Your Intermittent News & Updates |
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Latoya Allen Named Deputy Director
for Home HeadQuarters
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Latoya Allen was recently named deputy director for Home HeadQuarters (HHQ) charged with leading special programming and community and homeownership outreach. Ms. Allen, who most recently served as HHQ's HomeOwnership Center Director, is also a HUD-certified housing counselor and educator for first-time homebuyers helping to guide rental, public housing and other high needs populations through HHQ’s homeownership pipeline. In this new position, Ms. Allen will help direct, with an equitable lens, the organization’s property development and programmatic efforts by providing guidance, operational planning and neighborhood convenings for stakeholder feedback.
A proud, lifetime resident of Syracuse, New York, and a product of the City School District, Ms. Allen also serves as the elected 4th District Councilor for Syracuse constituents living on the city’s Southside. When initially elected in 2017, Ms. Allen was the youngest African American woman elected to Syracuse’s Common Council.
Ms. Allen is also the founder of Precious Lily, a mentoring program for young girls, and is the founder of Rose2Rose, a support group that encourages, motivates, and supports women in their careers and personal lives. She currently serves as a board member for Blueprint 15, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, Syracuse Strong, and the SCSD Educational Foundation. Mom to two boys and one very large dog, Ms. Allen lives on Syracuse’s Southside.
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Loans of up to $20,000 coupled with grants of up to $6,000! Homeowners all over Onondaga County including Minoa, Fairmount, Lyncourt, Bayberry and many more, can take advantage of this program by meeting COVID impact and income eligibility.
Loans of up to $25,000 to address emergency repairs for homeowners in the city of Syracuse. Payback of up to 50% of the loan is determined on a sliding scale based on household income.
Loans of up to $20,000. No equity required, no income eligibility requirements, can be used on any project with any contractor throughout Upstate New York.
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Home HeadQuarters Announces Membership in Federal Home Loan Bank of New York |
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Home HeadQuarters recently announced its membership in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY). As a qualified member, Home HeadQuarters will have access to flexible, low-cost capital that can immediately be reinvested in equity lending programs for Upstate New York families who, for one reason or another, are unable to borrow from traditional lenders. Home HeadQuarters, after passing the rigorous FHLBNY membership process, joins about 340 other member financial institutions including banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, insurance companies, and other community development financial institutions located in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
With access to new capital, Home HeadQuarters will expand its first mortgage program for first-time homebuyers who have participated in HomeBuyer Education through its certified NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center and are purchasing both traditional properties and vacant Land Bank properties throughout the State. The organization also plans to grow its already extensive home improvement loan programs that provide emergency repair assistance and extensive rehab financing for low- to moderate-income homeowners, new homeowners with no home equity with which to borrow, and those owners who may fall below bank underwriting standards. Bridge financing for local non-profits, minority-owned contracting businesses, and small “mom and pop” landlords are also targeted for expansion.
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If you attended Jubilee Homes' recent fundraiser you caught quite the treat. Seafood Haven, a New Jersey-based, family-owned seafood business catered the event in celebration of their moving into Syracuse. The restaurant, which opened almost 50 years ago in Harlem, will open a location in the former B&B Lounge property on South Ave., at some point next year. Look for updates on the project and if there are any chances of delivery to Syracuse from Jersey!
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"A Home That Will Be Ours Forever" |
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Brian and LaIndia Hall liked to drive around different neighborhoods on the weekends to look at houses. They had both taken the HomeBuyer Education Course, but didn't want to rush into anything, so were content to look, compare and see what they both might agree was the best house for the whole family.
Early in the year, they drove by two houses on the city's near Northside being built by Home HeadQuarters as part of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh's Resurgent Neighborhood Initiative. They both liked what they saw.
"Well, then we had to drive by the construction site at least three times a week," said Brian. "Sometimes with all the kids, sometimes just one or two or just us."
The Hall family worked with HHQ for a first mortgage and were able to take advantage of closing cost assistance through both the city of Syracuse and HHQ. The whole family took part in a ribbon cutting in June and was nice enough to open their home for neighbors to see the inside of their beautiful new 3-bedroom home.
"Even though we couldn't wait to buy a home, it was definitely a blessing that we were patient and worked to get a home that would be ours forever."
If you think you have what it takes to be patient with our current housing market and want to start your homeownership journey, sign up for a HomeOwnership Orientation on our website. The orientation, held in both Spanish and English, is an introduction to the HomeBuyer Education process and products to help first time homebuyers. Already graduated from HomeBuyer Education and ready to purchase? Check out available and coming soon Closing Cost Assistance Loans and Grants.
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Buffalo & Erie County Landlord
Property Improvement Fund
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Know any Buffalo area Landlords with one to four unit properties? If so, let them know they can now access loan funds of up to $25,000 to address lead paint hazards and other health and safety needs in their rental properties. City of Buffalo Landlords can also take advantage of a grant of up to $5,000 or 20% of their total loan amount. Want to know more? Call Paul Pérez at (800) 724-4330, email info@homehq.org or visit our website and look under "Landlords & Businesses" and then "Rental Property Loans and Grants."
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Home HeadQuarters is looking for a mortgage loan officer and a financial counselor to join its busy team. If you think you are interested in applying or learning more about these open positions, please visit our Employment page on our website.
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There really is no joy to be found in siding a house, even a newly constructed one, but we admire those that try to do their best at any job. There might be some small internal happiness in the fact that it's stopped raining for two whole days in a row! Thanks to our construction crew and all of our local sub contractors who make things happen day after day--joy or not. |
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