COI, HSBC Bank USA N.A., & The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Utilize Partnership to Revitalize Community

Chautauqua Opportunities Homeownership Counseling and Education Program recently received a $5,000 grant from the Key Bank Foundation in support of its financial literacy education program.

COI's Financial Literacy program provides credit and money management counseling. The counselors also assist in developing personal and household budgets, establishing banking relationships, and empowering customers to negotiate payment plans and debt settlement agreements to clear credit and gain financial self sufficiency.

Trained staff counselors work with customers and banks, mortgage holders, and creditors of any source to bring financial management under control. Default counseling has played a large part in the program, assisting people to remain in their homes and avoid foreclosure through negotiation and fiscal management. A series of financial literacy workshops are available to all customers.

Counselors also assist in developing personal and household budgets and empowering customers to negotiate with debtors through education and fiscal control. All COI Homeownership customers are required to attend the Financial Literacy workshops. Participants are given a workbook that incorporates information from several recognized sources, including the FDIC "Money Smart" program and the Fannie Mae program "Growing Your Money".

The program currently services about 250 customers on an annual basis.

 Ed Causebrook leads Financial Literacy Class

Fredonia Commons Celebrates Grand Opening

Officials from Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. (COI) were recently joined by community and state officials to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of Fredonia Commons. The agency's affordable apartment complex is located at 450 Temple Street in Fredonia.

Fredonia Commons is a full maintenance facility with an on site resident manager. The complex includes 36 units designated as affordable housing with 12 one bedroom apartments and 24 two bedroom apartments. Amenities within the apartments include stove, refrigerator, one bath, ample parking, access to laundry facilities; referral services, a commons area for tenants as well as having water and heat costs included in the rental price.

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. would like to thank its partners in the Fredonia Commons Project. The New York State Housing Trust Fund, the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal and the

Court Street Companies for their support and assistance in providing affordable housing opportunities for the residents of Chautauqua County.

For more information on Fredonia Commons, or to receive an application, contact Sharon Brown at 672-2167. Fredonia Commons is a Housing Program of Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. COI is an Equal Housing Opportunities Agency.

Officials cut the ribbon for the Grand Opening of Fredonia Commons