New Urban Upbound Service Center Opens at Hammel Houses

On May 29, Urban Upbound announced the grand opening of its new service center located within Hammel Houses, marking a major expansion of its footprint on the Rockaway Peninsula and strengthening access to critical economic mobility services for NYCHA residents and the surrounding communities.

The new office and service center will provide residents with direct, neighborhood-based access to Urban Upbound’s comprehensive suite of programs, including workforce development, financial counseling, tax preparation and filing, small business support, and mental health counseling.

During this ceremony, Urban Upbound was joined by several prominent community and NYCHA leaders, including NYCHA’s Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble, Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson, Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Joseph Edwards (representing Congressman Gregory Meeks), Lisa Johnson (President of the Hammel Houses Resident Association), and Reverend Evan Gray, Sr. of the Macedonia Baptist Church of Arverne.

“This expansion represents a continued investment in the people and communities of the Rockaways,” said Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of Urban Upbound. “By bringing services directly into the Hammel Houses, we are removing barriers to accessing the tools residents need to build long-term economic stability and escape cycles of poverty.”

“The new Urban Upbound service center guarantees NYCHA residents at Hammel Houses have direct access to the resources and opportunities they deserve — in their community and close to home,” said NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble. “By bringing a variety of resources — workforce development, financial counseling, tax preparation, mental health services, and small business support — directly to residents, the new service center will help create pathways to long-term economic stability and mobility for NYCHA residents and families in the Rockaways. We are deeply grateful to our partners at Urban Upbound for their continued commitment to NYCHA residents and their dedication to ensuring the Hammel Houses community has access to the tools they need to thrive.”

Major Expansion of Community-Based Services

The Hammel Houses service center features a large, flexible floorplate designed to host community-facing events such as job fairs, financial literacy workshops, group wellness workshops, seminars for entrepreneurs, and resident meetings. The site reflects Urban Upbound’s commitment to delivering hyper-local services tailored for the needs of public housing residents.

Deepening Community Collaboration

Urban Upbound continues to strengthen its partnerships with resident associations, elected officials, clergy, fellow nonprofits, and local businesses to ensure services are accessible to those who need them most.

The organization’s expansion builds on its long-standing presence in the Rockaways, where it first began operating in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. At that time, Co-Founder and CEO Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor went door-to-door in public housing communities to reach seniors impacted by the storm. Recognizing parallels between the Rockaways and Queensbridge Houses where he grew up, Bishop Taylor established Urban Upbound’s first office in Downtown Far Rockaway to deliver workforce development, financial counseling, and tax preparation services.

Urban Upbound Impact Highlights

● #1 Tax Preparer in New York State: Prepared and filed over 21,000 tax returns in 2025, returning millions in refunds to NYC residents.
● 100% College Enrollment: College Access students consistently achieve full college enrollment and scholarship success.
● 4,400+ Residents Served in Financial Counseling: Budgeting, credit building, benefits navigation, and financial education services.
● 170+ Small Business Support Sessions Delivered: Including technical assistance and entrepreneurship training.
● 2,659 Mental Health Clients Served: Free counseling and wellness services across NYC.
● 3,800+ Residents Supported Through Employment Services: Job training, certifications, and placements.
● $2M+ in NYCHA Rent Payments Processed: Through Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union services.