NEW YORK STATE RURAL ADVOCATES

Register Legislative Conference brochure 2011 for the NYS Rural Advocates Legislative Days in Albany!  The Holiday Inn Express has set up a  new website for your convenience.

One strategy to raise the profile of the not for profit Rural/ Neighborhood Preservation Programs is to hold hearings.  We are hoping that hearings will take place around the third week in January. Testimony from Board, Staff and those served will help show that the Preservation Program is a cost effective way to address serious housing and community development issues.      Questions to be addressed might include making the program even more efficient and effective- more on this as information becomes available.

New Governor takes office and HCR’s Office of Community Renewal announced the availability of approximately $96 million of State and Federal funds for the following programs:

• $40 million – NYS Community Development Block Grant funding for the Annual Competitive Round and Open Round Economic Development Program
• $25 million – Affordable Home Ownership Development Program
• $20 million – HOME Local Program
• $5 million – New York Main Street
• $4 million – Access to Home Local Program
• $2 million – RESTORE

^* A minimum of 15% will be reserved for Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs)

There is clearly a need for rehabilitation and renovation on public housing, urban or rural. One possible legislative solution here. But is it a solution? Will housing remain affordable with market rate mortgages no matter the size?

NYS Rural Housing Coalition and Rural Advocates submitted 2011_2015 ConPlan Comments

The newly designed HCR will now make their funding commitments or investments using the following framework:

Fundamentals: Is the investment feasible but for HCR’s investment? Are all necessary components identified and committed? Does the applicant have the proven experience and team members to successfully complete the investment?

Leverage: Does the investment leverage significant outside resources such as third party funds, local funds or support?

Outcomes: Does the investment produce a transformative or priority outcome? Such outcomes might include investing in the redevelopment of a deteriorated Main Street, a comprehensive neighborhood improvement program, refinancing of a state Mitchell Lama complex or providing affordable rental housing in our high cost suburbs.

Providing affordable housing- a decent place to live- is “transformative”  in the eyes of the person who lives there!  Does a good investment take priority over the needs of low income persons?  Do good investment properties need public subsidies?  Are investments in  suburban outposts counter to the green initiative?  What does this mean for investment in rural NY as we try to counter further dis-investment in our communities?

NYS Rural Advocates will hold their annual meeting at the Otesaga Hotel on Monday, November 15 and Tuesday November 16. Registration forms will be available shortly.  Book your room today using the  Rural Advocates Otesaga Reservation Forms . The rooms will be held until October 15!

If you are participating for day one only, registration fees include lunch on day one and other incidentals.  Thank you!

Still open for comments- Discussion Draft 2011 Action Plan for NAHA PAC 072010 and Discussion Draft 2011-2015 Con Plan for NAHA PAC 072010-1