Your Monthly (Eh...) News & Updates |
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#BlockBlitz2023—Are you in?
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We're quickly approaching the Block Blitz moment when paint colors need to be picked (and argued about), t-shirt colors need to be agreed upon and driveway sealing teams need to be identified.
In case this doesn't sound familiar, HHQ's annual Block Blitz (is it the 16th annual?) is a one-day event where 300 of our closest friends and supporters come out to help paint, plant, clean up, and repair 50 or so properties, all in one city of Syracuse neighborhood rain or shine.
This year, the event is being held on Friday, September 15, and we're focusing on the Elmwood-Creekside neighborhood. We hope you can join us! If you want to sponsor a team, sponsor a house or chip in a little something to make a certain project shine, check out our Block Blitz page at www.homehq.org/block-blitz or email info@homehq.org. Look below for some interesting Block Blitz projects that might need your help!
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A Handful of Block Blitz Projects |
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Construction Signs: Harbingers of What's to Come |
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If you work, live and/or play in the city of Syracuse, you may have noticed a few construction signs popping up around town. Home HeadQuarters is slated to construct more than 40 houses over this and next year's construction season. Stay tuned for more information as projects progress including how to make a brand new home your very own! If you want to get a jump on homeownership, enroll now in HHQ's 8-Hour Homebuyer Education Course with HUD-certified Housing Counseling.
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The One, Two, Three Homeownership Punch: Syracuse FEC, HHQ & CNY Affordable Realty |
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Alicia Mustafa and her husband Fred came to the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center last year because they were sick of paying someone else’s mortgage. The couple wanted to move beyond renting and into a home of their own. Working first with Syracuse FEC Counselor Judi Kurtz, Alicia and Fred picked up needed skills to improve their credit score and budgeting ability. “Alicia had that motivated mindset that she was going to make this happen and nothing was going to stop her,” said Kurtz.
Once Alicia and Fred’s credit scores improved; they came to Home HeadQuarters, enrolled in Homebuyer
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Alicia Mustafa speaks at the Syracuse FEC anniversary celebration a couple of weeks ago at Syracuse City Hall along with Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, HHQ Deputy Executive Director Latoya Allen and Syracuse FEC counselors Thom Dellwo, Rafiki Fulgence and Audriana Ortega. |
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Education, met with the HUD-certified Housing Counseling staff and applied to get pre-qualified for a first mortgage. They next met with a CNY Affordable Realty realtor and by the end of this summer, will close on a property that Alicia says, "will have a large man cave for Fred and a finished basement." The couple's determination and drive to ask all the questions and to seek out assistance made all the difference in this highly competitive housing market.
To start your journey with the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center, visit www.syracusefec.org to make your free appointment today!
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Buffalo & Erie County Syracuse Visit |
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Tour goers visited current HHQ development projects as part of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh's Infill Housing efforts including the Westside's Green Corners Energy Showcase project and HHQ's long-term new construction investment on Syracuse's Southside.
Thank you to HHQ's Board of Directors, Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Meg O'Connell and the staff at the Allyn Family Foundation, Greater Syracuse Landbank's Executive Director Katelyn Wright and Tipp Hill Neighborhood Association President Janice McKenna for spending some quality time sharing why Syracuse is making it work. It was a full day full of excellent conversation, information sharing and plenty of synergy between all attendees. We look forward to continuing the conversation to help increase affordable home ownership opportunities for residents of Buffalo and Erie County!
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Brenda Osorio Is In the HHQ Non-Bubble Internship |
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Brenda Osorio says that surprisingly, she "liked Syracuse much more than she initially anticipated." Once the Policy Studies major at Syracuse University and summer intern at Home HeadQuarters realized she liked Syracuse and its neighborhoods, Brenda made it a goal to get out and into the community and not stay in the bubble of campus life.
"Working with a great organization like HHQ really helps open your eyes to the realities of the challenges people face. I'm really proud of the work this organization undertakes on a daily basis."
The former self-described military brat is used to moving about and hopes to continue that tradition after graduation by moving to where she can put her international relations and policy studies to good use. "I like beaches, water, swimming and travel, and also hope to work for the government," she says. All of us at HHQ figure that if anyone can reach the destination that includes all of that pertinent criteria, it will be Brenda.
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Loan for Home Flood Proofing Now Available
to More Homeowners
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The New York State Resilient Retrofits 1% Loan Program for homeowners in Erie, Broome, Kings, Queens and Suffolk counties has expanded to include homeowners that live in the 100-year flood or are at risk of flooding.
The up to $50,000 loan to flood-proof and make other climate ready updates to your home has no minimum credit score requirement, but does include household income eligibility and approved flood-proofing projects. For more information on the program and for links to your specific county, check out our Retrofits web page here!
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The Outer Comstock Neighborhood Association or OCNA has it's very own 1% Home Improvement Loan Program for any type of needed home improvement. The program recently closed due to funding, but it is now reopened! If your primary residence is in the Outer Comstock neighborhood, you can take advantage of this super low-interest loan by filling out an application found on our website!
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Chris Donai, owner of Built It Reliable, a local general contracting company in the Syracuse area, shows off a model of a house that he built more than 20 years ago because as he says, "he likes to build things!" The fancy, and very heavy, model is now on display in HHQ's Erie Blvd office if you'd like to stop by for a visit! |
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