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Through the City of Buffalo's Emergency Assistance Loan Programs and 50/50 Loan Program, loan funds are available to assist homeowners in need of making health and safety repairs, addressing building code violations, and making emergency repairs to leaking roofs, sewer line breaks, broken hot water tanks, inoperable furnaces, and faulty electrical service. Heart of the City Neighborhoods is able to assist homeowners in the Fruit Belt, West Side, Upper West Side, Lower West Side, Elmwood-Bidwell, Elmwood-Bryant, Allentown, Central, Masten Park, MLK Park, and Pratt Willert Planning Neighborhoods with applications. If you live in a different neighborhood, please contact the office to be referred to the organization that can assist you. You can also use this online tool to find the housing organization that serves your neighborhood: https://data.buffalony.gov/stories/s/8vh4-7acw

North Fork Women is an organization that is committed to health advocacy an education. North Fork Women provides healthcare grants and offer financial assistance and personal support to lesbians on the North Fork of Long Island, New York who are facing emergency health situations: difficulties caused by aging, illness, disability, or disruptions of physical or mental-being, and those with adequate or no health insurance.

Provides homeowners in Buffalo and throughout Erie County with loans of up to $20,000 for home improvements and repairs. Loans are secured with a mortgage, have a simple 5.49% fixed interest rate, and are payable over the course of seven (7) years. Loan can be combined with other programs. The home repaired must be the homeowners' primary residence. The homeowner chooses the contractor for their home improvements/repairs, but the contractor must be insured and have proper certification.

Loans and grants are available to very low income rural residents who own and occupy a dwelling in need of repairs. Funds are available for repairs to improve or modernize a home or to remove health and safety hazards. Loans are at 1% and may be repaid over a 20-year period. Grant funds are used to make repairs/improvements to make the dwelling more safe and sanitary, more accessible, or to remove health and safety hazards. Loan funds can be used for more various purposes.

Provides loans for homeowners in Erie County to make health and safety repairs to their homes. Eligible repairs include but are not limited to furnace and electrical repairs, repairs to address sewer/plumbing emergencies, and lead paint remediation. Program is funded by ECDSS, and loans are serviced by Home HeadQuarters, a non-profit, certified Community Development Financial Institution.

Offers limited home repair grants for specific profile clients. Multiple grant conditions apply including that the home must be repairable. No emergency funds are available.

Focuses on helping individuals gain assets and become self-sufficient, improving the health and safety and energy efficiency measures in their home, and helping to develop and improve local businesses. Directly offers opportunities for home ownership and education, energy conservation through weatherization assessment, and renovation services. Also offers financial services such as budgeting along with homeownership, credit, bankruptcy, and foreclosure counseling.

Provides assistance to enrolled members of the Seneca Nation of Indians in emergency situations (i.e. loss of income, disability, loss of home etc.). These services include Minor Home Repair, Emergency Food from Pantry, and Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) applications.

Provides eligible homeowners with a free energy assessment or energy audit. Assessments are conducted by a participating home performance contractor. Helps homeowners and renters of 1-4 unit family homes by providing a means to affordable energy efficient improvements and upgrades. Common work includes adding insulation, reducing drafts, and repairing or upgrading heating systems. Energy upgrades are eligible for low cost, low interest loans and incentives for income-eligible households. Income eligible households are eligible to receive a discount covering 50% of the cost of eligible energy efficiency improvements up to $4,000 per project for single-family homes. 2-4 unit residential homes with income-eligible residents may qualify for a discount of up to $8,000.

