HUD AWARDS OVER $2 MILLION TO NEW YORK IN HOUSING COUNSELING GRANTS
Grants will go to 20 Organizations across New York State

NEW YORK - As part of its continuing effort to assist families and individuals with their housing needs and to prevent future foreclosures, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that a local nonprofit groups across New York, as well as State and national organizations based in the State, will receive $2,079,547 to carry out this important work. The award is part of more than $40 million in housing counseling grants awarded nationwide to 334 national, regional and local organizations. As a result of these grants and the additional funding they help leverage, more than 1.6 million households will have a greater opportunity to find housing, make more informed housing choices or keep their current homes. (See below for a listing of New York grantees.)

"Make no mistake: these grants will do a lot of good," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "The HUD-approved counseling agencies this funding supports are crucial in helping families manage their money, navigate the home buying process, and secure their financial futures. The evidence is clear that housing counseling works. These grants are a smart investment to help families and individuals find and keep housing which helps promote neighborhood stability in the long term."

More than $38 million in grant funds will directly support the housing counseling services provided by 27 national and regional organizations, 8 multi-state organizations, 22 State Housing Finance Agencies (SHFAs) and 277 local housing counseling agencies. In addition, HUD is awarding $2 million to two national organizations to train housing counselors who will receive the instruction and certification necessary to effectively assist families with their housing needs.

Working in consultation with housing counseling industry stakeholders, HUD's new Office of Housing Counseling substantially streamlined the application process for these grants. A number of procedural improvements were made to the application process and program requirements, which encourage the development of efficient and effective counseling programs and reduce the administrative burden on applicants. HUD awards annual grants under the housing counseling program through a competitive process. Organizations that apply for grants must be HUD-approved and are subject to monitoring and oversight to maintain their HUD-approved status.

National and regional agencies distribute much of HUD's housing counseling grant funding to community-based organizations that assist low- and moderate-income families to improve their housing conditions. In addition, these larger organizations help improve the quality of housing counseling services and enhance coordination among counseling providers. Read a summary of each grant, organized by state on HUD's website.

HUD studies show the effectiveness of housing counseling. Last year, HUD released two reports on the impact of HUD-approved housing counseling for families who purchase their first homes and those struggling to prevent foreclosure. In both studies, HUD found housing counseling significantly improved the likelihood homeowners remained in their homes.

Grant recipients utilize funding to address the full range of families' housing counseling needs. This includes helping homebuyers and homeowners realistically evaluate their readiness for a home purchase, understand their financing and downpayment options, and navigate what can be an extremely confusing and difficult process. Grantees also help households find affordable rental housing and offer financial literacy training to individuals and families struggling to repair credit problems that restrict their housing options. In addition to providing counseling to homebuyers and renters, these organizations assist homeless persons in finding the transitional housing they need to move toward a permanent place to live. Finally, grantees also assist senior citizens seeking reverse mortgages or Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM). These agencies provide counseling for the rapidly growing number of elderly homeowners who seek to convert equity in their homes into income that can be used to pay for home improvements, medical costs, and other living expenses.

Housing counseling agencies support fair housing by assisting borrowers in reviewing their loan documentation, to avoid potential mortgage scams, unreasonably high interest rates, inflated appraisals, unaffordable repayment terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default, and even foreclosure. Likewise, foreclosure prevention counseling helps homeowners facing delinquency or default employ strategies, including expense reduction, negotiation with lenders and loan servicers, and loss mitigation, to avoid foreclosure.

HUD's new mobile app allows smartphone and tablet users to locate housing counselors in their own area.

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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 HOUSING COUNSELING GRANTEES

NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
Albany, New York
$18,536 - Comprehensive Counseling
In 1978, the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) separated from the Department of Mental Hygiene when the service options available to people and families were predominantly in state operated institutions. At the time, 15,000-20,000 individuals lived in institutional settings and the agency was in the beginning stages of transitioning individuals to the community. By October of 2012 only 1,051 individuals lived in developmental centers or special units. OPWDD is designated to oversee the system of supports and services for people with developmental disabilities and the people who care for them and has developed one of the largest developmental disabilities systems in the country, with more than 600 nonprofit providers, serving more than 140,000 people. An extensive range of affordable housing options is currently available to people with developmental disabilities in New York State, including: Homeownership; Market rate and Subsidized rentals; Condominiums and Housing Co-Ops; Manufactured homes; Supportive housing; Family Care; Shared Living Arrangements; Living with family members with in home supports; and Multifamily homes. OPWDD's information can be found online at www.opwdd.ny.gov.

