GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $8.8 MILLION AWARDED TO CREATE 35 UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN NIAGARA AND CHENANGO COUNTIES
Projects Awarded Funding Will Create 35 Units and 76 Beds of Permanent Supportive Housing for Formerly Homeless New Yorkers
These Developments Build on the Governor’s Commitment to Increase the Housing Supply Across New York
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 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,” Governor Hochul 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, an important component of Governor Hochul’s $25 billion, comprehensive Housing Plan, which was initially adopted as part of the FY 2023 Budget. Governor Hochul’s plan will help create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York State, 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. The projects awarded funding include:
- Community Services for Every1, Inc., a $4.5 million to develop 18 units and 26 beds of permanent supportive housing in Niagara Falls for families and individuals. 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.
- Greater Opportunities for Broome and Chenango, Inc., $4.3 million to develop 17 units including 50 beds of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families in New Berlin. The project includes the preservation of seven existing units and 10 newly constructed units, as well as the moderate rehabilitation of three buildings and the gut rehabilitation of another.
In addition, United Veterans Beacon House, Inc. was awarded $18,285 to renovate a shared bathroom in a 10-bed emergency shelter in Suffolk County.
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. Governor 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.”
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 Nestwill 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 Governor 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.”
Greater Opportunities for Broome and Chenango Counties CEO Mark Silvanic said, “We are very happy to hear that we were awarded the HHAP grant this funding round. We have been fortunate to have completed several of these projects in Broome County. Our experience in facilitating these projects will help us to bring quality safe and affordable housing to Chenango County as well. Like many places in this country, Chenango is not immune to the housing crisis. Projects like this help to fight the growing housing insecurity that continues to plague our nation. We are pleased to be trusted with this funding, and we will do our best to continue the eradication of homelessness.”