SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $27K IN FED FUNDS FOR YATES AND WAYNE COUNTY HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS

Federal Funds Will Help Organizations Provide Financial Counseling Services to New Homebuyers, Homeowners, Renters

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide $27,911 in federal funding for two housing organizations in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region. Specifically, the Community Action in Self Help, Inc. of Wayne County will receive $14,840 and the Keuka Housing Council of Yates County will receive $13,071. This money will be provided through HUD’s Housing Counseling Program to help these organizations improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities, improve access to affordable housing, and preserve homeownership for residents.

“This federal funding will help two organizations in Wayne and Yates Counties provide residents with the resources they need to find affordable housing as well as enhance counseling services for new homeowners or renters,” said Senator Schumer. “Counseling programs have been proven to stem the tide of foreclosures, and this will be a sound investment in providing our community members with the tools and skills necessary to find safe places to live and do so with confidence in their financial literacy.”

“Organizations like the Community Action in Self Help and Keuka Housing Council provide invaluable services like counseling, financial guidance and help finding affordable and permanent housing,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I will continue to push for investments in programs like this one that help ensure families in Wayne and Yates Counties have access to a safe, affordable place to live.”

Community Action in Self Help Inc. services Wayne County and the towns of Manchester and Phelps in Ontario County. The agency administers the local Section 8 program, a homebuyers program, housing counseling programs, and owns and manages several affordable housing complexes. The Keuka Housing Council is a non-profit community housing development organization that focuses on community development, home repair services, and the rehabilitation of existing properties to provide low-income rental opportunities in Yates County. Their services include foreclosure help, a homebuyer program, and a home repair program.

HUD’s Housing Counseling Program grants support a variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- to moderate-income renters, and the homeless. Counselors provide guidance and information to help individuals and families improve their housing conditions and be responsible tenants and homeowners. Counseling services include guidance for homeowners to prevent or resolve mortgage delinquency, default, and foreclosure.

###