Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services has expanded its Minor Repair Program into Cayuga County this year, adding another local area to a program that helps older adults and residents with disabilities remain safe and independent at home. The expansion follows a record year in 2025, when INHS said the program served 149 households, an 11% increase from the prior year.
The program provides critical repairs and accessibility improvements for eligible homeowners. INHS said a new partnership with Care Compass will also expand support for Medicaid recipients in Tompkins and Tioga counties.
The announcement was included in the organization's second-quarter update, which also highlighted INHS' 50th anniversary year. INHS said it is marking five decades of work on housing opportunities and community development with events, volunteer efforts and a storytelling series.
The organization plans to hold a free, family-friendly outdoor 50th anniversary celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at INHS headquarters in Ithaca. The event is expected to include live music, food, children's activities, interactive exhibits and stories from people connected to the organization's work.
INHS is also seeking community members, small businesses, artists, performers and vendors interested in taking part in the anniversary event. The organization said it is looking for people who have benefited from INHS programs and may want to share their stories.
As part of the celebration, INHS is accepting nominations for two annual awards: the Lucy J. Brown Leadership Award and the Florence Hoard Community Beautification Award. Nominations close Tuesday, Aug. 18, and the awards will be presented during the anniversary celebration.
INHS also said it marked NeighborWorks Week between May 23 and June 7 as a chartered member of NeighborWorks America. The local events included an ice cream social for residents at Founders Way in Ithaca and an annual Volunteer Cleanup Day on May 27, where volunteers exceeded the organization's goal of logging 50 volunteer hours.
The organization said it is hiring for three positions: project manager, senior real estate developer, and loan officer and homeownership counselor.
INHS also listed upcoming homebuyer education sessions in Ithaca, including an in-person home inspection class from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 23, and a one-day first-time buyer class from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.
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