By Patrick Donachie
Nearly $8 million in state funding will go toward rehabilitating damaged houses or constructing new ones throughout the state, according to an announcement last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Some funding will go towards repairing homes damaged during Superstorm Sandy.
“We are committed to helping all New Yorkers achieve and preserve the American Dream of homeownership, and this funding will build and improve affordable owner-occupied housing in every corner of the state,” Cuomo said about the funding allocation.
The funding will pay for repairs to 295 income-eligible homes throughout the state, allocated through the New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Affordable Home Ownership Development Program, which provides as much as $40,000 per home to assist in repairs or to construct affordable housing.
The state funding comes as the Daily News reported last week that 60 percent of homes in the city’s Build it Back Program had completed construction, a jump of more than 15 percent since October.
The Queens-associated grants from the state included $1.2 million to improve about 30 units located throughout Queens and Kings County specifically related to homes that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy. An additional $880,000 was allocated to Restored Homes Housing Development Fund Corporation to acquire and repair 22 units in scattered areas throughout Queens.
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
