New York State Homes and Community Renewal, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Office of Mental Health today announced the recent groundbreaking of a $16.5 million project involving a combination of new construction and the renovation of several existing buildings to create 49 units of affordable and supportive housing in Dunkirk. The Dunkirk Renovation and Ownership Program, being developed by Southern Tier Environments for Living, Inc., totals 25 buildings on 24 different sites, including the rehabilitation of 14 existing one- and two-family houses and the construction of 11 new buildings.

The Dunkirk Renovation and Ownership Program is being supported with funding from Governor Cuomo’s $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan. The plan makes housing accessible and combats homelessness by building and preserving 112,000 units of affordable housing, including 6,000 units of supportive housing. The plan is a comprehensive approach to statewide housing issues and includes multifamily and single-family housing, community development, and rent stabilization.

NYS Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Central to Governor Cuomo’s expansive housing plan is combatting homelessness by providing high-quality affordable and supportive housing. This project is critically important to the Town of Dunkirk – by restoring these dilapidated homes and building new ones, the Dunkirk Renovation and Ownership Program is strengthening neighborhoods and lives and overall, complementing the State’s investment in helping the Southern Tier soar.”

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts said, “This is yet another example of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to helping revitalize neighborhoods across the state by increasing the availability of affordable and supportive housing. The Dunkirk Renovation and Ownership Program will provide safe, stable housing for individuals and families while ensuring services are available to help them overcome the challenges they face in achieving economic independence.”

Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Governor Cuomo’s commitment to building supportive housing is allowing vulnerable New Yorkers to receive effective treatment in their own homes and in their own communities. The supportive housing units being developed by Southern Tier Environments for Living, Inc. will provide individuals living with mental illness stable housing that supports their recovery and allows them to be valuable contributing members of their communities.”

Much of the construction work will include properties in the Main Street-Route 60 corridor in the City of Dunkirk. There will be a total of 6 apartment treatment units, 13 supportive housing units designated for individuals recovering from a serious mental illness, with the remaining 30 units being affordable rental housing for low-income families.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal provided $2.9 million in permanent financing for the project, including a Supportive Housing Opportunity Program subsidy loan. HCR’s annual Federal tax credit allocation generated $9.9 million in equity. The project also received $2.2 million from the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, and $875,000 in a one-time capital grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health. OMH will also be providing $165,000 annually in service and operating funding under the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) for the ten (10) units designated for individuals who are homeless and recovering from serious mental illness.