Town of West Seneca - 2015 - Road paving project - Woodlane and Chamberlin Streets
The Planning Division administers the Erie County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Consortiums. These comprise 34 and 37 communities, respectively, in Erie County that have banded together to receive federal funds.
These monies are used for a variety of community planning/improvement projects, housing programs, and economic development programs.
The Community Development program year runs from April 1st through March 31st.
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CONTENTS
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News:
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Erie County now has a local Fair Housing Law! The legislation, which was signed into law by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on May 22, 2018, incorporates the same protections as the federal and state fair housing laws while also prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity, immigration and citizenship status, and source of income. The legislation can be found here.
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September 4, 2018: Citizen's Forum for the 2019 Community Development Plan
- Tuesday, September 11 - 7:00 pm – Village of North Collins – Village Hall Meeting Room, 10543 Main Street, North Collins, NY
- Wednesday, September 12 - 6:30 pm – Lackawanna Public Library - Community Room, 560 Ridge Road, Lackawanna, NY
- Thursday, September 13 - 7:00 pm – Village of Lancaster – Municipal Building, 5423 Broadway, Lancaster, NY
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June 29, 2018: 2017 Final CAPER available
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May 17, 2018: FINAL 2018 Community Development Action Plan of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan 2015-2019
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In accordance with Initiatives for a Smart Economy 2.0, Erie County’s Department of Environment and Planning is assisting municipalities with comprehensive plan updates. Please see the Comprehensive Plan Updates page for more information.
Housing Programs:
For additional information on any of the programs below, please contact Matthew at (716) 858-2733 or Matthew.Fisher@erie.gov.
- Housing Rehabilitation Program
The Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program assists eligible owner-occupied one- to two-family households to help with essential repairs. Funded through CDBG and Home Investment Partnership Program monies, the program aims to eliminate substandard living conditions and prolong the useful life of the housing stock occupied by low- and moderate-income households. Assistance is provided in the form of repayable loans of up to $15,000 that are issued at a 0% fixed interest rate.
Please note that there is currently a waiting list for this program.
Please note that there is currently a waiting list for this program.
- Rental Rehabilitation Program
This Program is available to property owners whose rental units fail to meet one or more standards as required by applicable local, state, and federal housing codes. The property owner must contribute 10% or more of the rehab cost, and rent the units to low/moderate income tenants for a period of seven years from the date of assistance. Further, the rents charged cannot exceed the fair market rents established by Erie County as determined by the federal government (see program brochure for more information).
- Lead Paint Remediation Grant Program
The Lead Paint Remediation Grant Program allows low- and moderate-income homeowners who have children under the age of 6 residing in the home to make essential repairs to make their home lead safe. A certified lead testing firm will identify areas in your home where lead paint may be hazardous. A lead certified contractor will make repairs to those areas to remediate the lead paint hazard. Financial assistance is provided in the form of a grant for the cost of repairs to remediate lead paint hazards from the home. No re-payment is required.
- Mobile Home Repair Program
The Mobile Home Repair program provides low interest deferred loans and grants to low-income individuals residing in mobile homes. See brochure for details.
Please note that there is currently a waiting list for this program.
Mobile Home Repair Program 2018-4
- Housing Accessibility Program
The Housing Accessibility Program allows wheelchair-bound low- and moderate-income individuals with documented disabilities that significantly impair mobility to make essential accessibility improvements to their owner-occupied home. Loan assistance of up to $5,000 is available to assist with items such as access ramp installation, re-plumbing kitchen and bath to provide access to facilities, and installing a hard surface walkway from the ramp to where the vehicle is parked.
Housing Accessibility Program 2018-4
- Utility Connection Program
Through funding provided by the Erie County Community Development Block Grant Program, eligible households wishing to connect their houses to new community sewer and water lines can receive up to $5,000 to help with associated costs. Assistance is provided in the form of a 0% interest deferred loan that is not required to be paid back until the property is sold or transferred.
Utility Connection Flyer 2018-4
- Fair Housing Program
Erie County now has a local Fair Housing Law! The legislation, which was signed into law by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on May 22, 2018, incorporates the same protections as the federal and state fair housing laws while also prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity, immigration and citizenship status, and source of income.
The Erie County Fair Housing Program utilizes Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), which assists housing discrimination victims, fair housing counseling and referrals, as well as mobility assistance. Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) also conducts fair housing training workshops for landlords and local fair housing officers. Further information can be obtained by contacting HOME at (716) 854-1400.