A comprehensive housing mobility program that assists participants in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program with children move to designated opportunity areas of their choice in Erie and Niagara Counties. These areas have lower rates of poverty, violent crime, and unemployment, along with higher school rankings for a better quality of life for families. Mobility Coaches assist with finding housing in a well-resourced area, work with participants to develop family, vocational, and/or educational goals, and link participants with community resources to help them to meet these goals. MMP provides comprehensive support to tenants participating in the housing mobility program described above through the following secondary services:

• Financial assistance for moving expenses and security deposit for housing in designated opportunity areas
• One-hour workshops on housing search techniques, tenant rights and responsibilities, and basic financial skills
• Individual mobility counseling and support throughout the housing search process
• Assistance with completing the lease application and other required paperwork, as well as negotiations with the landlord
• Post-move support and check-ins provided by the mobility counselor
• Landlord/tenant liaison services and mediation services to resolve landlord-tenant conflicts

Grants of up to $5,000 are available to participating landlords for rental property improvements.

Offers several programs to assist with housing needs. Emergency Assistance Program: Intended to address emergency situations such as utility service interruption (plumbing, heating, electrical) and the repair of specific house systems that are in poor or dangerous condition (roof, chimney). Conditions noted with each request for emergency assistance will be verified by a representative of the Office of Strategic Planning. Property must be well maintained and structurally sound. 50/50 Program: Offers a conditional grant for low-income first-time home buyers who are purchasing an existing one or two bedroom home in need of rehabilitation in the City of Buffalo. Grant is to assist in the rehabilitation of the home being purchased, amounting to one half of the rehabilitation cost up to a maximum of $25,000. City funds are used to match private financing for renovations to bring the property into compliance with local standards and lead-based paint hazard reduction requirements. Weatherization Program: Offers funds, up to $5,000 per structure, to assist homeowners in the City of Buffalo to make their homes more energy efficient and protected from the elements. Eligible expenses through this program include weather-stripping and caulking of doors and windows; cleaning, testing, and repairs of heating systems; adding insulation to walls and ceilings; and minor repairs as needed. Program is available city-wide to income-eligible owner occupants who meet program application guidelines. Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance Program: Provides financial assistance to low and moderate income first-time homebuyers for closing costs related to the purchase of their first home. Funds are provided as an interest-free conditional grant/loan with a five-year term that is secured by a second mortgage on the property. Home Repair Program (currently unavailable until further notice): Offers housing repairs such as replacing windows, doors, furnaces, and hot water tanks. Program is available to income-eligible owner occupants who meet program application guidelines. Targets 20 owner-occupied homes for critical home repairs in the 14214, 14215, and 14216 zip codes of the City of Buffalo.

A federal agency working to help improve the economy and quality of life in rural areas. Helps rural residents buy or rent safe, affordable housing and make health and safety repairs to their homes. Programs include Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans, and Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants. Offers loans, grants, and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development and essential services such as housing; health care; first responder services and equipment; and water, electric, and communications infrastructure. Promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks, credit unions, and community-managed lending pools. Offers technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their operations. Provides technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.

Provides funds available as full conditional grants, partial conditional grants, and no interest loans, based on applicant household income. The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA) provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners in the City of Buffalo to support critical home repairs and improvements. This funding is designed to help preserve housing, improve living conditions, and promote neighborhood stability. Assistance is offered in the form of:

• Full Conditional Grants – No repayment required if program terms are met.
• Partial Conditional Grants – A portion may be forgiven, with the rest repaid under specific terms.
• Zero-Interest Loans – Affordable loans with no interest and flexible repayment options.

