NYS Homes and Community Renewal announces $1.3 million to improve homes & expand homeownership for 50 households throughout WNY

Part of $28M to support 929 households in accessing & preserving affordable homes across state

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas announced a total of $1.3 million will assist 50 households throughout Western New York. The funding is part of $28 million awarded to nonprofit organizations and municipalities that will support 929 households in rehabilitating and improving existing homes, increasing their access to affordable homes, and provide down payment assistance to help families achieve the dream of homeownership.

“With today’s announcement, 50 hardworking Western New York households will benefit from the opportunities that safe, affordable homeownership can provide,” Visnauskas said. “By helping families make upgrades and repairs to their homes, we are enhancing neighborhoods and building safer communities, which is central to Gov. Cuomo’s historic commitment to expanding access to affordable homes across New York state.”

The awards complement the governor’s $20 billion, five-year housing plan, which is making housing accessible and combating homelessness by building and preserving more than 100,000 units of affordable housing and 6,000 supportive apartments.

The awards are provided through New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s annual HOME Local Program and the Community Development Block Grant’s Housing Program funding round. Since 2011, housing rehab and homeownership funds under these programs have assisted more than 8,200 households.

Awards for Western New York include:

Chautauqua County

•$489,500 to the Village of Celeron to support rehabilitation activities for nine homeowners in Chautauqua County through the CDBG Program.

•$400,000 to Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. to provide tenant-based rental assistance for 30 households in Chautauqua County through the HOME Local Program.

Erie County

•$450,000 to Community Action Organization of Erie County Inc. for support rehabilitation activities for 11 homeowners in Erie County through the HOME Local Program.

Click here to view a full list of awardees

The New York State Community Development Block Grant program provides financial assistance to eligible cities, towns and villages with populations under 50,000, and counties with an area population under 200,000, in order to develop viable communities by providing decent, affordable housing, and suitable living environments, as well as expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income.

The HOME Local Program funds a variety of activities through partnerships with counties, towns, cities, villages, private developers and community-based nonprofit housing organizations. The program provides funds to acquire, rehabilitate or construct housing, or to provide assistance to low-income homebuyers and renters.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal works to create, preserve and improve affordable homes, and to develop vibrant communities. For more information on HCR, its programs and its initiatives, visit nyshcr.org.