COI RECEIVES INCREASED GRANT MONIES FOR HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. Executive Director, Roberta Keller recently announced that the local Community Action Agency has been awarded a $20,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enhance the services offered through the agency’s Housing Counseling Program.

“These funds will greatly assist our efforts in helping low and middle income families in managing their finances responsibly,” said Mindy Mowrey, COI’s HUD Housing Counselor. “For many, this knowledge can bring them one step closer to achieving the goal of homeownership, and better assure continued financial success as a homeowner,”.

Ann Nolloth, COI’s Director of Housing & Economic Development, expressed her gratitude for the funding. “We are delighted to receive the $20,500 grant. It is an increase of almost $8500 over last year’s grant. We greatly appreciate HUD’s continued support of COI’s Housing Counseling Program. The financial assistance HUD provides is instrumental for us in achieving our program’s goals.”

 The HUD grant along with funding from the City of Jamestown CDBG , HSBC Bank USA , M&T Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank and other lending institutions along with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation enable COI to provide countywide HUD Certified Counseling Services.

 COI plans to utilize the funds to conduct first time homeownership classes, financial education classes on subjects such as money management, credit review and repair, and budget counseling. Families will also receive one-on-one personal financial counseling sessions.

 The overall goal of the program is to help low and middle-income families with the information, instruction, and skills to aid them in learning to control their finances by developing budgets and setting realistic financial goals. Families are alerted to the concept of predatory lending, thus avoiding the pitfalls of easy credit and poor financial decision-making. If achieved, many of these families have the potential to become eligible homeowners.

To obtain additional information about the program’s services, contact the Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. Jamestown office at 661-9430 or its Dunkirk office at 366-3333, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit their website at www.chautauquaopportunities.com.

 <<BACK