October 2019
CHI PARTNERS WITH MARATHON TO PRODUCE 74 APARTMENTS FOR SENIORS IN WESTCHESTER
On October 17, CHI participated in the closing of the construction financing for the Mayfair Apartments, a 74-unit affordable senior housing development in the Town of Greenburgh. As co-Managing Member, CHI is partnering with the Marathon Development Group, a Westchester-based affordable multifamily housing developer. This $17 million project involves the renovation of the long-vacant WestHELP homeless housing site at the Knollwood Road entrance to Westchester Community College, transforming the complex from 108 studio units to 74 studio, one and two-bedroom apartments.

 Pictured From left: Jeremy Root, Cannon Heyman & Weiss; Matthew Judge, Marathon Development Group; Mark Soja, Marathon Development Group; Deborah Post, Community Housing Innovations; Niki Tsismenakis, Goldstein Hall; Joseph Petrillo, All New York Title Agency; Tyler Gablenz, All New York Title Agency

The project is being financed with a SONYMA conventional first mortgage and NYS Supportive Housing Opportunity Program and Senior Housing Program low-interest secondary financing. In addition, CHI was awarded an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) grant that provides $295,300 in annual funding to CHI for the provision of supportive housing services to 20 formerly homeless seniors with serious mental illness, to include a rental subsidy for the 20 ESSHI tenants.





Bank of America Awards
CHI's Home Ownership Program
with a $40,000 Grant
Pictured from left: Julie Stern & Alexander H. Roberts of CHI along with Kelly Maine, Joe Carrello & Philip Dunne of Bank of America Melville NY
Bank of America representatives, Kelly Maine, Joe Carello & Philip Dunne presented CHI personnel, Julie Stern Dir. of Home Ownership Programs and Executive Director Alexander Roberts with a grant award of $40,000.00. This grant will support the educational courses of the HUD approved housing counseling and education program for first-time home buyers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester. CHI's certified counselors demystify the home buying process and ready families for successful and sustainable home ownership. With grants from NY State Affordable Housing Corporation, CHI offers qualified first-time home buyers grant assistance (typically $25,000) towards the down-payment and rehabilitation costs associated with buying a home. Over 800 families have purchased their first home as a result of these grants from CHI. In addition, CHI provides foreclosure prevention counseling to households in Westchester county, helping clients facing a financial crisis to secure a loan modification or other remedy to save their homes. Purchasing a home is often the largest financial decision in a person's life. In 2019, Neighborworks America study indicates that 70% of Americans believe the home buying process is complicated. Most lower-income households pay more than half of their incomes for housing (Harvard Housing Report 2017). Housing education and counseling can be helpful to set guidelines as to what the household can afford and help the household try to decrease spending on housing. Pre-purchase counseling may also reduce the likelihood of default since part of the process is determining if the person is truly ready for home ownership. The grant from Bank of America will help CHI enrich and expand its home ownership orientations and assist more potential first time home buyers.
Thank You Bank of America!
Consider a gift to CHI this coming holiday season- click to Donate Now
Since the launch of the HAND UP fund, over 50 CHI clients have benefited from this modest monetary assistance offering- to help with small requests that make a big impact.

Recently "Mr. P" who is a current client that arrived at CHI with his wife and 5 children.

During his intake, he and his wife reported that they had recently lost their jobs and as a result, lost their housing. As soon as "Mr. P" set foot in CHI he was diligent in applying for work and successfully secured full time employment at a warehouse. After a few days on the job, "Mr. P" expressed a need for durable, work appropriate clothing that could stand up to the wear and tear and physical demands of his new job. 

With help from the CHI Hand Up Fund, staff purchased works pants, t shirts and sturdy new footwear. "Mr. P" has done a fantastic job maintaining his employment and great news -his wife has also found employment! The family is now actively saving to be able to afford a place of their own. Thanks to the generous donations from people like you, the Hand Up Fund is able to assist clients with these onetime small grants that can have a huge impact on their lives.

To learn more or to donate to the fund,
CHI has on online site where :
Suffolk Federal Makes Generous Donation to CHI - Helps Home Ownership Dreams Come True
Photo left to right:Toni Ajello, Mortgage Director, Suffolk Federal; Julie Stern, Director of Home ownership Services: Tierra Monroe Grant Administrator/Certified Housing Counselor, Community Housing Innovations; and Cathy Rodgers, Mortgage Loan Officer, Suffolk Federal.  
It’s no secret that real estate on Long Island is some of the most expensive in the state of New York, let alone the country – making home ownership feel like a far-off goal for many. 
But, with the help of several special programs offered by Community Housing Innovations (CHI), home-buyers can receive the education to understand the market, create financial solutions and make the “American Dream” a reality. Thanks to a recent $2,500 donation from Suffolk Federal, Community Housing Innovation’s Home-ownership Counseling & Education Program will continue efforts to support families throughout Suffolk County. 
As a long-time trusted community institution with 10 convenient locations, Suffolk Federal offers its members better rates and fewer fees so that everyone can achieve financial freedom. Likewise, CHI offers counseling to hundreds of families, assisting with everything from home affordability analysis and the creation of a purchasing strategy and budget to homebuyer education classes and foreclosure prevention sessions. Together, this partnership will enable even more people to make smart sustainable homeownership decisions and choices.  
“Purchasing and maintaining a home can be extremely daunting, and it is so important that in-depth programs like CHI exist to offer the resources and support to enable families to navigate through this process,” said Ralph D. Spencer, Suffolk Federal President & CEO. “At Suffolk Federal, we recognize that each individual has his or her own financial story and it is our commitment to provide access to innovative, customized tools and services which will benefit their particular housing situation,” he continued. 
“Thanks to Suffolk Federal’s generous donation, CHI will bring the dream of home ownership to more families on Long Island,” said Alec Roberts, Executive Director, Community Housing Innovations. “CHI looks forward to our continuing partnership with Suffolk Federal.” 
In addition to CHI’s counseling and educational program for first time owners, the organization also offers down payment and closing cost assistance for income-eligible households on Long Island as well as for those in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. 

About Suffolk Federal Suffolk Federal is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution chartered in 1967 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and is owned and operated by its members. The volunteer-directed credit union has assets in excess of $1 billion, 10 branch locations and more than 60,000 members. Suffolk Federal offers all members incredible benefits like free checking, free online banking, low interest rates on home and auto loans and much more. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or regularly conducts business in Suffolk County, NY as well as immediate family members of current membership. To learn more, visit www.suffolkfcu.org, call 631.924.8000 or visit any Suffolk Federal branch today. 

Your support enables CHI to meet the increased need for housing and services, especially to the children of our communities. 

Community Housing Innovations, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing housing and human services that support social and economic independence.

With offices in White Plains and Patchogue