Allegany County Community Opportunities & Rural Development (ACCORD)
Belmont, New York
$18,167 - Comprehensive Counseling
ACCORD is a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency that will use the grant to maintain and expand its homebuyer education and housing counseling program. Agency activities to date have included the administration of several NYS HOME funded homebuyer assistance grant programs that provided down payment, closing costs, and mortgage write-down assistance to income-eligible potential homebuyers throughout Allegany County. They also administer a Federal Home Loan Bank of New York First Home Club program under Steuben Trust Company, providing homeownership counseling and a series of Homebuyer Education Workshops. These activities are not exclusive to Steuben Trust, and are able to work with other banks to provide homeownership counseling. They have successfully administered a number of HUD Housing Counseling Program grants since receiving HUD approval as a Housing Counseling Agency in 2004. ACCORD is committed to providing homebuyer education, pre- and post-purchase counseling, mortgage delinquency counseling, mobility and relocation assistance, renter assistance/Section 8, money/debt management, fair housing advocacy, and homeless assistance services. www.accordcorp.org

Steuben Churchpeople against Poverty, Inc. dba Arbor Housing and Development
Big Flats, New York
$21,119 - Comprehensive Counseling
Incorporated in 1970 as Steuben Churchpeople Against Poverty, Arbor Housing and Development is a progressive, non-profit corporation committed to building independence and creating housing options in Allegany, Livingston, Steuben, Chemung and Schuyler Counties. Arbor's mission is to enhance the quality of life in our community by providing safe and affordable housing options and supportive services. The agency envisions communities where everyone lives in decent, affordable and safe housing; where every individual has access to the resources to live as independently as possible; and where Arbor Housing and Development is accepted as a collaborative partner in community revitalization efforts. Arbor offers residential behavioral health and domestic violence services, Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance, housing counseling services, owner-occupied rehabilitation services, and rental housing development. With the receipt of HUD Housing Counseling funds, Arbor expanded its counseling services to include an eight-hour first time homebuyer education class that covers all of the basics of buying a home, pre- and post-purchase counseling, credit counseling, delinquency/foreclosure prevention counseling, and reverse mortgage counseling. Funding from HUD will allow them to continue these services. Arbor has been providing housing counseling services for thirteen years. For more information, please visit their website, www.arbordevelopment.org.

Metro Interfaith
Binghamton, New York
$18,536 - Comprehensive Counseling
Metro Interfaith is a private, ecumenical not-for-profit Corporation organized in 1968 to serve the housing needs of low/moderate income families and elderly resident of Broome County. In 1972, Metro Interfaith was approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Comprehensive Housing Counseling Agency to provide professional housing counseling services in the areas of pre-rental, pre-purchase/home buying, mortgage default/foreclosure prevention, home improvement/rehabilitation, financial management/budget counseling and homebuyer education sessions. Metro Interfaith also owns/manages 257 units of housing for very low/lower income elderly/handicapped individuals, 31 units of housing for very low/lower income families, is a New York State licensed Enriched Housing Provider, Home Care Agency and administrator of the Binghamton Homeownership Academy. www.metrointerfaith.org

Mutual Housing Association of New York Management, Inc. (MHANY)
Brooklyn, New York
$17,798 - Comprehensive Counseling
MHANY Management, Inc. has been a HUD-approved housing counseling agency since December 2010. MHANY has guided more than 500 families through the process of purchasing their own homes. MHANY's mission is fourfold: 1) Increase affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income people by continuing to identify and implement creative and affordable housing initiatives, with a particular focus on preservation; 2) Change the way affordable housing for low- and moderate-income people is developed and operated by employing innovative approaches and working with City, State and Federal agencies to create new initiatives; 3) Work with current residents of our buildings to improve community conditions and increase neighborhood services and provide an avenue where MHANY residents and MHANY buildings provide role models to neighbors and neighborhoods; and, 4) Help low- and moderate-income people who have the means (savings, credit and interest) to purchase their own homes. In addition to their housing counseling program, they rehabilitate and manage multifamily distressed and scatter site properties throughout New York City. Additional information on MHANY is available at: www.mutualhousingny.org.