The type and amount of assistance available is based on several factors, including household income, property eligibility, and the specific requirements of the funding source. Priority is often given to low- to moderate-income residents and repairs that address health and safety concerns. Interested homeowners are encouraged to apply or contact BURA to learn more about current funding availability, eligibility criteria, and application procedures. 1.) Down Payment/Closing Cost Assistance Program Funding is available to assist first-time home-buyers with meeting closing costs and down payment expenses attributable to the purchase of a single-family home. Loan funds are provided at no interest as a conditional grant. No monthly or annual payments are required, but the amount provided must be repaid if the property is sold within the five-year regulatory period. 2.) Emergency Loan Assistance Program Funds repairs of a verified emergency condition such as an inoperable furnace, faulty electrical service, broken hot water tank, or break in the main water or sewer line. Loan funds are provided at no interest and partial conditional grants are available for all eligible applicants. The amount to be repaid will be based on household income. 3.) Owner-occupied Home Repair Program Funding from the City of Buffalo, NYS Housing and Community Renewal, and Affordable Housing Corporation is providing low-income homeowners with dollars to help with home repairs and make them more energy efficient. 4.) Target Focus Area Program Funds for code-related repairs are available to owner-occupant households who reside on Target streets. Loan funds are provided at no interest and partial conditional grants are available for all eligible applicants. The amount to be repaid will be based on household income. 5.) Roof Program Funds are available for repair of a severely deteriorated roof where water infiltration into the habitable area has been verified. 6.) 50/50 Program 50/50 Rehab Program offers income-eligible homeowners grants to fund up to 50% of their project cost in order to make needed home repairs. 7.) Vacant Rental Program (VRP) This program is designed to help rental property owners transform vacant, uninhabitable units into safe, high-quality, and affordable long-term rental homes within the City of Buffalo. 8.) Accessory Dwelling Unit Program (ADU) This program offers construction costs to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit. ADUs are small, self-contained living spaces usually made by converting an attic or basement, providing a flexible and affordable housing solution for family members or renters. This funding is available to property owners within the City of Buffalo who’s income falls below 120% AMI.

Provides funds for single family, owner occupied homes to help with repairs for health and safety issues. Typical repairs may include roofs, furnaces, plumbing, electrical, hot water tanks, and accessibility for persons with disabilities and frail elderly.

Provides financial assistance for homeowners to make essential repairs to their homes, including essential handicapped accessibility work.

Various programs focus on helping individuals gain assets and become self-sufficient, improving the health and safety and energy efficiency measures in their home, and helping to develop and improve local businesses. Directly offers opportunities for home ownership and education, energy conservation through weatherization assessment, and renovation services. Also offers financial services such as budgeting along with homeownership, credit, bankruptcy, and foreclosure counseling.

Assists eligible individuals in a crisis by issuing one-time, non-recurring payments to meet emergency situations. The unit may assist with security agreements to landlords, extermination fees, moving or storage expenses, and utility arrears payments to avoid shut-offs or to restore service. Financial assistance is made in the form of a loan for utility shut-off, evictions, moving/storage expenses, property repair, rental assistance, mortgage assistance, and foreclosure. A security agreement is provided to landlords instead of a security deposit. Emergency and immediate needs assisted include:

• Shelter Arrears
• Utility Arrears
• Security Agreements
• Moving Assistance / Storage Assistance
• Water Arrears (only for clients who are in danger of having their water shut off)
• Stoves/Fridges/Household Establishments of Furniture (for Households not receiving Temporary Assistance)
• Essential Property Repair for Homeowners (pending a health evaluation/inspection to confirm that the issue in need of repair poses a hazard to the residents' health)
• Extermination
• Grants of Assistance for Guide Dogs
• Enhanced Shelter Allowance Determination for Temporary Assistance Recipients
• SSI Check Replacement

Provides loans to Buffalo and Erie County landlords to make emergency repairs or address code violations at their rental properties, including repairs related to windows and doors, furnace and electrical issues, sewer and plumbing issues, lead paint hazards, and more. Loans are available up to $25,000.00 at a current rate of 8.99% for qualified applicants.

A loan program designed to assist low and moderate income homeowners to make necessary repairs to their property.

Loans and grants are available to very low income rural residents who own and occupy a dwelling in need of repairs. Funds are available for repairs to improve or modernize a home or to remove health and safety hazards. Loans are at 1% and may be repaid over a 20-year period. Grant funds are used to make repairs/improvements to make the dwelling more safe and sanitary, more accessible, or to remove health and safety hazards. Loan funds can be used for more various purposes.