Seneca Housing has received $27,234 in CARES Act funding, which paved the way for the establishment of a Security Deposit Assistance Fund.
The funds are available to assist eligible participants and newly enrolled families of both the HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and Mainstream 5 Programs. Financing security deposits is always a challenge for low-income families, and we are excited to offer this opportunity for assistance. So far, since Seneca Housing has paid out more than $17,000 in assistance and anticipates the remaining funds will be expended by the end of March.
Recently, Seneca Housing’s Executive Director, Melissa Nesbit, was appointed to the NY State Housing and Community Renewal Task force as a representative for NY State’s Region 3. The Task Force structure is based on developing leadership and sharing ideas. Representatives from seven regions of the state work with Homes and Community Renewal to explore new ideas and develop and implement innovative solutions to problems facing Local Administrators of state-funded housing programs.
“Regarding our Veterans Housing initiative, we are pleased to report that, thanks to the humbling generosity of our community members and the invaluable support of local business owners and sponsors, the construction of our first Veteran Housing unit- a gorgeous three-bedroom upper- has been completed and the unit is now occupied. Currently, plans for this year’s annual Veterans Housing Fund Raiser, Masquerade 2021 are under way,” Nesbit said. “This year, the event will take place at del Lago Resort & Casino on Saturday, October 16, 2021. The evening will include dinner, an open bar, live music, silent and live auctions and 50/50 raffles.”
The hard work of ensuring fair housing has continued throughout the pandemic.
“Seneca Housing has a long history of assisting Seneca County residents to live in safe, decent, affordable housing. Our baseline allocation from NY State Homes and Community Renewal continues to grow, which enables us to assist more families each year. In 2020, we were authorized to offer direct service to 473 families and indirect service and referrals to an estimated 1000 additional families. We work with more than 700 landlords, apartment complexes and property managers in Seneca County. In 2020 we paid directly to them, on behalf of their tenants, $2,163,309.00 in rental payments,” Nesbit added. “Affordable housing is an integral component to economic development and Seneca Housing, is committed to offering continued services in Seneca County for many years to come.”
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