The Haber Houses are located in Brooklyn’s Coney Island community on West 24th Street, Mermaid Avenue, and Surf Avenue. The three 1960 NYCHA developments have approximately 600 residents. Haber Houses were the first NYCHA housing development for seniors only and were intended to provide senior citizens with affordable housing at subsidized prices in a secure social setting. They were named in honor of Samuel Haber, a late NYCHA board member. The Haber Houses themselves were designed with quiet and access to thinking in mind, i.e., broader-than-average hallways, elevators, and additional room for quiet than the average NYCHA high-rise.
Despite having been designed with respect toward having older tenants in mind, the Haber Houses have not been exempt from the overall problems of public housing. Buggy elevators, heating problems, and somewhat outdated infrastructure problems have also plagued them in the last few years. But the close-knit structure of the original block has produced vastly high levels of solidarity among residents, neighbors, friends and organizing on behalf of each other when needed. There has been a campaign and mobilization by tenants who have emerged demanding improved standards and service and to campaign on behalf of older people.
The Haber Houses demonstrate that even public housing, focused upon a disadvantaged segment, can be maintained in dignity and community. Tension still exists, but effort and will on the part of the inhabitants are contributory factors to the development of a warmth and energy which still give its personality.
