WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) --"Today, the New York State Legislature passed important City-proposed legislation that will allow for significant reforms to the board of the New York City Housing Authority and streamline its management. Moving forward, board members will no longer be salaried, but rather serve in part-time positions with stipends for time dedicated to board activities. This bill will also increase the overall size of the Housing Authority’s board from four to seven and provide for additional tenant representation with three of the seven board members being required to be public housing residents, ensuring a more diverse range of views. Across the country, cities have abandoned public housing, but we refused to do that.

New York, N.Y. - June 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Join acclaimed architect and interior designer William T. Georgis and several artisans with whom he collaborates—Michele Oka Doner, Nancy Lorenz, and Mike Gracie—for a lively discussion of his work and new book, Make It Fabulous: The Architecture & Designs of William T. Georgis on Thursday, June 13

New York, NY - June 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua attended the 13th Annual New York State Supportive Housing Conference today where he announced that later this month, HPD in partnership with the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) and NYC Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC), will be issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify qualified developers to help the City in its efforts to double its production of supportive housing.

New York, NY - June 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- With nearly one thousand New Yorkers facing delays on securing Sandy-related federal loans and hundreds more still waiting on a final decision on their disaster loan applications, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to expedite and streamline the disaster loan application process for New York businesses and homeowners devastated by Superstorm Sandy. Senator Gillibrand is also urging the agency to ensure that disaster loans are in fact low-interest, since the SBA has discretion to set the interest rate for each individual applicant, with rates set as high as eight percent

New York, NY - June 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland today joined New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Venetia Lannon to announce that the recently completed installation of green infrastructure in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn will prevent more than one million gallons of stormwater from reaching the combined sewer system each year and thereby improve the health and cleanliness of the water in Newtown Creek and New York harbor.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Housing Committee Chair Keith L.T. Wright today announced the approval of a comprehensive package of legislation that would help to preserve Mitchell-Lama housing by increasing protections for current tenants and changing eligibility requirements to allow more middle-class families to participate in the program.

Bronx, NY - June 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City’s Housing Development Corporation (HDC),the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), along with the New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC)joined Barrier Free Living (BFL), Alembic Developmentand Foxy Management on East 139th Street in the Bronx today to celebrate the start of construction on Barrier Free Living Apartments, BFL’s first permanent supportive housing development that, when complete, will provide 120 apartments with a preference for the disabled and survivors of domestic abuse. Also in attendance were project partners and supporters including theCorporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Citi Community Capital, Richman Housing Resources and local elected officials.

New York, NY - June 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Citi and L+M Development Partners (L+M) have launched a second New York Affordable Housing Preservation Fund. NYAH II, a $150 million real estate private equity venture, is designed to be an entrepreneurial solution to stem the loss of affordable housing particularly in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in New York City.

New York, NY - June 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced that ground has been broken on a project that will create 120 units of permanent supportive housing in the Bronx for chronically homeless domestic violence victims with physical disabilities and their families. Construction of the Barrier Free Living Apartments is being supported with $7 million from the State’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP).

New York, NY - June 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Thursday, June 6, Rebuilding Together, a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes Community Starts at Home, is joining together with 500 volunteers from presenting sponsors Lowe’s, Meredith Corporation and other key sponsors to renovate nearly a dozen homes and community areas devastated by Hurricane Sandy in the Gerritsen Beach section of Brooklyn, New York

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- BROOKLYN, NY – Today, Representative Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement after the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced an extension of the Making Home Affordable Program through December 31, 2015

Washington, DC - May 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A $168,500 grant for the Manchester Housing & Redevelopment Authority will provide permanent housing to 20 homeless veterans and is a positive step forward to battling veterans homelessness in the state, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said today. The supportive housing assistance is provided through the HUD (U.S. Housing and Urban Development)-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Newburgh, NY - May 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Sean Patrick Maloney announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Orange County’s Lead Safe Program with a Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grant and Healthy Homes Initiative funding. This investment will help Orange County’s Office of Community Development clear homes of lead paint and fire hazards, improving the living conditions and safety of children and families across Orange County

New York, NY - May 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Get the facts on how to apply for the NYC and NYS Community Block Grant housing recovery assistance. Presentations by officials from the Mayor's Housing and Recovery Operations and NYS Homes and Community Renewal.

New York, NY - May 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency urges property owners to take steps now to minimize damage in future storms. To better protect your family and yourself in the event of an emergency, ensure that your home is a safe structure

NEW YORK, NY - May 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- People whose property was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy can get rebuilding advice from a Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation specialist. The specialists are knowledgeable about building safer and smarter to avoid future losses.

Albany, NY - May 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced several Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) initiatives to permanently repair damage from Superstorm Sandy, flood-proof major sections of the New York City subway system and begin the planning process to fortify the region’s mass transit network.

New York, NY - May 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York City District Council of Carpenters announced today that it has reached an agreement with its largest employer association--the Association of Wall, Ceiling & Carpentry Industries of New York (Wall & Ceiling Association)--to implement the new collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

New York, NY - May 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded the U.S. Courthouse in Buffalo a high performance energy-efficiency plaque for energy-efficiency projects that will cut energy costs by $289,000 annually.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - May 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- City Comptroller John C. Liu today warned that New York faces a looming crisis as the elderly population rises and rents skyrocket, and offered a comprehensive strategy to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing options

NEW YORK, NY - May 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- People whose property was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy can get rebuilding advice from a Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation specialist. The specialists are knowledgeable about cleanup and building safer and smarter to avoid future losses.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD’s approval of New York City’s disaster recovery plan to help homeowners and businesses following Hurricane Sandy. Funded through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, New York City’s action plan calls for a combined $1.77 billion investment in a variety of housing, infrastructure and business recovery activities

NEW YORK, N.Y. - May 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Bloomberg’s homeless policies have failed both the homeless and the communities asked to accept homeless shelters, according to policy papers released this week by the office of Comptroller John C. Liu.

NEW YORK, NY - May 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today published anop-ed in the New York Daily Newsurging President Obama to appoint a new acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to replace current Acting Director Edward DeMarco, whose policies have stifled the delivery of relief to thousands of Americans facing foreclosure. The op-ed notes that, while the President awaits the confirmation hearings of his nominee for FHFA Director, he can replace Acting Director DeMarco with a deputy director. The following are excerpts of the article

NEW YORK, NY - May 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- People whose property was damaged or destroyed in Super Storm Sandy and are rebuilding can get advice from a FEMA specialist. Hazard Mitigation specialists who are knowledgeable in cleanup and building safer and smarter to avoid future losses will be dispensing guidance free of charge, compliments of FEMA.