New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance today announced the groundbreaking of the $15.8 million Roosevelt Residences project in Utica. When completed, the project will provide 50 units of affordable and supportive housing for both veterans and chronically homeless individuals.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Roosevelt Residences will turn blighted buildings and vacant lots into 50 quality affordable homes for Veterans, families, and people in need of support services. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, HCR and our agency partners are making great strides creating developments like Roosevelt Residences that provide good homes and revitalize neighborhoods.”

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts said, “As we near Veteran’s Day, we’re reminded how important it is to take care of those who defended our country so valiantly. Governor Cuomo has made a strong commitment to addressing homelessness throughout the state, in particular those who served our country, and this supportive housing will provide individuals with the housing and support services they need to stabilize their lives.”

The mixed-use housing complex will comprise of twenty-five buildings of new construction across eleven sites in the Cornhill neighborhood of Utica. The sites exhibit easy access to public transportation, promote walkable communities, and are near the central downtown business district.

The development will include a total of 50 units of permanent supportive and affordable housing. Eight units on three sites are earmarked for homeless individuals and families; including veterans, chronically homeless, mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders. Support services will be provided to residents through the Utica Municipal Housing Authority and include; counseling, financial literacy, job-placement services, and resident empowerment activities. The remaining forty-two units are for income-eligible individuals and families.

Amenities at the development will include laundry facilities, washer/dry hook-ups in all units, off-street parking, and a community center with fitness, computer, and kitchen facilities.

Financing for the development includes $8.21million in tax-exempt bonds and mortgage loans from HCR, $1.2 million in funding from HCR’s Supportive Housing Opportunity Program, $3.99 million in funding from HCR’s New Construction Program, $1.44 million in funding from HTFC’s Homes for Working Families Program and an annual allocation of $631,108 in Low Income Tax Credits. The balance of funding for the project is provided by a $770,000 award through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing Assistance Program, a $127,000 award from the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, and $500,000 through the City of Utica HOME Program.

This project is part of Governor Cuomo's $20 billion Homelessness and Affordable Housing Plan, which includes $10 billion dedicated to creating and preserving 100,000 units of affordable housing and $10 billion devoted to tackling homelessness by developing 6,000 new, permanent supportive housing units.