February 25, 2025 - American Public News

ITHACA, N.Y. — The City of Ithaca is anticipating its annual award of state and federal housing and urban development grants, and as they do each year, officials must now decide how to disburse them in a way that benefits the community the most. To assist with that, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) will be holding public hearings on Friday, Feb. 28 and Friday, March 7, as part of the process to determine who will receive money from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) dollars earmarked for Ithaca.The Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program (CDBG) and the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) make up the funding for the yearly grants. The requests are designed to fund organizations in the community that help people in the low- and moderate-income category. The highest amount of funding is typically requested for housing-related projects.Added together, there is $1,748,992 in total requests, and $1,050,052 anticipated to be available for the city’s use — or $899,652 when the $152,100 to operate the IURA is deducted. This represents an even more competitive environment than the norm for IURA funds. The applicant’s track record, the likelihood of success, how much return on investment a project could provide to the Ithaca community, and the applicant’s ability to answer IURA staff and Economic Development Committee questions can make the difference between full funding, partial funding, or none at all.The amount of HUD funding available has typically been around $1.1-$1.2 million, though this year is lower simply because the city expects a lower federal award. Considering some of the current funding decisions by the federal government, there’s some concern regarding whether the money will actually be disbursed. For comparison’s sake, last year there were $1.94 million in requested funds, $1.95 million in 2023, $2.03 million in 2022, and 2021 saw $1.74 million in funds sought. This year, 22 applications were received, the same number received as last year, similar to previous years. The intended uses for the grant dollars range from job training to community services to the development of affordable housing. Below is a summary of the applicants using their information submitted, with links to each application at the start of the entry.Housing205-209 West State Street: Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services typically submits one larger project every funding cycle. This year, and as first reported earlier this month, it’s a plan to redevelop the recently-vacated medical office and parking lot at 205 and 209 W. State St. to provide 56 units of lower-to-moderate income senior housing, and a ground floor daycare center. The request would cover $199,900 of the design and engineering costs towards the $24.9 million project.Habitat For Humanity 610 West Court Street: Habitat for Humanity is seeking $95,000 towards a $425,000 project that will redevelop a vacant city lot via the construction of a new 1,725 square-foot, 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom affordable home for a first-time homebuyer household of six making 30-60% of area median income. All Habitat applicants must demonstrate a need for affordable housing, their ability to pay, and a willingness to partner. Upon selection, through 350+ hours of Sweat Equity, Habitat homebuyers build their own homes (and other Habitat homes) alongside community volunteers, learning about home construction, participating in home maintenance and financial training classes, and becoming fully prepared for success in homeownership.Housing Scholarship Program: The Learning Web is seeking $95,340, a little over $10,000 more than its application last year, in grant funds for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) funding toward rent and utilities for five unaccompanied homeless youth. The youth currently reside in supported apartments across the city and stable housing while learning skills and behaviors to develop self-sufficiency. The Learning Web has successfully obtained funding for this program in previous IURA funding cycles.Small Repair Program: This long-running program is a frequent recipient of IURA funds. INHS is requesting $45,000 ($5,000 more than last year) to fund small emergency repairs for 40 lower-income people with disabilities, seniors, single heads of households and other city homeowners. Examples of projects under this program are wheelchair ramps, handicap-accessible showers, railing installations and minor plumbing and electrical repairs — for instance, if the kitchen sink is leaking, but the pipe is not spewing into the basement. Security Deposit Assistance for Vulnerable Households (2024–25): Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga Counties is asking for $96,000 to go toward security deposits for 92 low- to moderate-income households aimed at elderly people, people with disabilities and single parents, to access safe and stable housing and avoid homelessness. This includes five deposits for homeless families with children in Housing for School Success program. For comparison, last year the request was $95,348 for 78 households, but demand for help has been elevated over the past year.Housing, Daycare & Commercial Property: Black Hands Universal has filed a request for $225,000 for assistance towards a proposed $260,000 project that would renovate and add 2,500 square feet to an existing duplex residential property at 614 West State Street. The project would add additional housing units intended for families with two or three bedrooms each, offices for use by human services providers, and would expand an existing space to accommodate a food co-op. An existing space would also be built out for use as a childcare facility.Economic DevelopmentReUse, I.T. and Clean Energy Job Skills Training: Finger Lakes ReUse, a long-time applicant and recipient of job training funds, is asking for $148,541 in funding for participant stipends to provide job-training opportunities for lower- to moderate-income populations (including people who are unemployed, formerly incarcerated, persons with disabilities, individuals in recovery, and youth), and place at least 20 of these individuals into permanent, unsubsidized employment. Hospitality Employment Training Program (HETP): The Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) is requesting $95,400, more than their $38,000 request last year, for its Hospitality Employment Training Program (HETP), which will provide hospitality, office and administrative job training, and readiness for 20 individuals. There will also be job placement opportunities for 14 participants. Last year, it was 10 and 7 respectively, so GIAC officials are scaling