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Our Model
MANOF – the Social Urban Renewal Organization (formerly, Jindas) is a nonprofit real-estate developer. Our mission is to help families in Israel break out of poverty and create opportunities for social mobility, through processes of social urban renewal in peripheral areas. MANOF operates in neighborhoods ranked 1–3 on the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics’ socio-economic index, characterized by low land values that do not generate market conditions for conventional urban renewal.
We commit to each neighborhood over a 10–15 year horizon, with the goal of creating deep, long-term change across three interconnected layers: the organization initiates and advances the renewal of residential buildings through urban-renewal and evacuation-and-rebuild projects, incorporating affordable housing; in parallel, a local neighborhood task force is established in each area, developing a targeted social program that provides individual and community-based support for residents. Finally, we promote the renewal and upgrading of public spaces and public facilities.
The organization specializes in creating innovative financing models that combine philanthropy, impact investments, government grants, and private capital.
Our Impact in Numbers - 2024-2025
6.3 million ILS
Increased income for 936 residents through access to benefits
6.3 million ILS
Increased income for 249 residents through improved employment
4,600 participants
In 96 community events
3,000 housing units
In statutory planning
146 active residents
in 7 advocacy committees
1
National policy program, in progress
Our Projects
FAQ
What is unique about MANOF’s model for Social Urban Renewal?
MANOF is a nonprofit real-estate developer. MANOF is the only organization in Israel that combines real-estate based urban renewal with social programs for neighborhoods ranked 1–3 on Israel’s national socio-economic index.
Unlike traditional urban renewal projects that are driven mainly by financial feasibility, MANOF focuses on neighborhoods the private market ignores, areas in Israel’s geographic and social periphery.
And unlike conventional social mobility programs, we believe that escaping poverty requires a holistic approach, providing intensive individual and community support: benefits access, material assistance, employment advancement, and community building.
Inspired by a proven American model adapted to Israeli realities, our approach is resident-centered. Together with the community, we rebuild the physical, economic, and social fabric of the neighborhood.
You changed your name from Jindas — are you the same organization?
- Yes. MANOF is the evolution of the Jindas Social Urban Renewal.
In November 2025, we chose a new name that reflects our growth, our expanded national mission, and broader social impact. Our goals, team, and partnerships remain the same — but our scope of work has grown.
“MANOF” in Hebrew means “crane”, or “a lever for lifting”. The name MANOF represents our mission: to up-lift communities, strengthen their quality of life and expand their opportunities, driving long-term change in Israel’s periphery.
How long do urban renewal processes take?
Urban renewal in Israel is a long-term effort that requires deep collaboration with residents, municipalities, and planning authorities. A full process typically takes 6–10 years and includes:
- Community engagement and early planning: Selecting the site, forming a resident committee, conducting a social-community needs assessment, and getting preliminary collaboration and approval of the local municipality.
- Planning and approvals: Statutory planning until the plan is approved (TABA) and a building permit is granted.
- Financing and construction: A developer raised the required funding to execute the reconstruction. Residents relocate to new or temporary housing, and construction of the new buildings are built.
- Return, occupancy, and community support: MANOF support will continue after residents return, ensuring strong community bonds and healthy integration between long-time and new residents.
What characterizes the neighborhoods where MANOF works?
- MANOF works in neighborhoods across Israel’s geographic and social periphery. These areas typically include:
- Low socio-economic status: Ranked 1-3 on Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics index with an acute social need for change
- High potential for growth: Suitable for large-scale urban renewal projects
- Low land values: Making redevelopment economically unfeasible and unattractive for private developers, at the starting point of the project
- Peripheral or under-resourced areas: mostly in northern and southern regions. Each neighborhood has its own demographic and social characteristics, such as a high presence of new and veteran Olim, mixed Jewish-Arab communities, organized crime, and physical neglect. All of our neighborhoods suffer from low levels of trust between residents and local authorities.
What barriers and challenges does MANOF address through its model?
MANOF was created to bring lasting change to families living in long-neglected neighborhoods. Key challenges include:
- Lack of economic feasibility: High construction costs combined with low land values prevent private developers from operating in these neighborhoods.
- Low trust and information gaps: For residents, their home is typically their most important and stable asset. After years of hardship and neglect, rebuilding trust is essential.
- No integrated social-economic models: Traditional approaches fail to combine real estate development with personal and community empowerment, resulting in solutions that are partial and insufficient for communities in need.
- Building-level planning instead of neighborhood planning: Most plans focus on new apartment buildings, not on the public spaces and services that create real value to the living quality of the neighborhood.
- Lack of affordable housing solutions: Existing projects benefit homeowners, but renters are often pushed out of the renewed neighborhood.
