ESM-NS Federal Credit Union Commits $100,000 to Home HeadQuarters FlexFund Home Improvement Program

Pictured from left: Lorene Dadey, Co-Chair, East Syracuse Revitalization/Economic Development; William Brazill, Deputy Mayor, Minoa; Bill Sweeney, CEO, ESM-NS Credit Union; Kerry Quaglia, Executive Director, Home HeadQuarters; Mark Nicotra, Supervisor, Town of Salina; John Heindorf, Mayor, North Syracuse

ESM-NS Federal Credit Union has committed $100,000 in lending capital to Home HeadQuarters' FlexFund Home Improvement Program to primarily target homeowners in East Syracuse, Kirkville, Minoa, Chittenango, Mattydale, North Syracuse, and Cicero.

In addition to the $100,000 lending capital commitment, the Credit Union will donate $5,000 to Home Head-Quarters to be used to support the administration of the FlexFund Program.

Gladys J. Smith, Home HeadQuarters Board Vice President, is Recipient of First Annual Congressman James Walsh Scholarship

NeighborWorks® America has announced that Home HeadQuarters Board Vice President Gladys J. Smith will be the first recipient of the Congressman James Walsh Scholarship. The scholarship was created to honor Congressman Walsh's distinguished 20 year career in Congress and lifelong commitment to community development and neighborhood revitalization and was announced at Home HeadQuarters' Near Westside celebration earlier this year. The Scholarship will allow a resident of Upstate New York to attend a NeighborWorks® Training Institute, which offers 200 courses specifically designed to help non-profit organizations and resident leaders to strengthen their communities.

Gladys is an influential force in the city of Syracuse, her home for forty years. Dividing her time between her volunteer work and family, Gladys is always ready for a "call to action." She speaks on behalf of residents who are in need of a strong advocate with the knowledge and access to make a difference and bring about change. Gladys currently serves as both the Vice President and Resident Chair for Home HeadQuarters' Board of Directors, is a member of the Near Westside Initiative Board, is a commissioner for the Syracuse Housing Authority and serves as a Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today facilitator among other volunteer duties and responsibilities. She represents the very best of Syracuse and is a mentor and role model for future community advocates.

Thank You City of Syracuse

The City of Syracuse recently reallocated $100,000 to Home HeadQuarters' Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program. The program, which provides first time low- to moderate-income families with up to $3,000 in down payment assistance, was on the brink of closing this year after experiencing serious budget cuts in public funding. Thanks to the City of Syracuse, Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll and Community Development Commissioner Fernando Ortiz, at least 30 additional families who have graduated from our Homebuyer Education Course will now be able to achieve the dream of homeownership.

Expansion Of Successful 1% Loan Program In Valley Neighborhood

The Valley Neighborhood 1% home improvement loan program will now also include the Northeast Valley. Currently, the existing program target area covers the South Valley and Northwest Valley areas. The loan program provides homeowners with a low 1% interest loan, for exterior home improvements. The loan target area was expanded in response to resident comments.

For more information, Valley neighborhood homeowners can contact Home HeadQuarters at 474-1939 or email info@homehq.org.

Click here for more information.

Near Westside Neighborhood Update

Homeowner Energy and Curb Appeal Grant Target Area Extended

Near Westside Homeowners who live between Ontario and Geddes Streets are now eligible to participate in the Near Westside Grant Program. $2,500 Energy Improvement Mini-Grants and $5,000 exterior curb-appeal grants are available. For more information, call Alys at 474-1939 x247 or via email at info@homehq.org.

Click here to see the latest news from the Near Westside at the neighborhood blog.

Meet Lakia Evans, Future Successful Contractor

Lakia Evans is very passionate about construction and knows that she will be a successful contractor in the near future. Thanks to a grant from The U.S. Small Business Administration through Congressman Walsh, Home HeadQuarters is able to help Lakia continue on her chosen career path. This summer, Lakia will work side-by-side with experienced contractors to repair, remodel and paint vacant and occupied homes through Home HeadQuarters' rehab program. These homes will then be sold to first-time homebuyers at a subsidized price.

Lakia, who is a graduate of Jubliee Homes' YouthBuild Program, sees the work she is currently doing as a way to give back by helping to build not only homes, but lives as well. When asked if she is learning anything from all of these contractors she is spending time with this summer Lakia smiles and answers, "My experience at Home HeadQuarters is showing me what it will take to survive as an independent contractor."

Open Houses

Saturday, August 9th • 12-3pm
1152 W. Onondaga St
Incredible rehab just completed! Three huge bedrooms plus office, 1.5 baths, hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen, first floor laundry, large yard, off-street parking, great covered front porch. $69,900 (with income eligibility subsidy).

Saturday, August 23rd • 12-3pm
418 Howard St.
Beautiful, fully-rehabbed home located in historic Hawley-Green neighborhood. Three bedrooms plus office, 1.5 bath, eat-in kitchen, first floor laundry and off-street parking. $139,900.

For a complete listing of Home HeadQuarters' Homes For Sale, please click here.

Home HeadQuarters Promotes Three Staff Members

Kim McIlroy was recently appointed Program and Operations Director for Home HeadQuarters. In this newly created position, Ms. McIlroy will be primarily responsible for managing the organization's regional expansion efforts helping to reach underserved families throughout Upstate and Central New York. Ms. McIlroy will also work to enhance policy and procedures, develop strategic planning goals and provide oversight to all grants management activities.

Sharon Owens as HomeOwnership Center Director will oversee all day-to-day operations and programming for Home HeadQuarters nationally-certified HomeOwnership Center. Ms. Owens will manage all homeownership, financial and foreclosure intervention counseling staffs and be responsible for program and partnership management including educational curriculum, homeownership outreach, employer-assisted housing programs and all post-purchase activities.

Karen Schroeder as Marketing and Resource Development Manager will be responsible for resource development, donor relations, strategic marketing and public relations. In this expanded role, Ms. Schroeder will work to increase the organization's fundraising activities and provide marketing support for the organization's expansion efforts.

Did You Know...

...that Home HeadQuarters' NYSERDA Home Energy Loans and Grants can be used for Energy Star appliances? Appliances account for about 20 percent of your household's energy consumption, with the refrigerator and clothes dryer being the biggest culprits. A typical household does nearly 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per full load with a conventional washer.

Home HeadQuarters is a not-for-profit organization committed to creating housing and related opportunities that improve the lives of underserved Central and Upstate New York people and revitalize the communities in which they live. Established in 1996, Home HeadQuarters offers Nationally-certified Homebuyer Education for first time homebuyers, financial and homeownership counseling, Foreclosure Prevention and real estate planning and development. Home HeadQuarters is also one of the largest regional providers of affordable home and energy improvement loans and grants to area homeowners.