Organization gets grant to improve properties
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y.» Rebuilding Together, Saratoga County received a $300,000 grant from the New York State Homes and Community Renewal Affordable Home Ownership Development Program.
The grant will be used to assist with the home improvement of approximately 15 units throughout Saratoga County.
The amount of homes the grant will help varies depending on applications Rebuilding Together receives.
“One home might need $15,000 worth of work and another home might need $25,000 worth, so it is an average number,” said Michelle Larkin, executive director of Rebuilding Together.
Larkin said the goal is to make low-income housing safe. Larkin provided examples of what households would be eligible to apply for improvements..
“Four people in a home making $41,000 or below is perfect,” said Larkin. “Two people in a home making $32,800 would qualify.”
According to a news release, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $7.4 million would be awarded to organizations across New York State and these awards will make improvements to existing owner-occupied single or multi-family homes, condominiums, or cooperatives; acquire and rehabilitate owner-occupied homes for sale, including single and multi-family homes, condominiums, or cooperatives; and construct new owner-occupied homes for sale, including single and multi-family homes, condominiums, or cooperatives including dilapidated and manufactured homes.
The Affordable Home Ownership Development Program provides up to $40,000 per home to eligible municipalities, municipal housing authorities, and other not-for-profit and charitable organizations that develop affordable housing or assist homeowners in funding necessary repairs.
“Through this housing development program, homeowners are receiving the assistance they need to help maintain the American Dream,” Cuomo said in a statement. “These awards provide the support needed to help keep our neighborhoods viable and strong, as New York continues to take necessary steps to ensure families have access to decent housing across the state.”
Larkin looks forward to use the grant money to help a number of families across Saratoga County. “The whole purpose of these housing grants are to make homes safe. Our motto is warm, safe and dry, but the main thing is that we’re helping to keep affordable housing safe in the area, so folks can continue to remain in it,” said Larkin. “It’s a blessing to have the folks in Albany knowing that they are trying to help the community members who need it the most. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Larkin opened the doors to the non-profit organization’s new store at 132 Milton Ave earlier this month.
Visit http://rtsaratoga.org/ to apply.