional housing, emergency shelter, food distribution, and financial counseling services to low- and moderate-income New York City residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing & Social Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Down Payment Assistance (DPA) & Homebuyer Subsidy Programs (FSALAKAE)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Transitional housing services
• Emergency housing programs
• Community development corporation
• Social services programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Affordable Housing Development: WHGA develops and preserves affordable housing units in Harlem. The organization has developed multi-family housing, senior housing, and cooperative homeownership properties. Revenue comes from development projects funded by federal, city, and private financing.
2. Emergency and Transitional Housing Services: WHGA operates transitional housing facilities including West Harlem Residence (45 units) and Convent Avenue Family Living Center (71 families). Services are funded through government contracts with NYC DHS and HPD.
3. Space Rental at Dempsey Center: The Oberia D. Dempsey Multi-Service Center offers venue rentals including a 516-seat theater, 4,392 sq. ft. gymnasium, conference rooms, and 2,750 sq. ft. cafeteria. Modest hourly pricing for not-for-profit organizations and small businesses.
4. Food Distribution Programs: Communities for Healthy Food Hub provides food distribution services. Since 2014, CfHF has served over 85,000 clients. Services include client-choice pantry, nutrition education, SNAP enrollment, and mobile food delivery for seniors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

West Harlem Group Assistance (WHGA) is a non-profit community development corporation that develops, preserves, and manages affordable housing across Harlem while delivering integrated social services. Its core offerings include multi-family affordable housing units, transitional and emergency housing facilities, a food distribution and nutrition program, a free financial planning and homeownership education program, and rentable multi-use community space.

Product overview

West Harlem Group Assistance (WHGA) is a community development corporation offering a comprehensive portfolio of affordable housing and social service products. The core offerings include: multi-family housing development and management across 20+ properties with over 800 total units; transitional housing through West Harlem Residence (45 units) and Convent Avenue Family Living Center (71 units); emergency shelter services; the historic rehabilitation of A. Philip Randolph Houses (283 units across 36 buildings); the Dempsey Center multi-service facility with event rental spaces; the Communities for Healthy Food Hub serving 85,000+ clients with nutrition programs; and the Financial Planning and Homeownership Program providing free financial education since 1999. Senior housing and cooperative homeownership programs round out the portfolio. These products function as integrated services supporting WHGA's mission to strengthen Harlem's economic viability through safe housing and community empowerment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Convent Avenue Family Living Center (CAFLC): Emergency housing facility providing comprehensive social service programs to families displaced by fire, natural disaster, or city orders.
• West Harlem Residence (WHR)
• Communities for Healthy Food (CfHF)
• Oberia D. Dempsey Multi-Service Center
• A. Philip Randolph Houses
• Financial Planning and Homeownership Program

Products and services

• Multi-Family Housing Portfolio A portfolio of more than 20 multi-family affordable housing properties (over 800 units) developed and managed by WHGA throughout Harlem for low and moderate-income families.
• West Harlem Residence (Transitional Housing) 45-unit transitional housing facility opened in 2009 serving homeless families referred through NYC DHS, providing case management, employment assistance, and pathways to permanent housing within nine months to a year.
• Convent Avenue Family Living Center (Emergency Housing) Emergency housing facility opened in 1989 serving up to 71 families displaced by fire, natural disaster, or city orders, with comprehensive social services and a path to independent living within six to nine months.
• A. Philip Randolph Houses Historic rehabilitation of 36 buildings comprising 283 units of public and private mixed-income housing, developed in partnership with Trinity Financial; recognized with the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award and the Excellence Award from the Preservation League of New York State.
• Oberia D. Dempsey Multi-Service Center Four-story multi-service facility housing over 22 program-based organizations and offering rentable event spaces (516-seat theater, 4,392 sq ft gymnasium, three conference rooms, 2,750 sq ft cafeteria) to non-profits and small businesses at modest hourly pricing.
• Communities for Healthy Food Hub Food pantry and nutrition program launched in 2014 serving over 85,000 clients with a client-choice pantry, nutrition education, SNAP enrollment assistance, and mobile food hub delivery for home-bound seniors.
• Financial Planning and Homeownership Program Free financial education and counseling program offered since 1999 in partnership with NYS Housing and Community Renewal and NYC HPD, covering credit counseling, budgeting, banking guidance, housing navigation workshops, tenant rights education, and first-time homebuyer assistance.
• Senior Housing Senior-specific affordable housing developments including Mannie L. Wilson Towers (565 Manhattan Avenue) and Joseph J. Yancey (140 West 142nd Street, 66 units).
• Cooperative Homeownership Affordable cooperative housing units including Dora McKenzie HDFC, 211 W 147th St. II HDFC (12 units), and 1508 Amsterdam Avenue (22 residential units plus 2 commercial spaces across 6 floors).

