Recent News
Better Housing is awarded Community Arts Grant. With grant support from the
Better Housing is awarded grant from the Housing Trust Fund Program to preserve 28 affordable residential rental units at
Better Housing is proud to announce the first-ever winners of the Libby Long Memorial Homeownership Award: Adam Morris and Amy Snyder of 101 Flat Iron Rd. The award was started this year by David Long, and named for Libby Long, who passed away in April of 2006. Both David and Libby had served on the Board of Directors at Better Housing at different times during the organization’s 26 year history. “The steps taken to buying a first home require hard work and a commitment to a dream. Libby served Better Housing and others with a true passion for her beliefs, mirroring this commitment, and I think she would be very pleased with this”, said David Long, who headed the selection committee. The contest was open to participants in the Tompkins County Homeownership Program, which has educated over 1200 people and helped over 250 families close on their first homes. The winners were selected from 13 entries, all of which showed a great deal of pride and accomplishments. The couple bought their home in April 2006. “We have worked almost continually on our home since we bought it”, said the winners. “Many of our neighbors have stopped by to tell us they can’t believe it’s the same house!” Adam and Amy submitted a long list of repairs and improvements. Just a few items were remodeling a side porch, replacing rotten siding, doors and windows, remodeling a bathroom, painting the exterior and interior of the house, weatherizing, and planting a new fruit orchard and other gardens. The selection committee was thrilled with the work and pride shown by all the entrants, and committee member Peggy Haine acknowledged “it was a tough decision. But the owners of the Flatiron Road property had performed miracles in a relatively short time -- the place is beautiful -- a gem on that road.” For their efforts, the couple will be awarded a plaque at the Better Housing annual dinner on February 8, 2008, at the LakeWatch Inn, as well as a $500 gift card to Lowe’s Home Improvement store, donated by David Long. photos: Top left: The home at purchase. Bottom left: The home just 18 months later. Top Right:porch reconstruction in progress. Bottom right: The new side porch. Better Housing tops previous year's Dump and Run proceeds. On November 18th, Cornell Campus Life presented a check for $7186 to Better Housing for participation in the 2008 Dump and Run Program. Cornell reported the annual sale raised $42,758 beating 2007. Better Housing increased previous years proceeds by $1286. Proceeds were determined by the organization's volunteer hours contributed to collecting, sorting and sale day activities. Our deepest appreciation to all those who contributed time and countless energy to our success. Executive director John Spence receives Dump and Run check from Cornell. Better Housing helps bring Housing Rehab to Ulysses. Better Housing and the Town recently learned they will receive $400,000 to help low-income residents make health and safety repairs on their homes. The Small Cities Community Development Block Grant will help meet the high level of need for roofs, septic systems, wells, heating improvements and electrical upgrades seen by its citizens. The Town will be contracting with Better Housing to administer the program.
There are currently 87 people on the waiting list who have indicated they need help. Approximately 15 - 17 Ulysses residents will be able to get much needed relief starting this winter.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to make significant improvements in people’s lives and we certainly look forward to working with the folks in Ulysses to accomplish as much as possible through this grant”, adds John Spence, Better Housing Executive Director. “Very-low income families often have to choose between meeting basic household needs and getting these much needed, costly repairs done.”
For more information on the program's eligibility guidelines, please click here
Lehigh Crossing Senior Housing receives grant for rehabilitation. The senior occupants of 24 apartments will soon experience living improvements that will make their affordable rentals much nicer, thanks to an award of Low Income Housing Tax Credits that was announced this week by the New York State Housing Trust Fund.
Through the efforts of Better Housing for Tompkins County, Inc., and the Kinderhook Development Corporation, Lehigh Crossing in the Village of Freeville will soon receive extensive rehabilitation and energy efficiency upgrades. Tax credits totaling $187,513 were awarded to the project, which has a budget of $3,056,469. Currently, the 24 1-bedroom units are rented to seniors. Many of the upgrades, such as installing elevators in three of the buildings and other handicapped accessible features will be designed to meet the needs seniors. The roof will also be replaced, and an emergency generator will be installed on the premises. Some of the improvements will also produce a cost savings for the tenants, since their utility cost responsibilities will be lowered, and the rents will be subsidized through the USDA Rural Development Section 521 program. The units will be held for households at below 60% of the area median income, roughly $31,000 for a family of two. The Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan states there is a lack of adequate supply of affordable housing and there is an increasing need for senior housing. In 2000 one in ten county residents was over age 65, an increase of 10% over the decade. This will increase to one in eight county residents between 2010 and 2020. “Better Housing believes that providing affordable housing options for our County's senior citizens is one of our highest priorities.”, said John Spence, Better Housing Executive Director. “In the case of the Lehigh Crossing project, our partnership with Kinderhook Developers will provide significant improvements to an existing apartment complex. Upgrades will address issues of accessibility, energy efficiency, and resident comfort and safety. We are pleased and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this worthwhile project.” The development team consists of Kinderhook Development Corporation, 3D Development Corporation and Better Housing Development Corporation as co-developers, Two Plus Four Construction Company, Inc. as general contractor, Zausmer Frisch & Associates as architect and Q&D Management Company, Inc. as managing agent.
