Mayor Kraham Announces $5 Million to Help Binghamton Residents with Home Repairs

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)—Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Monday joined representatives from the First Ward Action Council, Home HeadQuarters and the New York State Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) to announce $5 million in New York State funds to help Binghamton residents complete critical home repair projects.

Mayor Kraham said: "This funding will go directly to helping hardworking taxpaying families make critical repairs to their homes. It's a multi-million-dollar investment in Binghamton's neighborhoods and a meaningful way to update the City's aging housing stock. We're grateful to Governor Hochul and HCR for this funding and to our nonprofit partners who are on the frontlines of our collective efforts to address the housing crisis."

The funding comes from the Targeted Home Improvement Program (T-HIP), a new State pilot program that awards grants to non-profits serving low- and moderate-income homeowners. Funding from the program went to 10 communities across the State with high rates of homeownership among people of color and with significant indicators of housing distress.

In Binghamton, the program will provide $5 million for income-eligible residents in designated neighborhoods to make home repairs. The funding, which will be administered through nonprofits First Ward Action Council and Home HeadQuarters, is expected to assist about 135 local homeowners.

First Ward Action Council Executive Director Jerry Willard said: "For working families on a tight budget, costly home repairs can be a challenge. The T-HIP program can provide grants where assistance is most needed, such as big repairs, like new roofs or porch and deck repairs. Not only do these grants assist homeowners, but they are an investment in the quality of the area's housing stock."

Home HeadQuarters Founder and CEO Kerry Quaglia said: "Home HeadQuarters is grateful to New York State, Governor Hochul and HCR for ensuring that much needed home improvement dollars get into the hands of Binghamton homeowners who have long struggled to receive this kind of vital assistance. We look forward to working with our Binghamton partners to help homeowners get these home repairs underway as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Under the program, eligible homeowners can receive up to $40,000 per unit to complete a wide variety of home repairs that help extend the life of the home and allow participants to live safely in their homes, including accessibility improvements, roof repairs/replacements, fixes to unsafe conditions and code violations, and improvements to home utility systems.

Eligible homeowners must live in the 13904 or 13905 zip code. They must live in the home as their primary residence and have a total household income not greater than 80 percent of the area median income. Residential properties with up to four units are eligible as long as one is occupied by the owner as their permanent primary place of residence.

To learn more, residents can contact First Ward Action Council at (607) 772-2850 or Home HeadQuarters at (800) 724-4330 or info@homehq.org.