Working Toward a Mix of Housing Options
It is crucial to Greene County's continued economic growth to have a mix of quality housing options that are affordable to households across the income spectrum. We need to have home ownership opportunities that will encourage our young people to stay and work in Greene County, just as we need to address senior housing needs.
Greene County Planning and Economic Development finalized a Housing Action Plan in 2008 that quantifies and assesses the county’s current housing market, spells out action steps to streamline and focus the development process and proposes guidelines that can be used by developers and municipalities to meet the housing needs of various types of Greene County households.
planning: housing
Workforce Homeownership Program
In May 2009, Greene County launched a new Workforce Homeownership Program to help income-eligible people who either live or work in the county to purchase their first homes at a significantly reduced cost. The program will award as many as 15 low- to moderate-income households deferred-payment loans of up to 20% of the purchase price of a home, as well as up to $3,750 for closing cost assistance. The loan will be forgiven after 15 years if the home buyer is still living in the house.
The Greene County Workforce Homeownership Program is being funded by a $450,000 grant from the New York State Office of Community Renewal through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The Catskill Mountain Housing Development Corporation (CMHDC) is partnering with the county to provide application-related services and offer homeownership counseling classes that are required in order for applicants to receive the loans.
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"Housing is increasingly the key to a successful economy. Without a variety of housing options, it is difficult to attract and maintain a labor force for the 21st century."
Wayne Speenburgh, Chairman
Greene County Legislature
Housing Action Plan
Spearheaded by the Greene County Legislature through Greene County Planning and Economic Development, the Housing Action Plan was completed in 2008. The plan examines housing needs in Greene County, broadens understanding of the components of a healthy housing mix and provides decision-makers with solutions for addressing needs in the Greene County housing market.
Funding for the Housing Action Plan was provided through a New York State Office for Small Cities Technical Assistance grant, as well as by the Greene County Legislature. River Street Planning and Development, a Capital Region firm with considerable experience in housing and community development, assisted with development of the plan. The Greene County Department for the Aging assessed senior housing needs, while an Advisory Committee composed of experts in various sectors of the housing market, played a key role by providing guidance and oversight.
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Fact Sheets
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
Greene County Planning and Economic Development acts as the local administrator of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. The program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The HCV Program provides rental assistance and home ownership options to extremely low and very low income households in New York State at or below 50 percent of the County’s median income by household size, including senior citizens and disabled persons on fixed incomes, displaced families, and homeless individuals with disabilities.
One goal of the HCV Program is to enable eligible households to rent or purchase decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private housing market. After a voucher is issued it remains with the family or individual as long as they remain eligible, even if they change residences. The dollar amount of HCV Program Housing Assistance Payments will vary depending on the income of the family or individual and the approved rent/mortgage for the unit, with the Voucher providing the difference between the market rent of the unit up to the Greene County Payment Standard (including utilities) and the amount of rent the family can afford to pay (between 30 and 40% of their income).
Another facet of the HCV Program is the home ownership option open to current participating families. This option allows very low income families to use their Voucher assistance to assist with homeownership. The voucher assistance is available and is being
used by current participants, who meet the home ownership eligibility requirements toward mortgage payments to purchase a home.