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RUPCO’s NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center to Celebrate Anniversary
For Immediate Release Kingston, NY -- 6/1/2009 — On Monday, June 8, 2009, the Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO) will celebrate the 5th Anniversary of its NeighborWorks® Homeownership Center with an open house event at the center’s base of operation at 301 Fair St. in Kingston. The anniversary celebration which is free and open to the public, will honor Ulster County Executive Michael Hein for his leadership and support of both RUPCO and of the Ulster County Housing Consortium. Services of the HomeOwnership Center including its First Time Homebuyer Program, its home repair programs and its homeownership and foreclosure counseling activities will be showcased. Clients who have successfully used the various programs will be on hand to share their stories. Noting the current foreclosure crisis throughout the country, RUPCO Executive Director Kevin O’Connor lauded Hein’s leadership in securing funding for foreclosure prevention counseling and services. “Mike was a strong and early advocate, helping us get just enough seed money to start working on counseling activities,” said O’Connor. “We were able to leverage that seed money into more than $1 million of funding from five major organizations. I can’t imagine where we’d be without it.” RUPCO’s HomeOwnership Center, together with Hudson River Housing and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, has an active and ever-growing caseload of 300 area homeowners in some sort of foreclosure crisis. “Those people would have no help at all if it were not for the programs we put together and funded through Mike Hein’s early advocacy.” Kathy Germain, RUPCO’s Director of the HomeOwnership Center said that not all housing news is bad news. “Last year, 34 families bought their first homes with RUPCO’s help and because those folks had homeownership and financial counseling beforehand, none were trapped in bad deals by sub-prime lenders. “On some level, this anniversary will be like a family reunion,” said Germain. “Many of our former clients will return, with photos in hand, to talk about what homeownership has meant to them.” She went on to note that in addition to working on homeownership, the center did 75 home rehabilitation projects in Ulster County last year, spending $1.2 million with local supply stores and contractors. “This is cause for celebration,” said Germain “and we do hope everyone will come out and celebrate with us. The open house event, which features showcases, refreshments and hourly door prize drawings, will run from 3 PM – 6 PM on Monday June 8, with formal presentations and awards at about 4:00 PM. Detailed information about the HomeOwnership Center and its services is available by calling 845-331-9860. As a leading agency in housing and community development, RUPCO advocates for and creates housing choice in the Hudson Valley region. A broad approach toward mission and vision, allows RUPCO to leverage federal, state and local grants along with rents, fees, private support and sponsorships to achieve community goals. More information on RUPCO and all of its programs is available at www.rupco.org. Back to main New Media Releases page |
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