For single tickets and sponsorship information, visit our webpage here!

Questions? Like why does the Mizpah have two addresses (it's on the corner of Montgomery and Jefferson Streets!)? Email us at info@homehq.org

Bayberry Neighborhood 1% Loan Kick Off

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon recently announced a new $2 million revolving loan fund for needed exterior home improvements for Bayberry neighborhood homeowners. The fund, part of the Onondaga County Neighborhood Initiative (OCNI) and administered by Home HeadQuarters, provides Bayberry homeowners with up to $25,000 for exterior repairs with 70% of the financing being a 1% loan and 30% in the form of a grant. The grant is discharged once the loan is paid in full. There are no income eligibility restrictions with this program and all Bayberry homeowners are welcome to apply.

Cynthia Grabeldinger recently joined Home HeadQuarters as the Chief Financial Officer. In her day-to-day duties, Cynthia will be responsible for the overall fiscal integrity of the organization including working across business lines and departments, working with auditors and others to produce transparent reporting and compliance. Cynthia brings more than 40 years of accounting know-how to HHQ, originally in public accounting roles holding a CPA in both New York and New Mexico, in various roles at nonprofit organizations and most recently at Basset Healthcare Network as the Director of Accounting and Cash Management.

Cynthia is a fifth generation Clinton, NY resident and has recently welcomed back the last of her four adult children as the next generation to enjoy her favorite town. She enjoys all the family time with her husband, dog and two cats.

While HHQ's Homeownership Center may not be quite as old as the organization overall, the education and counseling epicenter of our organization was first certified by national housing intermediary NeighborWorks America and then federally through the US Department of HUD and the IRS. In the late 90's and early 2000's, there was a federal push to clamp down on predatory lenders and those that provided homeownership classes in the guise of refinancing debt. From this effort, nonprofit organizations like Home HeadQuarters needed to meet stringent standards to earn a HUD-certified housing counseling agency designation, and housing counselors also needed to be certified and working under a certified housing counseling agency to stay certified.

While we might be a little biased about the amazingness of HHQ's HomeOwnership Center team, we think the numbers back us up:

In all 27 years of operation other than two, HHQ's Homeownership center has ranked in the top 10 nationally, throughout Neighborworks America's 240+ network members for homeownership production. Each year, more than 200 brand new, first-time homebuyers receive their education and counseling to enable them to take advantage of all the homebuyer incentives and become, often, the first in their extended families, to purchase a home of their own. Since we started, more than 29,000 people received housing counseling from HHQ housing counselors and almost 6,000 new homeowners have been created.

The HomeOwnership Center at Home HeadQuarters is open to all and a graduation certificate from the 8-Hour HomeBuyer Education Course is good throughout New York State! You can check out our online, in-person, all-Spanish and most importantly, fully-certified classes on our website here!

HHQ Welcomes (back) Logan Battaglia

Home HeadQuarters is excited to welcome Logan Battaglia as Chief Lending Officer. In this position, Logan will oversee all first mortgage and home improvement lending activities for the organization, including approving cases for specific programs like the Bayberry Neighborhood 1% Loan Fund and the always popular Windows and Doors program for small, local landlords, running reports on all of HHQ’s programs, and ensuring lending processes are running smoothly. Logan returns to HHQ where she assisted in our Lending Intake after working with the Onondaga County Lead program. A Syracuse native, she graduated from West Genesee and has her master’s in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. Logan is excited to join the HHQ team as she enjoys the customer interaction and helping the overall community that we serve. In her free time, she likes to read, both fiction and non-fiction, but her favorite author is Malcolm Gladwell. She also enjoys running and plays in a community band where she plays percussion, and sometimes even the saxophone.

A New Path to Homeownership: the Lofts at 1117

For individuals and families who have wondered whether homeownership is within reach, the Lofts at 1117 offer a unique opportunity in the heart of Syracuse.

Located at 1117 W. Fayette Street, between Tipp Hill and Downtown Syracuse, the newly completed condominiums, developed by community partner Redev CNY, were created to help moderate-income households build equity and experience the stability of owning their own home.

Studios and one-bedroom homes are currently available, featuring stainless steel appliances, in-unit washer and dryer, modern finishes, and a beautiful shared courtyard. Eligible buyers can also receive up to $2,500 in closing cost assistance.

The homes are income-restricted, with eligibility based on household size. As an example, households earning less than $85,500 annually may qualify, depending on household size and the home selected.

“Homeownership remains one of the most important ways families can build long-term financial stability and generational wealth,” said Ryan Benz, Founder & CEO of Redev CNY. “Our goal at 1117 is to make that opportunity accessible to more people and to demonstrate that equitable homeownership can also mean beautiful, high-quality housing in the neighborhoods people want to call home.”

Interested buyers can learn more about available homes, pricing and eligibility at redevcny.com/1117.

Want to see how much you might qualify for in purchase financing? Start the process by filling out a Pre-Qual application found on HHQ's website here!

HHQ is also announcing (at this very moment) a special 5.99% mortgage rate for any Lofts at 1117 buyer! (hopefully you read all the way to the end!)

We've Got a Couple Job Openings

Home HeadQuarters has two positions available on its lending team:

Lending Support Specialist - A first point of contact for first mortgage and home improvement customers

Lending Case Manager - Key contact assisting customers through the home improvement lending process.

If interested in learning more about the roles and how to apply, visit: www.homehq.org/employment.

Thank You Northern Credit Union!

Thank you to Northern Credit Union (that now includes Countryside Credit Union) for supporting Home HeadQuarters 30th Anniversary Celebration (and ultimately all of our programs and services). We can't wait to see you there! You can see all of our community partners on our 30th Celebration page here.