NYS's Housing Agencies Hold First Joint Board Meeting; Approve $11M in Housing Grants for Affordable Housing

NEW YORK, NY (06/10/2010)(readMedia)--

New York State's major housing agencies, "nyhomes" and the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), held their first joint board meeting today to approve grant awards.

The meeting was the first of what will be several steps to implement Governor David A. Paterson's plan to integrate the two agencies to enhance efficiency while lowering costs. Brian E. Lawlor, President and Chief Executive Officer of "nyhomes" and Commissioner of DHCR, also announced at the meeting that several offices common to both agencies would be consolidated, including Administration, Communications, Intergovernmental Relations and Policy Development.

At the meetings, the two boards approved $11 million in grants to build and renovate affordable housing and provide help to homeowners at risk of foreclosure.

The board of the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC), one of the "nyhomes" affiliated agencies, approved $3.16 million in grants to finance the construction and renovation of 188 affordable homes throughout the state.

The board of the Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC), which is administered and staffed by DHCR, approved nearly $8 million in awards through four different DHCR programs.

"Today's joint board meeting of 'nyhomes' and DHCR demonstrates that government can be both efficient and effective at the same time," Governor Paterson said. "In addition, the grants approved today show that the State continues to create and preserve affordable housing even in tough economic times."

Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson said, "Construction and renovation of affordable homes in New York State will resonate with residents as a positive sign of an economic upswing. At a time when the unemployment rate is 8.2 percent in the State, these grants will create jobs in an industry that can use a financial boost. Even more, those agencies tapped to receive grant funds will be contributing greatly to the livelihood of residents who will be able to better manage expenses due to lower housing costs."

Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr. (D-Bronx), who also serves as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development, said, "It is even more imperative during economic crisis for state government to invest in affordable rental housing and provide a lifeline to financially struggling homeowners. This $11 million investment not only addresses the need for affordable housing and saves families from foreclosing on their homes, it will generate new business for local companies in the construction trades and create jobs that will help state residents support their families and pay their bills."

Mr. Lawlor said, "Today's joint board meeting is a significant milestone as we continue the integration of 'nyhomes' and DHCR. I am also proud that the grants our two boards approved today will improve the housing stock, create new affordable housing and offer hope and assistance to homeowners at risk of their losing their homes."

AHC approved the following grants:

New York City

AHC approved a $625,000 grant to the Housing Partnership Development Corporation to help finance the construction of 25 affordable co-op apartments in East Harlem in Manhattan.

Long Island

AHC approved a $1.75 million grant to the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) to acquire and rehab 80 homes in Nassau and Suffolk counties as part of its "workforce" housing program.

Lewis County

AHC approved a $300,000 grant to Snow Belt Housing Company, Inc. to finance home improvements of 32 homes in Lewis County.

Erie County

AHC approved a $180,000 grant to Erie County to renovate 10 single-family and five two-family homes located in the City of Lackawanna and the Town of Evans.

Niagara County

AHC approved:

-- an $80,000 grant to the Niagara Community Action Program, Inc. to finance renovations of 16 owner-occupied homes in Niagara County.

-- a $225,000 grant to the Niagara Falls Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. to finance improvements of 15 homes in Niagara County.

The HTFC approved nearly $8 million in awards through a number of DHCR programs, including sixteen awards through the HOME program totaling $4.8 million. The grants were awarded to municipalities and non-profit housing agencies across the state to rehabilitate more than 250 units of affordable housing for low- and very low-income households.

Also approved were four awards for not-for-profit organizations providing vulnerable homeowners in danger of losing their homes with counseling and legal services. The grants, totaling $2 million, were awarded to CAMBA Inc, ($731,578); Erasmus Neighborhood Federation ($509,292); Hudson River Housing, Inc ($541,068) and Human Development Services of Westchester ($127,846).

Additionally, the board also approved two awards through the NYS Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) program. The first, for $416,000, will allow Niagara County to help Metaullics Systems, a local business specializing in molten metal processing, to expand, creating 47 new jobs within the next two years.

The second NYS CDBG award provided $200,000 to the City of Geneva to establish the Geneva Microenterprise Assistance Program. Funds will be used to help existing and start-up micro-businesses within the City that do not have access to capital through traditional lending channels. The City anticipates assisting a minimum of eight micro-businesses, creating at least 12 full time jobs.

The HTFC also awarded two grants through the Governor's Sustainable Neighborhoods Demonstration Program (SNDP) a new and innovative program designed to help upstate cities that have been devastated by large numbers of abandoned and vacant homes. The program will address urban blight while creating new, affordable, high quality homeownership opportunities by rehabilitating vacant and abandoned buildings and making them available to first-time homebuyers.

People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH) was awarded $500,000 for the acquisition and rehabilitation of three vacant structures and the demolition of a vacant structure on the west side of the City of Buffalo. The second grant, for $25,000, was awarded to the City of Batavia to prepare a neighborhood revitalization plan.

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AHC, a subsidiary of the NYS Housing Finance Agency, was established in 1985 to promote homeownership by low- and moderate-income households. Financial assistance approved annually by the New York State Legislature, combined with other private and public investment, is used for the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation and improvement of owner-occupied housing.

The Housing Trust Fund Corporation was established in 1985 to create decent affordable housing for persons of low-income by providing loans and grants for the rehabilitation of existing housing or the construction of new housing under the Low-Income Housing Trust Fund Program. This mission has been reinforced since then by the adding many State and Federal programs to HTFC's portfolio, including the Homes for Working Families Program, New York Main Street Program, Access to Home Program, Urban Initiatives Program, Rural Area Revitalization Program and the Community Development Block Grant Program.

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