CDBG
New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
The Office of Community Renewal administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the State of New York. The NYS CDBG program provides financial assistance to eligible cities, towns, and villages with populations under 50,000 and counties with an area population under 200,000, in order to develop viable communities by providing decent, affordable housing, and suitable living environments, as well as expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income.
The state must ensure that no less than 70% of its CDBG funds are used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons. The program objectives are achieved by supporting activities or projects that: benefit low- and moderate-income families; create job opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons; prevent or eliminate slums and blight; or address a community development need that poses a serious and imminent threat to the community’s health or welfare. Project selection shall take into consideration the recommendation of the relevant regional economic development council or the Commissioner’s determination that the proposed project aligns with the regional strategic priorities of the respective region.
The Town of Southampton contracted with the TSHA in July of 2011 to run the Community Development Block Grant Program.
The TSHA developed a new strategic plan that will enable us to continue assisting low and moderate income homeowners to make the necessary home improvements. The TSHA has worked tirelessly with revamping its policy and procedure for administering the program, along with reformatting the applications and disclosures so as to be in conformity with the County program guidelines.
CLICK HERE for Home Improvement Contractors
Housing Choice Voucher Program
The housing choice voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.
Administrative Initiatives
Upon accepting contractual administrative authority over the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program from the Town of Southampton (the Public Housing Agency designed by HUD), the TSHA streamlined and enhanced procedures to increase efficiency while reducing spending. For example, our first objective was to reduce the number of staff for the HCV Program. Daily operations that were previously completed by seven employees when the program was administered by the Town are now accomplished with three dedicated staff members. In addition, the TSHA recently implemented electronic rent payments to landlords participating in the HCV Program, in order to streamline and expedite the receipt of rental payments. This initiative has translated into program cost savings as well as increased landlord satisfaction.
Program goals
TSHA has set a goal to increase rental units throughout our town, hamlets, and villages in order to reduce the disproportionate number of port-outs to alternative jurisdictions and increase revenue. We began this effort by first educating the community and potential landlords on the facts vs. myths of the HCV program, widely known as “Section 8”. Most recently, TSHA posted an article in a local publication, and distributed a questionnaire throughout the various Hamlets and Villages, soliciting the community on their perceived understanding of the Section 8 program, and why homeowners with rentals not on the program decline to participate. The objective was to determine the opposition in order to develop the most effective system of educating the misinformed. The responses were overwhelming, but not surprising. Complaints range from strict and unreasonable inspections, lower than market payment standards, and landlord payment turn-around time.
Furthermore, the TSHA has reached out to local Citizens Advisory Committees (CAC) and Community Civic organizations, to engage the community in an open forum, and begin the dialog on making the program more understood.
Southampton Town is well known for its elevated cost of living, specifically, housing cost. Rental units are at above average cost, and the lack of affordable units has become an epidemic. The TSHA has taken the position that it is necessary to develop more affordable rental housing units.
Additionally, our goal is to introduce more economic stability opportunities within Southampton Township. For example we are exploring Federal programs such as the Family Self Sufficiency Program (FSS) and the Voucher Homeownership Program (VHP). Both of these programs work in conjunction with HCV/Section 8 program participants. A case management model is used to promote upward mobility. As part of the FSS and VHP programs, participants are encouraged with moral support and resources to go back to school, which opens the opportunity to obtain better employment and to work on repairing their finances. The goal is to promote education and sustainable survival with some of our most vulnerable populations. It is our belief that the key to any good Housing Authority is not only what you build in the community, but how you contributed to building a community. It starts by educating our constituents, participants and residents while providing ample opportunity to grow within our “hometown”.
(use the section 8 photo as a holder – I think I may have to generate one)
Waiting List
On July 21, 2014, the TSHA closed the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, after the prospective candidates on the list grew to over 3,500 names. Typically we distribute approximately 30-50 vouchers per year to new participants. This initiative helped reduce some of the administrative burden on the agency while allowing us to focus on those who are currently on our list.
Lottery – to be announced