Homeownership Resources for New Yorkers with Disabilities

OMRDD's Office of Housing Initiatives is the primary contact for all OMRDD housing initiatives. For more information contact: Lucinda Grant-Griffin (518) 473-1973

Home of Your Own -- Both OMRDD and OMH administer the Home of Your Own program (HOYO) in collaboration with a statewide network of regional M&T Banks. Individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with psychiatric disabilities, and their families or guardians, can qualify for low interest mortgages (4 percent in 2009) for 30 or 40 year terms. M&T personnel work with OMRDD/OMH staff to qualify low and moderate income borrowers. First time home buyers must not have owned a home in the past three years. The individual with a disability must qualify for a loan and be an owner/co-owner on the deed.

OMRDD Statewide (HOYO) contact: Lucinda Griffin (518) 473-1973

Home Grant Program -- This program is available in 17 counties statewide to income eligible individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Eligible applicants can apply for up to $15,000 in home grant funds to be used as a down payment, cover closing costs or to reduce the cost of a mortgage. HOME funds are distributed by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR).

Assets for Independence -- OMRDD is offering a New York State Individual Development Account (NYSIDA) program to assist income eligible New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, their parents or legal guardians, and direct support employees working in a State run, or voluntary agency facility, with saving money to purchase a home. OMRDD will establish a specialized matched savings account that will provide a $4 match for every $1 an individual or family member contributes from earnings up to a total of $5,000 per individual or $10,000 per household for a down payment on a home. The program is available in the following counties: Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua, Monroe, Chemung, Steuben, Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego, Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer. In 2009, 360 individuals will be supported under the program and to qualify household income must be less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Participants are also required to participate in financial management training.

First Home Club - Is an Individual Development Account (IDA) option available to low and moderate income earners. The First Home Clubsm (FHC) is a first-time homebuyers program that provides subsidy funds to assist households earning 80 percent or less of area median income ("AMI") overcome the financial difficulties of purchasing a home. The program provides households with $4 match for every $1 of savings (up to $7,500) that they systematically deposit in their dedicated account with a participating bank. A second grant of up to $500 (no match required), is available to defray homebuyer education and credit counseling costs of a Federal Home Loan Bank ("HLB") approved non-profit counseling agencies for households which purchase a home using FHC assistance. First Home Club resources can be matched with Assets for Independence accounts for a potential combined down payment on a home totaling $12,500. Contact: Peter King, Affordable Housing Officer at (212) 441-6858 or Joe Gallo, Vice President (212) 441-6851.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Single Family Housing Program -- Direct and guaranteed rural home loans for New Yorkers. OMRDD serves as a conduit for these loan programs. Applicants must have very low-, low- or moderate incomes. Very low-income is defined as below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), low-income is between 50 and 80 percent of AMI; moderate income is between 80 and 115 percent of AMI. Families must be without adequate housing, but able to afford the housing payments, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI).

Section 8 Homeownership Program - Individuals and/or families that have participated in the Section 8 rental subsidy voucher program for one year or more are eligible. The Section 8 home ownership program allows renters to convert their rental subsidy into a monthly subsidy for mortgage payments. The participants must meet eligibility guidelines before entering the home ownership program. Eligible participants must attend home buyer education classes, be credit-qualified and pre-approved by a mortgage lending institution. This program is available in all counties under the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) jurisdiction for administration of the Section 8 program as well as many non DHCR jurisdiction counties and may be utilized in conjunction with OMRDD/OMH home ownership initiatives. For more information contact: Deborah Moore (518) 408-3334

Foreclosure Prevention Services -- NYS OMRDD's HUD-Certified Housing Counseling Program provides foreclosure prevention services to individuals with developmental disabilities and to individuals from its "sister" agency, the Office of Mental Health. Services provided include outreach, education and mediation with a variety of banks within and outside of New York State. Counselors are trained by NeighborWorks America. For more information, contact: Lucinda Griffin (518) 473-1973.

Disability Real Property Tax Exemptions -- NYS Real Property Tax Law provides municipalities and school districts with the option to reduce real property tax liability for eligible homeowners with disabilities. In many municipalities qualified homeowners can experience up to a 50% reduction in the assessed value of the home that translates into reduced school and property taxes by up to 50%. For more information, contact: Your Local Assessor's Office.