A Lifeline for Our Newest Neighbors

With Trinity’s support, the Arab-American Family Support Center breaks down language barriers to ensure that immigrant and refugee families can access stable, affordable housing.  

Nadia,* a 44-year-old early childcare educator, works hard to keep her family afloat. The Bangladeshi immigrant is the sole provider for her children and mother, whose health issues cause a steady stream of medical bills. Then last summer, her 16-year-old son unexpectedly passed away, and grief hollowed her out. She kept going to work, but the ache of her loss grew unbearable. When Nadia fell behind on her rent, letters from her building’s management company began arriving in English, a language she speaks but doesn’t fully understand. She called the company’s office and tried her best to explain why she was struggling. She left the conversation believing they’d given her more time.

But she had misunderstood; the company was taking her to court. As Nadia worked to catch up on the rent, she had no idea that a ticking clock was in motion, bringing her closer to potentially losing the Bronx apartment she’s called home for 15 years. 

That’s when Kevin Pierre, a housing navigation specialist at the Brooklyn-based nonprofit the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC), stepped in. Nadia came to Pierre in March with a recent letter about her overdue rent. Pierre immediately recognized the letter for what it was — a marshal’s notice, warning Nadia about a possible eviction. At this point, she had only three days left to file a response in court. Pierre worked quickly to explain the situation to Nadia, connect her to free legal representation, and—crucially—help her understand her rights. 

“Before coming to us, the client didn’t have a legal contact or a prior understanding of what a marshal’s notice looks like. People who aren’t familiar with these processes just don’t have the knowledge to go about addressing them,” Pierre says. “She panicked once she understood the stakes, but we were able to work through the entire situation step-by-step.” 

Nadia’s experience illustrates how critical it is for New Yorkers from diverse linguistic backgrounds to have someone like Pierre on their side while navigating the city’s housing landscape—someone who can facilitate translation, clarify legal processes, and connect them to resources. This is the work of the AAFSC, a longtime Trinity Church grantee with a special focus on immigrant and refugee communities too often overlooked by government programs.  

The AAFSC’s programs are open to all, but it has developed a particular expertise in serving Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and Muslim families. Proficient in 25 languages, the AAFSC’s staff provides tailored support to a diverse clientele, including native speakers of Bangla, Uzbek, Fulani, and Haitian Creole. 

Since 2020, Trinity has partnered with the AAFSC through seven grants, including funding to strengthen restorative justice responses to intimate partner violence and connect new immigrants to social services and legal support. Recognizing that housing insecurity poses specific challenges to immigrant families, in 2023, Trinity began providing dedicated funding for the AAFSC’s housing navigation services with two grants totaling $360,000. Altogether, Trinity’s direct support for the AAFSC now stands at $660,000. Trinity has also supported the nonprofit through the Fund for the Newest New Yorkers, a collaborative philanthropic effort to respond to the needs of newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers. 

The need to create more pathways to housing security has intensified in recent years, as New York City faces its most severe housing crisis in half a century. Vacancy rates for apartments under $2,400 have fallen below 1 percent, which means there are virtually no apartments available for low-income households. According to Columbia University's 2025 Communities Speak survey, non-English-speaking households report severe housing insecurity at twice the rate of English-speaking households, reflecting barriers to applying for housing subsidies, lotteries, and legal protections. 

“With the cost of living rising and affordable units extremely limited, language should not be an additional barrier for families,” says Thehbia Hiwot, managing director for Trinity’s Housing and Homelessness initiative. “Trinity’s support for the AAFSC is an expression of our Christian calling to welcome the stranger with dignity and compassion. We are proud to partner with an organization doing the important work of ensuring that immigrant families can secure safe, affordable homes and a true foothold in our city.” 

Trinity’s support for the AAFSC is an expression of our Christian calling to welcome the stranger with dignity and compassion.”

– Thehbia Hiwot, managing director for Trinity’s Housing and Homelessness initiative

New Yorkers have a long history of organizing to welcome newcomers. The settlement house movement, which started in the Lower East Side in the late 1880s, connected immigrants living in crowded, unhealthy tenement apartments to health care, social services, and community organizing. The AAFSC, founded in 1994, carries that legacy forward. The nonprofit supports more than 20,000 New Yorkers annually across all five boroughs, offering English classes, mental health counseling, parenting workshops, academic support, and youth programming. In a political climate in which immigrants face heightened threats of deportation, loss of legal status, and aggressive enforcement tactics, the AAFSC acts as a bridge for newcomers settling into the city — providing culturally competent support and demonstrating that there are neighbors ready to welcome them.  

Since 2023, the AAFSC has provided housing navigation services to over 3,900 people. These services include applying for affordable housing, securing and using housing vouchers, and supporting clients who have rental or utility arrears. The AAFSC’s efforts ensure that people in immigrant and refugee communities who are at an immediate risk of homelessness remain stably housed, while fostering pathways to long-term housing security. 

Language access is a central focus of the center’s housing work. Reham Bader, director of the AAFSC’s Community Health and Well-Being program, notes that when language is a barrier, children often become the default translators for their parents. Many AAFSC staff members come from first-generation immigrant families and know this experience intimately. “It’s a very common burden in a lot of immigrant families because they have no other choice,” Bader says. “I can’t tell you how many times we’ve helped clients who bring their oldest child — who is actually very young — to translate because they have nobody else. I can imagine the feeling that gives the parent but also the weight it puts on the child.” 

When families are already navigating these language hurdles, even small financial setbacks can quickly escalate into emergencies. In response, Trinity’s grants have also supported the AAFSC’s Emergency Relief Fund, which provides cash assistance for urgent housing needs. Bader explains that increased immigration enforcement has made many clients fearful of applying for public benefits or the city’s emergency cash assistance program. The AAFSC’s relief fund presents an alternative for families worried about sharing personal information. Since 2023, the AAFSC has provided over $350,000 in emergency funds to 376 beneficiaries to cover late rental payments, utility bills, and moving costs. 

According to Pierre, the AAFSC is hoping to support Nadia — the grieving mom who has struggled to pay the rent — with emergency relief to strengthen her petition to remain in her apartment. Pierre plans to write an advocacy letter to the city’s housing court, explaining the setbacks Nadia was facing and her lack of knowledge regarding the process.

Separately, the AAFSC is helping her apply for a housing voucher that would help her family in the long term.  

With another court date coming up, Nadia is fighting to remain in her home. But this time, she’s not alone. The AAFSC has helped her unlock a network of people who are ready to fight alongside her, and Pierre is confident that this will make a difference.

“Especially with the housing crisis we’re currently experiencing, it’s so important to have people who can guide you through these challenges,” he says. “Had we not been there, there’s no telling what could have happened to this client and her family.” 

*Name has been changed to protect client’s privacy.

Learn more about the AAFSC’s multilingual social services and housing support by visiting its website or contacting info@aafscny.org.