OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $91 MILLION TO FUND HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NEW YORK STATE
New York City, Upstate, Long Island and Westchester Communities to Receive Funding

NEW YORK - Thousands more very low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities in New York State will have access to affordable supportive housing thanks to $91,569,500 in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants will help non-profit organizations produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and facilitate supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities. It is also estimated that this funding will create 1,800 jobs.

The grant funding awarded under HUD's Sections' 202 and 811 Supportive Housing programs will kick start construction or major rehabilitation for more than 170 housing developments in 42 different states and Puerto Rico. In New York State, more than 500 elderly households and persons with disabilities will be affordably housed with access to needed services. A detailed summary of New York grantees is attached to this release.

"The Obama Administration is committed to helping our senior citizens and persons with disabilities find a decent, affordable place to live that is close to needed healthcare services and transportation," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Recent bipartisan changes to these two supportive housing programs will allow us to better serve some of our more vulnerable populations who would otherwise be struggling to find a safe and decent home of their own."

"HUD has no greater mission than improving people's lives and strengthening neighborhoods, and these grants do just that," said Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión. "These grants could not have come at a better time. With the U.S. Census Bureau just reporting that almost 16 percent of our elderly population living in poverty, these monies will ensure that thousands of seniors across this country will have decent, safe and affordable housing."

Enacted early this year with strong bipartisan support, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act and the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act provided needed enhancements and reforms to both programs. Nonprofit grant recipients will now receive federal assistance that is better leveraged and better connected to state and local health care investments, allowing greater numbers of vulnerable elderly and disabled individuals to access the housing they need even more quickly.

Section 202 Capital Advances will provide $545 million nationwide to 97 projects in 42 States and Puerto Rico. In addition to funding the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of multifamily developments, HUD's Section 202 program will also provide $54 million in rental assistance so that residents only pay 30 percent of their adjusted incomes. Section 202 provides very low-income elderly persons 62 years of age or older with the opportunity to live independently in an environment that provides support services to frail elderly resident.

Section 811 Capital Advances will provide $137 million nationwide to assist very low-income persons with disabilities through 92 projects in 35 states. An additional $12.6 million will be available for project rental assistance contracts. Most of the housing supported through the Section 811 Program will be newly constructed, typically small apartment buildings, group homes for three to four persons, or condominium units that are integrated into the larger community. Residents will pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent and the federal government will pay the rest.

HUD's Section 811 program provides housing for households with one or more very low-income individuals with a disability. Under this program at least one person must be 18 years or older and have a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness. The program provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to live independently in their communities by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services.

HUD provides these funds to non-profit organizations in two forms:

• Capital Advances. This is funding that covers the cost of developing, acquiring, or rehabilitating the development. Repayment is not required as long as the housing remains available for occupancy by very low-income elderly persons for at least 40 years (under Section 202) for very low-income persons with disabilities (under Section 811).
  
  
• Project Rental Assistance Contracts. This is funding that goes to each development to cover the difference between the residents' contributions toward rent and the cost of operating the project.

Residents must be "very low income" with household incomes less than 50 percent of the median for that area. However, most households that receive Section 811 or Section 202 assistance earn less than 30 percent of the median for their area. Generally, this means that a one-person household will have an annual income of about $13,500.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on Twitter at @HUDnews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.

New York

Section 202 - Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Project Location: Amherst, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Menorah Campus Inc
Capital Advance: $7,396,100
Three-year rental subsidy: $636,600
Number of units: 50

Project Description:  The funds will be used to construct 50 one-bedroom units for very-low income elderly persons. The site for the project is adjacent to an existing senior apartment complex. Residents will have access to the full array of medical, social and supportive services available on the 120-acre Weinberg Campus. The project is located near a public bus route so the residents will have easy access to shopping and a wide range of services. A large community will be available for gathering. A service coordinator and site manager will be also available.

Project Location: Bronx, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty
Capital Advance: $12,855,000
Three-year rental subsidy: $2,016,000
Number of units: 79

Project Description: Funds will be used to construct 79 one-bedroom units for very low income elderly persons in the Co-op City neighborhood in the Bronx, New York. The proposed project will be immediately adjacent to Council Towers V and Council Towers I creating a senior housing campus. Public transportation is readily available so that residents will have easy access to medical facilities, shopping and places of worship. A Service Coordinator is being provided on site to assist residents in accessing available services.

Project Location: Brooklyn, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: East Brooklyn Churches Sponsoring Committee
Co-Sponsor: Common Ground Community
Capital Advance: $13,179,600
Three-year rental subsidy: $2,067,600
Number of units: 81

Project Description: The funds will be used to develop an 81 unit project on a portion of an underutilized parking lot owned by the New York City Housing Authority. The two co-sponsors, East Brooklyn Churches and Common Ground, have a long history of housing and services in this East New York Brooklyn community. Tax credits are expected to provide equity, a LEED gold certification is anticpated and a Service Coordinator will facilitate access to case management, visiting nurse services and entitlements.

