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October 2018 - Lead, Block Blitz Thanks & More!
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Getting the Lead Out
The Central New York Community Foundation announced this week that they will be investing more than $2 million to help end childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse as part of its new LeadSafeCNY initiative.
Home HeadQuarters, in its 20+ year history, has continuously worked to address lead in Syracuse housing through affordable home improvement lending, substantial rehabilitation and new construction, but with 90 percent of the city's occupied units being built before lead paint was federally banned from use in 1978, there is always more work than available funding. The Community Foundation's announcement and the combined work of the City of Syracuse, our own Green & Healthy Homes Initiative and the Onondaga County Health Department brings welcome focus and energy to Syracuse's lead issue.
The initiative's first grants are going to support new housing construction, existing home renovations, community outreach and training and workforce development. Home HeadQuarters will target low-income rental housing for a no-cost window and exterior door replacement program for low-income rental property tenants in the high-need neighborhoods in Census Tracts 23 and 54 (See Map) that is expected to begin later this year. Home HeadQuarters, through the LeadSafeCNY Initiative will also provide assistance for EPA certified training to contractors and landlords and will provide education and outreach to residents with Tomorrows Neighborhoods Today (TNT).
A number of the Community Foundation's first LeadSafeCNY grants are in support of strategies outlined in
Get the Lead Out: Lead Poisoning Prevention Plan
, produced by the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Greater Syracuse
(GHHI) at Home HeadQuarters and released officially this month. The plan describes actions that can be taken to decrease exposure to lead hazards, protect at-risk populations and encourage cross-program coordination.
To read the plan and learn more, click on the booklet cover.
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Block Blitz 2018
What a day! More than 320 volunteers, 60 shovels, 240 meatballs, 150 mum plants, five dump trucks, 1000 bottles of water, two and a half pallets of driveway sealer, 600 clip in chain link fence pieces and almost 90 gallons of paint and stain all met countless good intentions focusing on 49 properties located on three very hilly streets surrounding historic Elmwood Park. We made great new friends, discovered some amazing new artists and learned more than we ever wanted to know about poison ivy, picket fencing, heavy millings and how one lawn mower is never enough! Thank you to all our sponsors (see official thank you HERE!), helpers and homeowners--we absolutely could not have done it without YOU!
See some Block Blitz 2018 photos HERE!
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From Homeless to Homeowner
When Cystal Otero found herself sleeping at a homeless shelter with her kids four years ago, she told herself that things were going to change. She enrolled in
a graduate program to ultimately get a better job, moved to Syracuse for a better cost of living and signed up for HomeBuyer Education at Home HeadQuarters. While she wanted to become a homeowner immediately, HHQ's housing counseling and first mortgage lending staff recommended she take time to work on her credit.
"It was hard, especially the waiting, but it was all worth it. Thank you Home HeadQuarters! I have a yard!"
To get started on your own homeownership path, sign up for a free HomeBuyer Orientation or check out the 2019 schedule of HomeBuyer Classes, visit HERE!
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Solar For All
Solar energy is now more available than ever. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has launched a new program to make access to solar energy easier for every household. The new program named Solar For All is a community shared solar initiative that offers low to moderate income households access to community solar subscriptions with no upfront costs or fees and no long-term time commitment either.
It works by connecting your electric account to a large off site solar installation built near your community. The power generated at that site is credited to your account, no roof required! C
urrently, only NYSEG customers are eligible to participate, but National Grid customers will have access soon (we'll keep you posted!).
Here's some reasons to join:
- It's free: Join a community solar project for free and start receiving clean energy, with no sign-up or on-going costs
- You'll save money: Make your resources go further. Monthly bill credits on your electricity bill save you money, so you can spend it where you really need it
- It's easy: No fees, monthly sign-up, equipment installation and maintenance, or need to change anything with your utility
- It's flexible: No long-term commitment and the freedom to cancel your subscription at any time without penalty or payment
- You'll help your community: Promote a cleaner environment for your family and community by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
For information about how you can sign up, please contact Home HeadQuarters' Community Energy Advisor Brendon Fox at 315-459-6645,
[email protected].
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UPCOMING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
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5:30pm-7:30pm, this 8-hour course provides all the information you need to become a successful homeowner. Trained housing counselors provide class instruction and one-on-one financial counseling. HomeOwnership Center at Home HeadQuarters, 320 Tracy Street.
November 13
Understanding & Preventing Foreclosure - Cayuga County
11:00am-1:00pm, FREE, 2-hour
informational workshop looks at how to avoid foreclosure, how the judicial process works and what to expect once a foreclosure action is filed. Homsite, 60 Clark Street, Auburn.
November 17
Financial Fitness
9:00am-1:00pm, Ready to get your personal finances in order so that you can achieve your goals? The HomeOwnership Center at Home HeadQuarters offers a free, 4-hour workshop that focuses on Freddie Mac's CreditSmart curriculum, the basics of managing your money and can put you on the road to making better financial decisions for your future.
November 20
11:00am-1:00pm, FREE, 2-hour informational workshop looks at how to avoid foreclosure, how the judicial process works and what to expect once a foreclosure action is filed. HomeOwnership Center at Home HeadQuarters, 320 Tracy Street.
For a full 2019 HomeBuyer Education Class Schedule, click
HERE!
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2017-2018 Annual Report
Want to see all HHQ's highlights from the last program year, all squeezed into a one-page annual report? You can actually find eight years' of annual reports and more on our website. Happy Reading!
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Home Improvement Loans
A FlexFund Home Improvement Loan is easy. You can use it for any type of home repair--inside or out--and it requires no equity. Low interest, no income eligibility requirement and you can use any contractor--we promise! Fill out an application and we'll get the ball rolling!
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2019 HomeBuyer Education Class Schedule - Syracuse
Morning orientations, evening 8-hour classes, Saturday classes--they're all here! Register online, but get all the info first by clicking on the link below.
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Saying Goodbye...
to the Old Furnace
Ron and Janice Doty said goodbye to their 50 year old, barely working furnace this past month with a little help from the NY State RESTORE Program, Syracuse United Neighbors (SUN) and Home HeadQuarters. The Doty family was able to take advantage of a grant for seniors over 60 to address life, safety and code issues in their home located within SUN's neighborhood service area. More than two-dozen projects are in the works for this limited program. HHQ and SUN plan to reapply for additional funding!
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The Old Lasher Hardware and current Home HeadQuarters' mixed-use development at 1022 W. Fayette Street in Syracuse saw lots of action this past month. Affordable, upstairs apartments had finishes and lighting added (including baseboard molding made from the original warehouse timbers), the glass retail storefront was installed and the eye-popping mural featuring neighborhood residents was started. Thank you to the
Allyn Family Foundation
,
New York State Office of Community Renewal
and the City of Syracuse for making this project possible! Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months.
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Home HeadQuarters, Inc. | 538 Erie Blvd. W., Suite 100, | Syracuse, NY 13204
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