Cortland Housing Assistance Council, Inc.
Cortland, New York
$13,000 - Comprehensive Counseling
The Cortland Housing Assistance Council, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit, Rural Preservation Company that has been addressing the housing needs of Cortland County, New York since 1976. During its thirty seven years in business, thousands of individuals and families have benefitted from the housing rehabilitation programs administered by the agency which have included the acquisition and renovation of vacant and blighted housing to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to those in need. The CHAC, Inc.'s mission is to combat community deterioration and to secure decent, safe and sanitary housing at low to moderate costs for economically disadvantaged citizens of the county. The agency manages forty eight units of affordable housing in the City of Cortland, provides assistance to first time homebuyers through a State funded program and works with the local Area Agency on Aging to address their clients' housing needs. In 1992, the agency received certification as a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency. The agency counsels hundreds of clients per year. The services include pre-purchase counseling, mortgage delinquency and default resolution counseling, non-delinquency post purchase counseling, rental counseling, and shelter and services for the homeless. Counseling services were provided to over 350 households during HUD Fiscal Year 2012. For more information visit the agency's website at www.cortlandhousing.org.

American Debt Resources, Inc.
East Northport, New York
$17,429 - Comprehensive Counseling
American Debt Resources, Inc. (ADR) is a Local Housing Counseling Agency located in Suffolk County, NY. Its target area is Suffolk County, NY. The agency has one counselor on the Reverse Mortgage HUD Roster and offers reverse mortgage counseling directly to seniors. The agency received HUD approval as a Housing Counseling Agency on June 27, 2008. ADR employs three full time housing counselors and has adopted the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling. Its Counselors collectively hold Neighbor- Works Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC) Certification in the following areas: Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling, Program Managers and Executive Directors and Pre Purchase Homeownership Education.

City of Fulton Community Development Agency
Fulton New York
$16,690 - Comprehensive Counseling
The City of Fulton Community Development Agency, created as the Fulton Urban Renewal Agency by an Act of the New York legislature in 1966, is a municipal corporation providing economic development loans and small business technical assistance, rental assistance, housing rehab, HUD's Small Cities Programs, infrastructure improvements, housing and affordable homeownership opportunities, and oversees fair housing issues. As a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency, Fulton CDA provides the following housing counseling services: rental housing needs, fair housing issues, pre-purchase and homebuyer assistance, mortgage delinquency/ default issues, post-purchase non-delinquent and rehabilitation problems. www.fultoncda.com

Community Action in Self Help, Inc.
Lyons, New York
$19,643 - Comprehensive Counseling
Community Action in Self Help, Inc. is located in Lyons, NY and services Wayne County and the towns of Manchester and Phelps. The Agency was incorporated in February 1970, and was originally created to assist low-income families in organizing self-help housing projects in Wayne County. The Agency strives to fulfill its mission of being "dedicated to the goal that everyone is entitled to decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing, regardless of race, color, creed or personal circumstance." The Agency currently manages multiple subsidized rental projects and Administers the Section 8 program for Wayne County. Community Action in Self Help will be continuing on and expanding its housing counseling program through the award of this HUD grant, and will be offering group workshops and one-on-one counseling in the areas of homebuyer education, mortgage delinquency counseling, pre-purchase counseling, and rental counseling, as well as others. For more information, please visit: www.cashinc.org/

Franklin County Community Housing Council, Inc.
Malone, New York
$16,321 - Comprehensive Counseling
Franklin County Community Housing Council, Inc. is a non-profit Rural Preservation organization established in 1980. The agency's primary function is to address housing issues in rural northern New York, and FCCHC has implemented HUD's Housing Voucher program for 30 years assisting more than 365 families throughout Franklin County. The agency also constructed and manages 5 scattered-site low-income subsidized housing projects for the elderly and the chronically mentally ill. In 2012, FCCHC assumed management responsibilities of an additional 9 projects, which provide much needed safe and affordable housing in Franklin and Essex Counties. Over the years, the agency has offered rehabilitation programs for homeowners and rental property owners, emergency rental assistance and assisted in the provision of a first-time homebuyers program funded with HUD HOME dollars. FCCHC also implements FEMA and Salvation Army eviction prevention and utility assistance programs. The primary focus of the agency's housing counseling program has been assisting renters. The agency did, however, recently expand its counseling program to include assistance with foreclosure prevention. Housing Counseling services were provided to over 600 households during HUD Fiscal Year 2012.

