Schumer Announces Over $2.5 Million In Federal Dollars For Senior Housing Project In Amsterdam

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced $2,555,100 has been awarded to Maranatha Human Services of Poughkeepsie by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Grant program. The funds will be used to build new senior housing units in Amsterdam "This is great news for Amsterdam, said Schumer. For far too many seniors, the cost of living is so high that it forces them to move elsewhere, or move into substandard housing. This funding will increase the number of affordable apartments available for lowincome seniors so that they enjoy the quality of life that the area has to offer and remain an active and vibrant part of the community.

Federal funds will be used by Maranatha Human Services to construct a new senior housing project with 20 units in Amsterdam in Montgomery County. These units are designed for residents to live independently however, several assistance services will be available. There will be a total of 20 units in the complex with 19 available for applicants over 60 and the 20th apartment being occupied by a full time staffer. Founded in 1987, Maranatha Human Services, Inc. (MHS) offers a broadbased system of community services to creatively assist individuals with disabilities and those who are disadvantaged to solve problems faced in their daily lives. MHS is committed to a holistic approach that addresses the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the individual. Trained professionals serve the individual by creating linkages among human services through the cooperative effort of government support and private sector innovation.

The Section 202 program allows elderly persons, including the frail elderly, to live as independently as possible in the community by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services. Under this program, capital advances are made to private nonprofit organizations or nonprofit consumer cooperatives to build, acquire, and/or rehabilitate rental housing with supportive services for elderly persons, including the frail elderly, who are 62 years of age or older. The capital advance is interestfree and does not have to be repaid as long as the housing remains available for very lowincome elderly persons for at least 40 years. Project rental assistance is used to cover the difference between the HUDapproved operating cost per unit and the tenants rent.