MANOF’s holistic model – combining housing, community, and social programs – creates renewal that lasts.
How do you involve residents in your projects?
We believe real social urban renewal is possible only when residents are full partners in the process. From day one, we conduct meaningful community work through:
- Neighborhood resident committees: Engaged residents who help plan for both short- and long-term needs, such as public spaces maintenance and developments, community events, and community advocacy.
- Elected resident representation: Is required by law in redevelopment projects. But MANOF ensures broad and inclusive representation of the different groups living in the neighborhood.
- Monthly community events: MANOF’s team initiates Holiday celebrations, family activities, lectures, tours, and more. All our activities are co-led with residents.
- Immediate physical improvements: Together with residents, we repair hazards, upgrade stairwells and shelters, create community gardens, and more.
This creates genuine community ownership, which is the foundation of long-term trust.
What is MANOF's added value of integrating real estate with social programs?
- Traditional social programs are essential but insufficient. When neighborhoods remain physically neglected, families who improve their economic situation eventually leave, replaced by new families who enter the same, poor conditions.
Without quality housing and a safe physical environment, poverty cycles continue.
MANOF’s unique integration of housing, social services, and community infrastructure addresses all layers of the problem:
- Short term: Increasing disposable income, reducing debts, and improving financial stability
- Medium term: Building strong community networks, nurturing local leadership, and creating new hope for real transformation
- Long term: Physical renewal that will strengthen the economic position of all residents and bring new families to the neighborhood
Most important, a new home will increase a resident’s household wealth by 500,000-1,000,000 ILS, the equivalent of 10-15 years of work in our neighborhoods – this will be an unprecedented social mobility leap.
Who are MANOF’s partners and what is their role?
- MANOF operates through a unique, multi-sector model involving:
- Diverse funding partners: Providing philanthropic grants, in-kind contributions, impact investments, and private-sector financing
- Local authorities and government ministries: Planning, construction, and social service providers; advancing national policy for social urban renewal
- Private-sector developers and professionals: Ensuring our planning meets high professional standards; once our projects will be approved for construction, private developers will execute with strong social and planning commitments
- Social-sector partners: Delivering employment programs, benefits access, and community-building activities
We thank all of our partners who help build a better Israel together.
Who stands behind MANOF and who funds the organization?
- MANOF is a nonprofit committed to tackling poverty and inequality through social urban renewal. Our professional team specializes in urban planning, economics, community development, and public policy.
Our work is guided by an experienced board of directors that includes leaders from Israel’s real-estate, business, social, and planning sectors.
Our funding model includes:
- Philanthropic donors in Israel and abroad
- Impact investors who support planning and pre-development
- Private-sector partners who fund planning
- Once our projects will reach maturity, they will be supported by public grants that create economic feasibility
Our annual financial reports are published on GuideStar, more information about our partners can be found here
How can I contact you about a project in my city or neighborhood?
ecause each neighborhood that MANOF operates requires a 10-15-year commitment and significant capital, MANOF unfortunately cannot accept resident-initiated requests for new neighborhoods.
However, local authorities and private developers interested in partnering with us are welcome to reach out through our Contact page.
We specialize in building trust between residents, municipalities, and developers, which are all essential for successful projects.
We would be happy to meet, learn about your local needs, and explore whether MANOF’s model fits your community.
Contact us via our online form or directly at: office@manofhome.org
How can I support MANOF?
There are several ways to get involved:
- Stay updated: Visit our News & Updates page for job openings, publications, and community events. Subscribe to our newsletter.
- Partner with us: Municipalities, businesses, and social organizations are invited to contact us to explore collaboration.
- Support our work: MANOF is currently raising funds for projects in Lod, Ashkelon, Ofakim, Akko, and Haifa. Support can be made through donations or impact investments that help create lasting change in under-resourced neighborhoods.
Contact us via our online form or directly at: office@manofhome.org
Our Mission
MANOF leads social innovation to address poverty in Israel’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Through a unique, community-centered model, we drive change in neglected neighborhoods across Israel’s periphery.
Our projects focus on neighborhoods ranked 1–3 on Israel’s national socio-economic index, home to vulnerable populations, including new immigrants, mixed communities, and public housing residents. These neighborhoods are often affected by high levels of organized crime, poor housing conditions, and a lack of shelters and safe rooms. Despite the clear social need for urban renewal, a range of economic barriers keeps the private market from operating in these areas.
Our model is based on a proven approach to urban renewal developed in the United States by Richard Baron and McCormack Baron Salazar. MANOF adapts this model to Israel’s real estate reality.
Working in partnership with the public and private sectors, we address one of the most severe social challenges facing Israel today.
