More than $8.8M awarded to create 35 units of supportive housing in Niagara & Chenango counties

Projects awarded funding will create 35 units and 76 beds of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless New Yorkers

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced more than $8.8 million has been awarded to two projects in Niagara and Chenango counties that will create 35 units and 76 beds of permanent supportive housing for families and individuals who have experienced homelessness.

“The creation of stable housing with easy access to supportive services is a vital part of our work to help vulnerable families and individuals who have experienced homelessness overcome their circumstances and thrive as part of the community,” she said. “These projects, when completed, hold the promise of changing lives for the better by helping give our fellow New Yorkers the tools they need to succeed.”

The grants were awarded through a competitive process by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, a component of Hochul's $25 billion housing plan, which was initially adopted as part of the FY 2023 budget. Hochul's team said her plan will help create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations.

With these latest awards, HHAP has committed more than $26.8 million of the $128 million in funding provided in the FY 2024 budget.

Community Services for Every1 will receive $4.5 million to develop 18 units and 26 beds of permanent supportive housing for families and individuals in Niagara Falls. This is part of a larger project, The Nest, that will feature the new construction of a six-story mixed-use building with a total of 73 units, a community room, on-site rental office, laundry facilities, tenant parking, and greenspace with a playground. The commercial space will be utilized by Community Services for Every1 to provide job readiness and workforce development for local residents.

Community Services for Every1 CEO Mindy Cervoni said, “This award allows Community Services for Every1 to address significant unmet needs for affordable, quality and supportive housing in the City of Niagara Falls. The Nest will offer 18 permanent supportive housing units and will allow Community Services for Every1 to assist residents with any factors that contribute to their housing instability. We are grateful to Gov. Hochul and OTDA Homeless Housing and Assistance Program for the recent announcement of awards. This award will provide critical funds to address the issue of homelessness.”

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Acting Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “The state investment in these projects will expand the availability of safe, affordable housing that includes the provision of supportive services to formerly homeless families and individuals in these communities. Gov. Hochul has rightly focused efforts on increasing the state’s supply of supportive and affordable housing across the state to make New York more affordable and livable for all.”