the program back up to its size prior to 2024.Work Preserve Job Training: Job Placements: Another long-running program and recipient of HUD funds, Historic Ithaca is requesting $67,500, the same amount as requested during the past few years, to help place six low to moderate-income individuals in permanent employment. This includes intensive one-on-one training for goal-setting, project management and execution, resume writing, interviewing, and a transition from Historic Ithaca’s store to a new employer. Previous transition employers include Agway, GreenStar and Challenge Workforce Solutions.Public ServicesResiliency Hub: Southside Community Center is asking for $95,400 towards a $2 million project to allow the center to serve as a vital resource in times of emergency, particularly in response to extreme weather events and flooding. Phase one includes infrastructure upgrades such as electrical system improvements, enhancing WiFi access to ensure reliable connectivity, and the installation ofemergency power sources, including the purchase of generators and the implementation of a 29 kilowatt rooftop solar array with a backup battery system.ReUse Materials Access Program for Ithaca Households in Need: Working with local human services organizations, Finger Lakes ReUse issues gift cards to help lower-income families afford donated furniture and household goods they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. The $25,944 requested would cover the administrative costs of the $275,000 program, which serviced 904 buyers last year — a typical qualified buyer gets a credit of $180-$360 depending on household size and income.2-1-1 Information & Referral Helpline with Housing Navigation: The Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County is requesting $20,000 to cover staff salaries and fringe benefits to provide sufficient contact center coverage to meet community needs and for enhanced housing navigation services, benefiting at least 2,750 LMI persons. In previous years, 2-1-1 was just standard referral and informational services, but in the past few years they have expanded to provide “Housing Navigation” to help lower-income households find housing in the Ithaca area.A Place to Stay: Support for Homeless Women: Catholic Charities is requesting $10,000 in grant monies toward case-management costs to support 10 lower- to moderate-income adult women who are homeless or facing homelessness, and more than half of whom will be working through substance abuse recovery as they transition to independent living. In its six years, A Place to Stay has housed dozens of previously homeless women, most of whom transitioned to private housing with voucher assistance or public housing after several months, and Catholic Charities says that most of the graduates have remained successful thus far and have not faced another homeless period.Housing Scholarships Personnel Support: The Learning Web’s other application for this year seeks $36,786 to cover a portion of the costs related to case management, mental health counseling, and administrative oversight needed to support participants and manage the Housing Scholarship Program, mentioned above.Immigrant Services Program: Catholic Charities is angling for a $30,000 grant to help cover the costs of its support services for immigrants and refugees looking to begin another chapter of their lives in Ithaca. The program funds would support 100 individuals as Catholic Charities seeks to help place them in homes, jobs and support their efforts to integrate into the community. This is somewhat smaller than the $40,000 sought to help 120 individuals as last year, but the program is a long-term successful operation that has received steady IURA support over the years.Work Preserve Job Training: In tandem with its job placement program, Historic Ithaca has filed a request for $20,000 for job readiness training for 15 low- to moderate-income community members. Training takes place at Historic Ithaca’s Significant Elements architectural salvage store at 212 Center St., where participants build their professional skills in retail and customer service, warehousing, online sales, facility maintenance and furniture repair.Security Deposit Assistance Intensive Staffing: Catholic Charities is vying for $6,000 in funds to pay for staff time to support high-need security deposit applicants with assistance in navigating services and finding rental units. Funds will target helping formerly/currently homeless individuals, particularly homeless families with elementary students in the Beverly J. Martin Housing for School Success program.Community Bike Shop: Bike Walk Tompkins is asking for $30,000 in funding for staff salaries for open shop hours at its shop at 803 W. Cascadilla Street, workshops, pop-up events, staff training, bike repair supplies, and to subsidize the cost of goods for participants, like bicycles, parts in need of repair, and safety equipment.Bridging Gaps: Empowering Recovery through Service and Community Connection: Service in Unity Inc. is a non-profit that seeks to assist individuals recovering from substance abuse to enter and maintain employment with local organizations such as Tompkins Community Action. The $30,000 request would be used to assist in the costs of assisting and managing about 30 individuals as they rebuild their professional and community connections.Food Subsidy Program: West Haven Farm seeks to provide nutritious, locally grown produce at no cost to low-income people in Ithaca, and partners with local food pantries to achieve that goal with fruit and vegetable boxes for pickup by participating households. The request for $79,200 would be used to ensure that their farmworkers are fairly compensated for the donated labor.Beyond the Box Certification Initiative: Ultimate Reentry Opportunity (URO) seeks to help previously incarcerated individuals re-integrate into the community by providing mental/emotional health counseling and professional support with re-entering the workforce. Building off its successes from its pilot program with Moosewood Restaurant, the non-profit seeks $67,131 to assist 15 individuals in the Ithaca community.Career Resources Project: Black Hands Universal has a second application filed with the IURA, requesting $60,850 for their career program that allows lower-income individuals to work with unions and local trades professionals and develop hands-on skills to enter the trades. The program aims to use the money to train and graduate 15 lower-income individuals into trade apprenticeship programs or begin their careers.The post Flock of housing, services projects vie for local Urban Renewal funds appeared first on The Ithaca Voice.First published by The Ithaca Voice.

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