ODA Community Development is a non-profit, tax exempt 501C3 organization established in Brooklyn, New York, in 1974 under the vision and leadership of the late Rabbi Zvi Kestenbaum Z”L, with the goal of assisting minority and low-income communities that are often ignored. Rabbi Kestenbaum strongly believed that they, too, deserve to be served, and worked tirelessly for more than three and half decades to create a wide range of programs responsive to community needs. Today, by offering generous help on the personal and commercial levels, ODA continues to fulfill Rabbi Kestenbaum’s mission of providing these communities with a better quality of life. We are proud of the numerous initiatives that have been implemented over the years, many of which have been officially recognized and awarded by the Federal Government, New York State, and notable charitable foundations. As we look back at these achievements—the scope of our services as well as our personal involvement with the community—we feel gratified by the confidence placed in us, and encouraged to build upon our past successes.

Fueling the local economy is important to us. To that end, our Minority Business Center promotes the growth of minority owned businesses. We offer financing, procurement/contracts and other forms of assistance to foster entrepreneurship within the community.

The construction of various new housing projects has been stimulated under our direction. These projects not only provided more homes for families but also supplied jobs to local workers. Additionally, our home buying grants for first-time homeowners and the housing counseling/coaching we provide, including tips on foreclosure prevention, have enabled numerous residents to purchase and/or keep their homes.

On the neighborhood beautification front, we have planted trees and refurbished storefront facades. The beautification of the community continues to remain a priority.

ODA’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is another important initiative in our ongoing efforts to revitalize the neighborhood. WAP supplies government grants to landlords/building managers toward upgrades of windows, heating systems, appliances, etc., which help reduce utilities’ expenses and raise the value of the homes.

Assistance to the elderly is also a matter of importance to us. ODA’s Human Development Association (HDA) is a home health care agency, which supplies aides, therapists, nurses, etc. to patients in the comfort of their homes.

We also provide an array of health and nutritional services, including the Women’s Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program. WIC gives low-income pregnant and postpartum women vouchers for supplemental foods for themselves, their infants, and all their children up to age five. The Program also offers nutrition education, so that new mothers can learn how to nourish their families as well as possible.

ODA’s network of Primary Care Health Centers currently offers vital medical services and nutritional guidance to more than 50,000 clients – every day of the week, 365 days a year.