UJA Federation unveils state-of-the-art facility to combat poverty in Brooklyn

The UJA Federation of New York (UJA) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 20 to celebrate the opening of the Brooklyn Hub, a one-stop social service center in Borough Park.

The modern, two-story center at 1271 60th St. is UJA’s second Hub in New York City, following the opening of the Queens Hub in 2020.

The 13,600-square-foot Brooklyn Hub serves an area with one of the highest Jewish poverty rates in the city. According to UJA, 36% of Jewish households in Brooklyn live at or near the poverty line, and nearly 50% of Jewish households in the Hub’s immediate neighborhoods earn less than $50,000 annually. The broader population in these neighborhoods faces similar financial challenges, with 54% of households classified as poor or near-poor, and 27% living below the poverty line.

Operated by UJA’s partner, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), the Brooklyn Hub is expected to serve 6,000 people in its first year. Services are available to New Yorkers of all religious and cultural backgrounds and include screening for government benefits, emergency cash assistance, legal and financial counseling through the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), and career readiness programs. Specialized services are also provided for vulnerable populations, including domestic violence survivors, Holocaust survivors, and Ukrainian refugees.

The Hub’s offerings are multilingual, with free and confidential services available in English, Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew, and other languages. The facility includes a state-of-the-art 2,000-square-foot digital food pantry, where clients can order food online to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences. All food provided is certified kosher.

UJA President Linda Mirels said UJA’s most urgent priority was addressing poverty.

UJA President Linda Mirels addressed a crowd of UJA members, donors, partners, and local elected officials gathered in the Hub’s second-floor conference room. Mirels reflected on the organization’s centennial and its renewed focus on combating poverty.

“We have remained steadfast in the face of much adversity — from rising anti-Semitism to the war in Israel, the crisis in Ukraine, and the global pandemic,” Mirels said. “Even during crisis after crisis, UJA has never wavered in our commitment to our core mission to care for those most in need in our community.”

Joseph Allerhand, co-president of Met Council, emphasized the Hub’s dual focus on meeting immediate needs and breaking the cycle of poverty.

“If all you’re doing is constantly supplying and not breaking the cycle, that’s not enough,” Allerhand said. “This building is going to do a tremendous amount: computer training [and] vocational [training] to help people break the cycle of poverty.”

UJA CEO Eric Goldstein highlighted the importance of fostering dignity in assistance programs. Referring to the digital food pantry, he said, “The whole strategy behind the digital choice food pantries is the idea of choice, the dignity of choice. The incredible thing is, not one meal, not one package is remotely like the other.”

Goldstein also addressed the rising tide of anti-Semitism and the war in Israel, noting the need to build resilient Jewish communities. “Part of fighting anti-Semitism is building strong, vibrant Jewish communities where people feel proudly and publicly Jewish,” he said.

Community members, UJA and Met Council leaders, and local officials gather to celebrate the opening of the Brooklyn Hub.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

David Greenfield, CEO and executive director of Met Council, praised the partnership between Met Council and UJA. “Thanks to the partnership with UJA Federation, we serve over 325,000 New Yorkers in need,” Greenfield said.

He introduced Met Council client Mr. Sonnenfeld, a Brooklyn small business owner who received assistance after being diagnosed with cancer.

“It was a painful time, not just because of my illness but because of the uncertainty about my family’s future,” Sonnenfeld said. Met Council helped him pay rent and apply for benefits, enabling him to focus on his recovery.

“The Brooklyn Hub represents hope,” Sonnenfeld said. “It’s a place where people in our community will find the help they need, the kind of help that comes with compassion, respect, and understanding.”

Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council, who attended the event, lauded the Hub’s potential impact. “The combination of these two great organizations is going to be awesome for this community. The type of services that they’re going to provide are going to be game changers,” Council said.