NEW YORK, NY (RealEstateRama) July 23, 2008—The board of the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC) today approved a $600,000 grant to the Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation to help repair 112 housing units located in 13 counties in Western New York.
“The Affordable Housing Corporation is dedicated to improving our aging affordable housing stock in upstate New York,” said Priscilla Almodovar, AHC President and Chief Executive Officer. “This grant will help 112 homeowners in Western New York make their homes safer and healthier. The Paterson Administration understands that affordable housing that is decent and in good repair makes our communities stronger, businesses healthier and neighborhoods more diverse. That is why we approved these financings today and why the Paterson Administration and the State Legislature made an historic commitment to housing in this year’s budget.”
Allynn Smith, Executive Director of Sheen Housing, said, “The Affordable Housing Corporation is not only making a positive impact in the lives of 112 families, but is improving the quality of life in our community. The need for critical home repairs has grown. Family budgets are stretched to the maximum, leaving nothing for basic housing needs. This AHC grant will improve and preserve housing, promote community revitalization and provide local construction jobs.”
The AHC grant will finance renovations to eliminate housing conditions that adversely affect the health and safety of residents, such as contaminated water supplies, unsanitary septic systems, and unsafe heating and electrical systems, with a priority going to septic systems and wells.
Grants will be made available for homeowners in Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties. Awards will be made to households with incomes with no more than 112% of HUD’s Low Income Limits for each county. The income limits vary by county, ranging from $47,208 to $64,344 for a family of four.
The total cost of the home improvements is $1.6 million. In addition to the AHC grant, the project will receive $560,000 in Access to Home funds provided by the NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation, $300,000 in HOME funds provided by the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, $90,000 in Rural Development funds provided by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and $50,000 in Emergency Home Repair funds provided by Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation.
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AHC 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.
Contact: Philip Lentz
Director of Communications
212-872-0679
plentz (at) nyhomes (dot) org
