Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $125,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Community Development Initiative Grant Program for Habitat for Humanity New York State, Inc (HFH-NYS). The organization’s nine local affiliates throughout upstate New York will use the funding to get training and technical assistance on board development, family selection and mortgage compliance, finance management, fundraising and resource development as well as energy efficient construction and improvements.
“Access to stable housing is essential for the health of our families and the economic strength of our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Funding for Habitat for Humanity of New York will provide their upstate New York affiliates with training and technical assistance to better serve those in need of quality housing.”
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 and has built quality housing throughout 70 countries for those in need. The New York chapter was chartered in 2007 and works through 53 affiliates throughout New York who have produced more than 1,700 homes and created more than 300 jobs. Habitat for Humanity New York State will use the funding to provide technical assistance and training to nine Habitat affiliates in upstate New York to help eliminate substandard housing. The federal funding will be used by the Chautauqua Area Habitat for Humanity in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, the Columbia County Habitat for Humanity in the Capital region, the Raquette Valley Habitat for Humanity in St. Lawrence County, the Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County in Central New York, the Ulster County Habitat for Humanity in the Hudson Valley, the Southeastern Steuben Habitat for Humanity in the Southern Tier, as well as the Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County, Habitat for Humanity Livingston, Orleans County Habitat for Humanity and which are located in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region.
USDA Rural Community Development Initiative grants were developed to assist community-based organizations and low income rural communities in improving housing, community facilities and economic development projects in rural areas.