National Urban League (NUL)
New York City, New York
$883,680 - Comprehensive Counseling
The National Urban League (NUL) is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment aimed to raise the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. Today, NUL has 95 affiliates serving 300 communities, in 35 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people annually. NUL focuses on four major program areas - education, jobs, health and housing. A housing counseling provider for over 30 years, NUL coordinates a network of 38 local affiliates that provide housing counseling in 23 states and the District of Columbia. NUL affiliates provide comprehensive housing counseling services tailored to the needs of the communities they serve. Services include pre- and post-purchase counseling and education, foreclosure prevention counseling and education, reverse mortgage counseling, rental counseling and education, homeless counseling, predatory lending prevention and fair housing education. NUL affiliates provide education and outreach on financial management, encouraging the "unbanked" to use financial services and establish and maintain credit as a way to enhance their credit worthiness. NUL also coordinates its counseling activities with a diverse group of public and private organizations in unique ways that benefit their clients. Additional information can be found on their website at http://www.nul.org.

New York State Housing Finance Agency
New York, New York
$522,448 - Comprehensive Counseling
New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) consists of all the State's major housing and community renewal agencies and Offices, including The Affordable Housing Corporation, The Division of Housing and Community Renewal, Housing Finance Agency, State of New York Mortgage Agency, and the Housing Trust Fund Corporation. The State also includes the Office of Rent Administration, the Section 8 program, Asset Management and the Weatherization Assistance Program. http://www.nyshcr.org/

Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council, Inc.
New York, New York
$15,214 - Comprehensive Counseling
Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council, Inc. (SBNC) has been part of the Upper West Side community in New York City for more than 50 years. Since 1959, the organization has played a significant role in the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the region. Strycker's Bay advocates on behalf of and assists families to avoid displacement and prevent homelessness by utilizing a combination of eviction prevention strategies; connecting families to work and other supports for which they are eligible; and creating, promoting, and facilitating access to affordable rental housing and low and moderate income homeownership opportunities. SBNC assists low-income residents of the Upper West Side to solve problems of inadequate housing and other related community services and helps empower them to improve their quality of life. Since the agency's beginning, it has looked beyond housing problems to address the comprehensive range of issues that affect the welfare of community residents, including education, employment, youth development, and open space. Programs offer eviction prevention, income support and financial literacy and affordable housing solutions. http://stryckersbay.org/

National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions
New York, New York
$382,669 - Comprehensive Counseling
The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (Federation) represents more than 240 community development credit unions (CDCUs) serving urban and rural low income communities across the United States. Founded in 1974, the Federation's mission is to help low- and moderate-income people and communities achieve financial independence through credit unions. As a certified community development financial institution (CDFI), the Federation is the leading investor in community development credit unions and provides capital, technical assistance, education and training services to expand access to credit union products and asset-building services in low-income and underserved communities across the country. Since 2008, the Federation also has served as the HUD-approved National Housing Counseling Intermediary for credit unions. Credit unions have long played an important role in providing housing counseling services as part of their historic commitment to serving people of modest means. Fourteen credit unions and affiliated non-profit organizations in ten states join the Federation as sub-grantees in this housing counseling project that recognizes the critical link between successful homeownership and financial security. The Federation is a nonprofit, 501(c) (3) credit union association that specifically focuses on serving low-income and underserved communities. The Federation is based in Lower Manhattan with regionally posted staff in Madison, Wisconsin and Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information about the Federation's housing counseling program, please visit: www.cdcu.coop/counseling.

Niagara Falls Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
Niagara Falls, New York
$18,536 - Comprehensive Counseling
Niagara Falls Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (Niagara Falls NHS) was incorporated in 1979 as part of a partnership that includes neighborhood residents, business leaders, government officials and agencies, and financial institutions. Niagara Falls NHS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safe, decent and affordable housing through home rehabilitation, rental housing and first time home ownership incentives. As a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency, Niagara Falls NHS provides closing cost assistance, homebuyer education, foreclosure assistance, and long or short term credit repair. Further information on program services can be obtained by contacting the office at 716-275-7776 or via email at: Kathleen L. Steinman, Executive Director, ksteinman@roadrunner.com

Oswego Housing Development Council, Inc.
Parish, New York
$16,321 - Comprehensive Counseling
OHDC is a private, non-profit organization serving low income Oswego County residents and governed by a community based board to provide a range of housing choices to the low income homeless or those in need of housing by developing, building, (renovating), acting as an administrator or manager, and forging partnerships with social service providers, contractors, real estate sellers, and local government to ensure needs are met. The Oswego Housing Development Council was established in 1979 and is based in Parish, New York. OHDC is a Rural Preservation Company and its service area is primarily Oswego County. OHDC seeks to ensure safe and sanitary affordable housing for very low- to moderate-income persons through the development and rehabilitation of housing. The Council shall serve those areas which demonstrate the greatest need and will try to provide homeownership opportunities wherever possible. OHDC staff can be reached by calling (315) 625-4520 or www.ohdcinc.org.

