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RUPCO announces $1,200,000 in funding to assist Ulster County homeowners with rehabilitation
Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO) and Senator John Bonacic hosted a media conference on Wednesday, August 2, 2006, at 1pm, at RUPCO’s Community Room at 37 John Street, Kingston. Senator Bonacic is Chairman of the New York State Senate’s Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee. The media conference was to announce RUPCO’s award of funding of $500,000 from the New York State HOME Program for single family, owner occupied rehabilitation throughout Ulster County, a $500,000 grant award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, Ulster County Scattered Home Repair Program, for single family, owner occupied rehabilitation throughout Ulster County, and a $200,000 funding award from New York State Access to Home, Phase II, which provides funding for home modifications necessary to allow persons to stay in their homes and avoid institutions. “There is a high demand for rehab assistance throughout Ulster County” states Kevin O’Connor, RUPCO’s Executive Director. “We currently have a wait list of 312 households throughout Ulster County in need of single family rehab assistance.” This HOME award will assist thirty units of owner occupied single family housing, with priority given to frail elderly, persons with disabilities, and veterans. The program will serve those with incomes below 30%, 50% or 70% of the area median income (AMI). The program will eliminate code violations, remove health and safety hazards, provide accessibility modifications, improve energy efficiency, determine lead issues and remediate and bring homes into compliance with HUD’s Housing Quality Standards. In addition, clients will receive budget and homeowner counseling from our NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center. The Historic Kirkland Hotel will feature nearly 6,000 sq. ft. of pub and restaurant space. The ground floor will offer a 2300 sq. ft. historic pub space with a restored, hand built wooden bar. The first floor restaurant will offer the largest dining room in uptown Kingston, seating 85. The wrap around porch will offer the potential of al fresco dining along Main Street. The upper floors will feature a mix of office space and rental housing. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York award of $500,000 will allow RUPCO to assist an additional 50 single family, owner occupied residences in Ulster County. Of the homes identified to receive assistance 60% will be at or below 50% of the area median income. All owners served will be 80% or less of the median income. Approximately 40% of the households to be served are elderly and 20% disabled. Each household will be provided with budget and homeowner counseling particularly with respect to the opportunities available for reduced tax payments, and/or exemptions, averaged utility payments, other methods of monitoring and controlling households costs, as well as the benefits of preventative maintenance, predatory lending, credit card debt, reverse mortgage. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Stockholder Member for this award is Ulster Savings Bank. The Access to Home Phase II award will provide RUPCO, working in partnership with Resource Center for Accessible Living (RCAL), with $200,000 in funding for their second collaborative effort. The grant will provide funding focused on home modifications that will prevent a person from entering an institution and enable those in institutions to return home. Modifications can include installation of ramps, lifts, and other measures to permit access. Modifications can be made to kitchens and bathrooms such as grab bars, roll in showers, wheelchair turn around, grab bars, and hand held showers. Interior accessibility modifications, lever hardware on doors, home automation systems, entryway enlargements wheelchair turn around, installation of devices for persons with hearing or visual impairments, can also be made. Requests for additional modifications will also be evaluated for appropriateness. During Phase I RUPCO and RCAL conducted a survey of Ulster County providers for the disabled community and in Phase I of this program did a direct mail survey to households on the wait list and other agencies. This survey resulted in 11 agencies responding. They indicated 26 individuals at risk of institutionalization if modifications were not made. RUPCO’s single family repair wait list indicated 75 households were classified as disabled, elderly frail, with many in need of modification to the homes. During Phase I 23 households were assisted, with an additional 9 household put on the wait list for Phase II. RUPCO takes a broad approach to conquering housing issues in Ulster County. We serve the community through the following array of programs; Real Estate Development, Property Management, Rental Assistance, Rehabilitation Assistance, and their NeighboorWorks® HomeOwnership Center. Working closely with the community RUPCO is able to determine the housing needs of Ulster County residents. RUPCO understands a house is much more than a roof overhead. |
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