Legislative Action Day 2006 link to event details or link directly to pdf of draft
Legislative Action Day 2005
Legislative Priority Statement
The Neighborhood Preservation Coalition of New York State and its membership seeks to ensure adequate funding of the Neighborhood Preservation Program. Adequate funding is defined as $80K per group as authorized by statute.
The Coalition also seeks the restoration of funds to the NPP for the provision of technical assistance services.
Funding Goals
Funding Level Recommendations for FY 2005 State Budget
| Program |
2003-04 Funding |
NP Coalition Goal |
| Neighborhood Preservation Program |
$10.43 M |
$15 M |
| Rural Preservation Program |
$ 5.1 M |
$ 6 M |
| NYS Housing Trust Fund |
$29 M |
$50 M |
| Affordable Homeownership Program |
$25 M |
$50 M |
| Homeless Housing Assistance Program |
$30 M |
$60 M |
| RESTORE |
$400,000 |
$ 4 M |
| Housing Development Fund |
$10 M |
$10 M |
| Urban Initiatives |
$ -0- |
$ 4 M |
| Urban Homeownership Counseling Program |
$ -0- |
$ 5 M |
|
|
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Recommended Statutory Changes
Establish an annual RFP process to recruit new NPCs and RPCs to replace each of those that have withdrawn from the Preservation Programs in the prior year. Priority should be given to establishing new Preservation Companies in the neighborhoods that have lost NPP services and in underserved neighborhoods that do not currently have a Preservation Company.
Allow NPCs to serve more than one neighborhood in more than one municipality.
Provide increases to groups based on needs of the service area, track record and capacity of the group to provide services.
Eliminate the aggregate funding cap.
Allow NPCs to voluntarily merge or consolidate with other NPCs and increase the maximum annual award for 2 groups that merge to no less than the combined current contract amount.
Provide a one-time technical assistance award of $20,000 to assist groups that wish to consolidate or merge.
General Recommendations
Housing development and preservation needs must be funded as part of an overall approach to neighborhood revitalization.
New York State must expand and build upon its existing affordable housing policy.
New York State must commit to continue and expand its support for the existing nonprofit infrastructure designed to preserve and produce affordable housing.
New York State’s housing resources should target persons and communities with the greatest need for housing.
New York State should increase funding for development, rehabilitation, and preservation of low- and moderate-income housing.
Funding for existing programs like the Housing Trust Fund, Affordable Homeownership Program, Homeless Housing Assistance Program, Homes for Working Families, and the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs must be increased.
The State of New York must take immediate affirmative steps to address the threat to our federally-assisted housing stock.
The Neighborhood Preservation Coalition supports passage of comprehensive Brownfields Legislation.
The Neighborhood Preservation Coalition supports passage of the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program.
The Neighborhood Preservation Coalition supports passage of the Comprehensive Housing Production Preservation & Economic Stimulus Act as proposed from the New York Housing Conference.
The Neighborhood Preservation Coalition supports passage of an amendment to the General Municipal Law known as the Affordable Rental Housing Land Use Appeals Act.
