UNHS NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center

Street Address:
1611 Genesee St.
Utica, NY 13501


Phone: 315-724-4197
Fax: 315-724-1415
Website: www.thehomeownershipcenter.org

Janice Forte, Executive Director

Contact Name: Janice Forte
Phone: 315-724-4197
Fax: 315-724-1415
Email: jforte@unhs.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 11    Part Time: 1

Background
Founded in 1979, the UNHS NeighborWorks(r) HomeOwnership Center served the Cornhill neighborhood with owner-occupied rehabilitation loans through 1992. At that time, the UNHS NeighborWorks(r) HomeOwnership Center expanded to serve all residents in the city of Utica with owner-occupies loans, new & rehabilitation construction, community empowerment, and Full Cycle Lending(sm) (FCL) services. FCL services include Homebuyer Education, Financial Literacy, credit counseling, down payment and closing assistance, mortgage products, emergency repair programs, home improvement loans, post-purchase counseling, and default counseling. In 1999, we expanded to provide Full Cycle Lending(sm) to the residents of Oneida County and was designated as the UNHS NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center. We are certified in Full Cycle Lendingsm by NeighborWorks America and certified by the Community Development Financial Institution. In 2005, we expanded once again to serve Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties in the heart of New York State. Each year approximately 100 families purchase homes, 100 families receive rehabilitation services, 150 receive Home Buyer Education, 125 receive Financial Literacy with over 250 receiving counceling. Approximately $10M comes into our region, as a result of our services annually.

Mission
The revitalization and growth of neighborhoods.

Lines of Business
  • Community Building and Organizing

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Lending and Loan Portfolio Management


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership
  • NeighborWorks Community Building and Organizing
  • NeighborWorks Rural Initiative

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 147 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 84 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 77 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 0 rental units.
  • Invested $418,979 in the community through Utica Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.'s revolving loan fund, which leveraged $7,180,678 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $7,599,657.

    • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    1/17/2001 105 new homeowners.
    1/17/2001 Weed & Seed site designation.
    1/17/2001 Conducted 190 home inspections.
    1/17/2001 Assisted 56 families with home improvements.
    1/17/2001 Expanded programs to serve Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
    1/17/2001 Supported 180 Block associations.
    7/31/2006 12/31/2005 78 New Homeowners Assisted 56 customer with rehab projects Provided 207 Home inspections Expanded into Madison County 117 Minor Home Repairs
    11/1/2006 _
    10/30/2007 During 2006, $8M in Economic Investment providing 89 new home owners, 73 Home Improvements, 82 Repaired Units, 372 Property Evaluations, 131 Home Buyer Educations attendees, 157 Financial Literacy attendees and 39 Foreclosure prevention sessions. there were 2,826 units of attendance in Block Associations which provides 25,325 units of community service.
    8/14/2008 2007 production indicates 91 new homeowners, 126 attended Home Buyer Education, 170 attended Financial Literacy, 73 Rehabilitation Projects, 75 repaired homes, 328 property inspections. These services brought $9M into our community. This ranks the UNHS NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center in the top 10% of producers in the NeighborWorks network in two areas: Rehab and Post purchase services. We have developed a new program in response to the national mortgage crisis: Mortgage Health Check-up.

    Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Annual Paint the Town Event

  •  Business/Merchant Relationship

  •  Clean-up Project

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Community Planning

  •  Landscape and Neighborhood Beautification

  •  Leadership Training

  •  Minority Awareness Program

  •  Neighborhood / Resident Crime Watch

  •  Tenant Organizing

  • Family Health Programs

  •  Christmas-Adopt a Family Program

  •  Conflict Resolution Programs

  •  Job Training / Youth Employment Project

  •  Youth Group Organizing (Issue Oriented)

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Financial Education

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Training

  •  IDA Savings Program

  •  Reverse Mortgage

  •  Tandem Lending

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Energy Conservation Programs

  •  Environmental Friendly Building Materials

  •  Handyman Referrals

  •  Home Maintenance Training

  •  Home Safety and Security

  •  Indoor Environment Quality

  •  Lead Poison Prevention

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Center

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  HomeBuyers Club

  •  Housing for Elderly

  •  Housing for Handicapped


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Casab AlbertBoard Treasurer; Board MemberResident  
    Mario ColonBoard Member Resident
    Roy DuhartBoard MemberResident  
    Mary GrantBoard MemberResident  
    Barbara HoehnBoard MemberNon-Profit InstitutionOneida County Habitat for Humanity 
    Lucretia HuntBoard SecretaryResident  
    Willard ImanBoard PresidentRetired Banker 
    Brian KarstBoard Member Resident Madison county
    McLeod MarronBoard MemberResident  
    Phil MontanaBoard MemberResidentCity of Utica 
    Darby O'BrienBoard MemberUtica Public LibraryResident
    Robert OhmannBoard MemberBusiness  
    Rob PalmieriBoard MemberCity of UticaResident
    Morris PearsonBoard Vice PresidentResident  
    Mary RabioBoard TrusteeUtica SchoolsResident
    Roberts RiceBoard MemberState GovernmentNYS DOT 
    Betrus ShellyBoard MemberResident  
    Mello TestaBoard MemberOneida CountyResident
    Kelly WaltersBoard MemberResidentParkway Senior Center 
    Kurt WiechenstroerBoard MemberResidentResident 

    About the NeighborWorks ® Network
    The NeighborWorks® network is a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in nearly 4358 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks® organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.

    NeighborWorks ® America Contact Information
    District:  Northeast
    Name:  Leonora Davis
    Phone:  212-269-6553x29
    Toll-Free:  
    Fax:  
    Email:  ledavis@nw.org