Quantifiable outcome

• Families secure permanent housing within 9 months to a year at West Harlem Residence
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• City College of New York (CCNY)/Colin Powell School for Civic and Global LeadershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Academic partnership supporting Communities for Healthy Food Hub programs and community development initiatives.
• Trinity FinancialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint developer with WHGA for the A. Philip Randolph Houses preservation and rehabilitation project. Partnership resulted in $146 million redevelopment of 36 historic buildings.
• City-Meals on WheelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide 90 home-bound seniors with pantry bag delivery service. Expanded to service senior residents of Randolph Houses.
• Food Bank for New York CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood security partnership providing resources for Communities for Healthy Food Hub client-choice pantry.
• Ryan Community Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership at Convent Avenue Family Living Center providing primary health care with designated physician assistant and nurse. Mental health and substance abuse referrals provided.
• NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment referral partner for West Harlem Residence transitional housing program. Families referred through DHS to access transitional housing services.
• NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment referral partner for Convent Avenue Family Living Center. Central Intake Office refers displaced families. Also provides financing for housing development.
• NYC Department of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth partnership supporting Communities for Healthy Food Hub nutrition education and health programming.
• Human Resource AdministrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting Communities for Healthy Food Hub social service referrals.
• NYC Department of Education (DOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to assist parents in enrolling, assessing or maintaining children's educational goals. DOE provides school bussing assistance or MetroCards.
• Winn ResidentialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty management partner supporting housing operations and resident services.
• Creative ArtworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Oral History project at Randolph Houses where teenage residents interviewed and photographed longstanding residents.
• The New York Public Library (NYPL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting Communities for Healthy Food Hub and community programming.
• Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership through Dept. of Youth and Community Development supporting CfHF Hub programs.
• Northern Manhattan Perinatal PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership at Dempsey Center providing perinatal services and support.
• Community Connections (CCNYC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting CfHF Hub social service referrals.
• Community Service Society of New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting CfHF Hub programs and social service referrals.
• Just Say Yes! (JSY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEN-Tiered Engagement Network partner supporting healthy food and nutrition programming.
• Healthy Pantry Initiative (HPI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting healthy food access through Communities for Healthy Food Hub.
• Fortune SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting CfHF Hub and social service referrals.
• Harlem GrownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership at Dempsey Center providing urban agriculture and nutrition education.
• New York Mission SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting CfHF Hub and community programming.
• New York City College of Technology (NYCCT-CUNY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership supporting Communities for Healthy Food Hub and workforce development.
• New York Sun WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education partnership supporting CfHF Hub nutrition and sustainability programming.
• The Sylvia CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth nutrition education partnership supporting Communities for Healthy Food Hub.
• TEN-Tiered Engagement NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partnership supporting Communities for Healthy Food Hub programming and coordination.
• Phipps HousesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffordable housing partner supporting community development initiatives.
• NYC HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity health department partner supporting community health initiatives.
• Creative Arts Workshops for Kids IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts education partner supporting creative programming for children and youth.
• SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting workforce development and educational programming.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Settlement Housing Fund: NYC nonprofit developer of affordable housing and provider of social services. Directly comparable as a CDC integrating housing development with supportive services in New York.
• NYC Housing Partnership: NYC nonprofit affordable housing developer working with HPD. Comparable in developing and preserving affordable housing across New York City, often in partnership with the same city agencies WHGA works with.
• HELP USA: NYC-based nonprofit operating transitional housing, permanent housing, and social services for homeless families and individuals. Comparable in operating DHS-contracted shelter facilities and resident service programs.
• Habitat for Humanity New York City: NYC affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, building affordable homeownership and rental housing for low-income families in the five boroughs. Direct peer in affordable housing development model.
• Phipps Houses: NYC-based nonprofit developer of affordable and supportive housing. Directly comparable as a community development corporation developing and managing multi-family affordable housing in New York, and listed as a WHGA partner.
• Project Renewal: NYC nonprofit providing housing, healthcare, and employment services to homeless and low-income individuals. Comparable as a multi-service NYC nonprofit funded by city agencies for housing and social programs.
• The Bridge Inc. NYC nonprofit providing housing, mental health, and social services to vulnerable populations. Comparable in combining transitional housing with wraparound social services under government contracts.

Broad incumbents

• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National CDFI that finances CDCs and affordable housing developers. Comparable as a funder/operator in the same affordable housing ecosystem; WHGA is an LISC grantee/partner.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York: Large NYC faith-based nonprofit providing housing, food, and social services across the city. Comparable in operating food distribution, housing, and case management programs under government contracts, though at much greater scale.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that develops and finances affordable housing and community development. Comparable in mission and scale; provides financing and technical assistance to CDCs like WHGA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/westharlemgroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCd2CN_8ziR6HDXn8tgcM0qQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/WestHarlemGroupAssistanceInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-harlem-group-assistance-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about West Harlem Group Assistance