ITHACA, N.Y. — In a joint press release, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have announced the awarding of federal housing funds to support public housing in the city of Ithaca.
The Ithaca Housing Authority has been awarded $648,017 courtesy of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Public Housing Capital Fund. The fund is intended to support public housing development and improvement plans.
Ithaca’s share of the funds comes as part of a $67 million award for cities throughout Upstate New York – Binghamton was awarded $1,327,689, Cortland $766,455, and Elmira is to receive $858,225. Buffalo, upstate’s largest city, will also get the largest amount of funds, about $11.75 million.
“This federal investment will help support affordable housing initiatives throughout Upstate New York that assist families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to find an affordable place to live,” said Senator Schumer in the press release.
“With these investments, local housing authorities will be able to help modernize public housing as well as provide programs to help low-income residents achieve greater economic security. I will continue to fight in the Senate to make sure that our communities have the resources necessary to support all New Yorkers,” said Senator Gillibrand.
Following a request for comment regarding specific plans for the use of the funds, Ithaca Housing Authority Executive Director Brenda Westfall issued the following statement:
“The Ithaca Housing Authority is delighted to be the recipient of $648,017 under the Capital Fund Program from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant funds will be used to continue to make improvements to our housing complexes in an effort to support our mission to operate a socially and financially sound agency that assists area low-income families and individuals with safe, decent, and affordable housing opportunities and related services as they strive to achieve self-sufficiency and improve the quality of their lives. Capital improvements include carpet replacement, interior/exterior paint, new refrigerators and stoves, concrete/asphalt maintenance and repair, security lighting and camera upgrades, landscaping, repairs to roofs, floors, siding, etc. as needed.”
Founded in 1946, the Ithaca Housing Authority oversees and maintains 341 units of senior housing and general rental housing at Titus Towers and Southview Gardens in Southside, Overlook Terrace on Hector Street, and the Northside Development townhouses.