EANNACE ANNOUNCES NEIGHBORWORKS WILL ADMINISTER LOW-INTEREST LOAN PROGRAM

Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace Jr. announced today that Neighborworks Home Ownership Center (UNHS) will administer the county's low interest loan program to financially assist residents in addressing codes violations in their homes.

In June, Eannace and Majority Leader Robert F. Julian announced the NEW Neighborhoods - CLEAN-UP initiative to help neighborhood revitalization by strengthening the support of municipalities through stronger codes enforcement.

The focus of NEW Neighborhoods - CLEAN-UP is to halt further deterioration of tax delinquent housing properties through intensive codes enforcement, abatement and remediation and to improve the health and safety of residents by rehabilitating or securing dilapidated housing structures while increasing financial options for remediation by property owners including a low interest loan program.

"We want to assist homeowners in maintaining their properties," Eannace said. "We want to assure the safety and well-being of residents in their homes and eliminate codes violations. This program is just one way, we intend to that."

The low interest loan program will be administered through the HomeOwnership Center and will be a countywide initiative for property owners who have very limited assets and are unable to meet their abatement expenses.

"Through working with the neighbors in the community we have learned to look at 'who's behind the door' before jumping to conclusions about a home in disrepair," said Home Ownership Center Executive Director Janice A. Forte. "Often you will find a senior citizen who is unable to maintain the property on limited income or someone who has fallen behind die to illness or loss of a job. These are the types of individuals who can use a little extra help with programs such as this."

The intention of the low interest loan fund is to become self-supporting.

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