Project Location: Henrietta, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation Inc
Capital Advance: $5,617,300
Three-year rental subsidy: $509,400
Number of units: 40

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct 40 one-bedroom units for very low income elderly persons.  An additional 20 units to be built in conjunction with this project will be funded with low income housing tax credits. The residents will have access to many services available in the community through a social services plan as well as transportation to medical, shopping and recreational facilities. The project will include community space available for gathering. Green measures will be incorporated into the design and operations of the project.

Project Location: Jamaica, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: The Jamaica Hospital
Capital Advance: $11,881,400
Three-year rental subsidy: $1,860,900
Number of units: 73

Project Description: The funds will be used for the construction of a 73 unit development adjacent to the sponsor's hospital and nursing home.  The site is well served by public transportation and is accessible to necessary services and amenities. The Jamaica Hospital campus will provide a wide array of health and nutrition services facilitated by a Service Coordinator. The use of tax credit equity is anticipated and Green Building technology will be used including products with low "VOC" content and manufactured from renewable sources.

Project Location: New Rochelle, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: UGC Foundation Inc.
Capital Advance: $5,027,200
Three-year rental subsidy: $827,100
Number of units: 32

Project Description: The funds will be used to rehab a portion of United Hebrew Geriatric's former nursing home with the remaining part of the structure being developed as an assisted living facility. The building is located on the campus of the sponsor's three current HUD-assisted developments: another Section 202 development, an assisted living facility and a nursing home. A Service Coordinator will facilitate access to a range of campus-wide services including sponsor-provided door to door jitney service and home health aides.

Project Location: Syracuse, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Loretto Management Corporation
Capital Advance: $3,355,400
Three-year rental subsidy: $300,000
Number of units: 24

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct twenty-three one-bedroom units for very low income elderly persons and a two-bedroom non-revenue manager's unit. The residents will have access to many services in the community including the Canton Woods Senior Center. Public transportation is available nearby. A pavilion for gatherings will be available on site. Supportive Services will be available through the PACE Program. Green measures will be incorporated into the design and operations of the project.

Project Location: Yonkers, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Westhab, Inc.
Capital Advance: $11,719,100
Three-year rental subsidy: $1,835,100
Number of units: 72

Project Description: The funds will be used for the construction of a 72 unit development by Westhab, Inc. - the premier provider of housing and integrated community-based services in Westchester County for over 30 years. This long-underutilized site in Yonkers will feature green standards and pursue LEED Gold certification. The use of tax credits is aniticipated and a Service Coordinator will assist in implementing executed MOUs with several service providers.

Section 811 - Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Project Location: Bronx, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: UCP Assn. of New York State, Inc.
Capital Advance: $2,342,000
Three-year rental subsidy: $336,000
Number of units: 14

Project Description: The funds will be used for the construction of a 14 unit independent living apartment as the second floor over the sponsor's recently completed day program and clinic. As such, residents will have immediate access to health and support services.  Transportation, supported employment programs, vocational services, assistive technology and in-home personal care will be provided based upon the individual needs of each resident.  The use of tax credit equity is anticipated and integration of sustainable building materials for LEED certification.

Project Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc
Capital Advance: $989,600
Three-year rental subsidy: $89,400
Number of units: 7

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct an independent living project that will consist of 7 one-bedroom units for persons with physical and developmental disabilities. The residents will have access to many services available in the community throuogh a social services plan as well as transportation to medical, shopping,  and recreation facilities. The project will include community space available for gatherings. Green measures will be incorporated into the design and operations of the project.

Project Location: East Meadow, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Nassau Association for Help of Retarded Children, Inc.
Capital Advance: $1,396,400
Three-year rental subsidy: $310,200
Number of units: 12

Project Description: The funds will be used for the acquisition and rehabilitation of two six-bed Individualized Residential Alternative Group Homes. Each home will have a live-in staff resident manager. The proposed development will provide housing for persons with developmental disabilities who are aging out of their current residence. Services will be available based upon the individual needs of each residence. The availability of the services will allow the residents to live as independently as possible.

Project Location: Hamburg, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Suburban Adult Services
Capital Advance: $1,696,500
Three-year rental subsidy: $153,000
Number of units: 12

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct an independent living project consisting of 12 one-bedroom units for low-income persons with developmental disabilities. A Service Coordinator is being provided on-site. The residents will have access to many services available in the community including transportation, medical, shopping, recreation and employment opportunities. Green measures will be incorporated into the design and operations of the project.

Project Location: Lake Grove, NY
Non-Profit Sponsor: Options for Community Living, Inc.
Capital Advance: $2,784,700
Three-year rental subsidy: $387,900
Number of units: 15

Project Description: Funds will be used for the acquisition and rehabilitation of five group homes each serving three very low-income residents with chronic mental illness. This is the sponsor's fifteenth Section 811 project. Supportive services will be available to each resident based upon their individual needs. Services include case management, pre-vocational and job training and daily living skills training. The proposed services are designed to enable the residents to live as independently as possible.