Keuka Housing Council, Inc.
Penn Yan, New York
$18,167 - Comprehensive Counseling
Keuka Housing Council, Inc. (KHC), a Rural Preservation Company nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes of Upstate New York began serving Yates County in 1976. KHC envisions a community in which all individuals live in suitable and safe housing whether owned or rented. KHC desires to improve and maintain the quality and quantity of housing for people of modest income living in Yates County. KHC adopted the National Housing Quality Standards in April 2010. Since 1976 KHC has served 4,250 families. KHC administers funds for CDBG, NYS AHC, HOME, HUD, and NYS HCR and local foundations. Grants assist with Homebuyers Programs, Repair Programs for persons who own their home, apartment rentals, aiding the homeless and foreclosure prevention counseling. KHC provides a wide variety of counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, foreclosure prevention, modest income renters and homeless. KHC works with homeowners and potential homeowners to understand mortgages to avoid unreasonable high rates, unaffordable repayment terms and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default and eventually foreclosure. Counseling sessions include loss mitigation, budgeting, subordination of loans, making home repairs and working with persons to obtain affordable rentals. www.keukahousingcouncil.org

Better Neighborhoods, Inc.
Schenectady, New York
$13,369 - Comprehensive Counseling
Better Neighborhoods, Inc. (BNI) is a 501(c) (3) organization that was founded in 1966. BNI has successfully administered a Comprehensive Local Housing Counseling Program under twenty four (24) separate HUD counseling contracts from FY 1988 through FY 2012. Better Neighborhoods, Inc. is currently the only HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency in Schenectady offering comprehensive counseling services to all Schenectady County residents. In 2008, BNI also began offering foreclosure prevention and housing counseling services in the neighboring Counties of Fulton and Montgomery. In addition to providing counseling services, since 1992, BNI has built or substantially renovated 128 units of housing in its core service area. New homeowners have invested $5,150,075 in these neighborhoods while leveraging substantial public and private investment. Better Neighborhoods, Inc. (BNI) is dedicated to making a continuous long term positive impact in the neighborhoods it serves by providing safe, affordable housing for persons with limited resources; stimulating economic development within underserved neighborhoods by providing the appropriate support; developing and empowering the people of the neighborhoods it serves; and being good stewards of the resources it receives. The agency provided housing counseling services to over 200 households during HUD Fiscal Year 2012. For more information visit the agency's website at
www.better-neighborhoods.org

Western Catskills Community Revitalization Council, Inc.
Stamford, New York
$17,059 - Comprehensive Counseling
Western Catskills was founded in 1981 as a not-for-profit with the mission of community and economic development in 16 townships in the rural north-western Catskill Mountains. In 1983 it became part of the New York State Rural Preservation Company system. In 1989, Western Catskills took over the abandoned Grand Gorge School, converting it to low income senior housing under the USDA 515 program. In 1997, the Stamford Village Apartments for low income seniors was built with tax credit and private foundation funds. Western Catskills continues to manage these facilities. In 1990, the company began managing First Time Homebuyer Programs and added Housing Counseling to its services to support first time buyers and to meet an obvious need in the community. The agency has been successful managing these programs and is especially proud of its financial counseling efforts. The agency does a great deal of work on the rehabilitation of low/moderate income housing and mixed use commercial Main Street buildings. The company has been successful in these endeavors working with HOME, CDBG, NY Main Street, AHC, Empire State Development, NYS HTFC, USDA, private foundation and other funds. Since 1992, the company has completed $16,462,542 worth of rehabilitation work on 1,065 affordable housing units. For more information visit the agency's website at www.westerncatskills.org.

Northfield Community LDC of Staten Island, Inc.
Staten Island, New York
$14,845 - Comprehensive Counseling
Northfield Community Local Development Corporation of Staten Island (NCLDC) was founded in 1978 by the merchants, property owners and residents of Port Richmond, Staten Island for the purpose of community improvement and advocacy. NCLDC's mission is to enhance quality of life with affordable housing; rehabilitation and improvement of existing housing stock; energy conservation improvements and testing for safety in buildings; promote economic development and financial literacy education; and support homebuyer and foreclosure prevention efforts. NCLDC has rehabilitated over 3,500 units owned or occupied by low-income residents and have provided over 300 low-and moderate-income families living space in new or newly renovated affordable housing in 34 years. During Fiscal Year 2012, NCLDC counseled 266 clients.