Friends of the North Country

Rural preservation: funds are used to research and develop applications to nys housing trust fund for home, nys affordable housing corporation (ahc), community development block grant (cdbg), access to home and the nys manufactured mobile home replacement program (mmhr)for funds to rehabilitate and replace housing for low-income homeowners. 3 hud cdbg (municipal) applications were submitted and 3 were awarded. Preservation funds are also used to support hazard mitigation planning activities that enhance community stabilization and improvement goals consistent with strategic and comprehensive plans in the region. Funds are also utilized to support work with the clinton county housing coalition, a group dedicated to end homelessness in the county. Rural preservation funds provide in part, for employee salaries and benefits, basic operational costs, and training and education of staff.

the owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and replacement program assisted 72 households. the emphasis of the program is to eliminate housing conditions that are detrimental to the health, safety, and public welfare through code enforcement, demolition of dilapidated units, housing rehabilitation and related activities, and to preserve local affordable housing stock. the program addresses energy efficiency of units both for savings as well as the environment. the program includes federal and state deferred payment loans (grants) to eligible property owners to provide safe, decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities primarily for low and moderate income persons in the surrounding communities. Loans through the owner occupied housing rehabilitation program are deferred payment, no-interest loans that only become due and payable upon sale, rental, refinance (some), or transfer of the property. the loan is forgiven if the owner resides in the property for the specified term of the loan (varies by program source and amount of funds). There are no monthly payments required with the loans which are secured in most programs, by a mortgage on the property. Due to high demand, there is a long waiting list for these services.

Housing assistance: staff counseled and/or assisted 137 consumers . This activity supports the delivery of a wide variety of housing counseling services to home buyers, homeowners, renters and the homeless. the primary objective of the program is to educate individuals and families to help them make informed decisions regarding the improvement of their housing status, to meet the responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy. Counselors help borrowers avoid high interest rate mortgages, unaffordable repayment terms, and other situations that can lead to loss of equity, increased debt, default, and foreclosure. Housing counselors distribute and provide a resource for fair housing and fair lending information. Counseling is provided through counselor-to-client assistance that addresses unique financial circumstances and housing issues, and focuses on overcoming specific obstacles to achieve housing goals such as repairing credit, addressing rental disputes, home purchase, down payment assistance, and raising awareness of critical housing topics such as predatory lending practices, fair lending and fair housing requirements, finding units accessible for disabled persons, avoiding foreclosure, or resolving financial crises. Education is provided through formal classes with established curriculum and instructional goals - provided in a group or classroom setting, or other formats approved by hud covering topics including but not limited to: (1) renter rights (2) the home buying process (3) home maintenance (4) budgeting (5) fair housing (6) identifying and reporting predatory lending practices (7) rights for persons with disabilities (8) and the importance of good credit. the housing counseling program is instrumental to achievement of Friends mission.