The Erie County Fair Housing Program also utilizes Belmont Housing Resources for WNY, a comprehensive HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency. Belmont counsels individuals and group audiences on a diverse quantity and complexity of services including: financial education; pre-purchase; rental; post occupancy, which includes foreclosure/default counseling, HECM (reverse mortgages), home maintenance and financial management; fair housing, which includes tenant/landlord rights, assistance in completing complaint forms and referrals to fair housing and legal agencies; along with providing Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and home buyer Clubs. Further information can be obtained by contacting Belmont at (716) 884-7791.
Additional Fair Housing Links:
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
New York State Division of Human Rights
Reports & Documents:
- Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin. Persons who are protected from discrimination by fair housing laws are referred to as members of the protected classes. Equal and free access to residential housing (housing choice) is a fundamental right that enables members of the protected classes to pursue personal, educational, employment or other goals. Because housing choice is so critical to personal development, fair housing is a goal that government, public officials and private citizens must embrace if equality of opportunity is to become a reality.
HUD defines an impediment to fair housing choice as any actions, omissions or decisions that restrict or have the effect of restricting the availability of housing choices, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.
The Analysis of Impediments (AI) serves as the basis for fair housing planning, provides essential information to policy makers, administrative staff, housing providers, lenders, and fair housing advocates, and assists in building public support for fair housing efforts. The governmental bodies of the five jurisdictions will review the AI and use it for direction, leadership and resources for future fair housing planning. The AI will also serve as a point-in-time baseline against which future progress in terms of implementing fair housing initiatives will be evaluated and recorded.
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice report will be reviewed by the members of the Consortium in June.
- 2017 Consolidated Annual Performance Report (CAPER)
- 2018 Final Action Plan for Community Development
- Community Development Block Grant 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2015 Action Plan
Program Year Highlights:
- 2018
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Fifteen Community Projects will be funded in 2018. This represents a total of $1,649,368.00 in Community Development Block Grant Funds. Infrastructure improvements within low/moderate-income areas of the Consortium continue to be a focus. Projects include sidewalk replacements, water/sewer work, and street improvements. Projects funded are as follows:
- Town of Concord – Concord Senior Center Generator Installation Project: $50,000
- Town of Grand Island – Town Hall Handicap Accessible Elevator: 189,000
- Village of Akron – Village Hall ADA Entrance and Parking: $82,175
- Village of Alden – Elm Street Sidewalk Improvements; $100,000
- Village of Lancaster – Brady Avenue and Cambria Street Sanitary Sewer Reconstruction: $100,000
- Town of Orchard Park – Burmon Drive Sidewalk Replacement: $78,759
- Village of Depew – Hawro Road, Manitou Street and Terrace Boulevard Sidewalk Replacement: $100,000
- Town of West Seneca – Road Milling and Resurfacing Project – Benson Avenue, Dirkson Avenue and Wichita Road: $100,000
- Town of Elma – Senior Center Roof and Building Rehabilitation: $62,670
- City of Lackawanna – Madison Avenue, Jackson Avenue and Elm Street Milling and Paving Project: $100,000
- City of Lackawanna – Milling and Paving of the Lackawanna Public Library Parking Lot and Adjacent Event Lot: $100,000
- Town of Marilla – Elevator Installation: $91,080
- Town of Newstead – Kitchen Equipment for Newstead Senior Center: $25,684
- City of Tonawanda – Wheeler Street Sanitary Sewer Lining: $100,000
- City of Lackawanna – Former Lincoln School Demolition Project: $100,000
- Various Communities, Rural Transit Service: $270,000
- Infrastructure improvements within low/moderate-income areas of the Consortium will continue to be a focus. Projects include sidewalk replacements, water/sewer work, and street improvements.
- The Rural Transit Service (RTS) Program operates within 25 of the 34 Consortium municipalities. It is a popular and successful human service for low/moderate-income residents as well as senior citizens.
- The Housing Rehabilitation, Rental Rehabilitation, and Mobile Home Repair programs continue to be very successful with wait lists in effect for each program. Priority is given to those residing in target areas and older housing stock, as well as having lower incomes. The Rental Rehabilitation Program will assist in improving more homes this year.
- One economic development project for $325,000 will be funded this year. The Smart Growth project in the Village of Alden will fund streetscape improvements on Broadway’s Central District with improved walkability and enhanced pedestrian safety.
- Two significant smart growth projects were completed in 2017 within the Villages of Angola and Gowanda. The project In Angola included construction of a sidewalk on Mill Street and the installation of ADA accessible playground equipment in Herman Park. The project in the Village of Gowanda involved improvements to South Water Street at Creekside Park which included parking lot paving, new curbs, benches and lighting.
Last updated: September 11, 2018 10:59am