24 October 2009

Suozzi, UNCCRC and Habitat for Humanity Build New Home in New Cassel

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation (UNCCRC), Bishop Lionel Harvey and Habitat for Humanity in Nassau County, Lee Hymowitz; President and Director of Operations, Tom Baccarella, joined today to break ground at 898 Brush Hollow Road, New Cassel to build a new home in New Cassel. UNCCRC and Habitat for Humanity in Nassau County, have joined forces to provide affordable housing. Nassau County’s Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs assisted in the revitalization of New Cassel with leveraging over $60 million dollars of investment including the development of new housing and commercial space.

Through its Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs, Nassau County has provided approximately $120,000.00 in funding under the HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to assist UNCCRC with the purchase of the foreclosed property to make way for a new three bedroom home to be built by Habitat for Humanity in Nassau County.

UNCCRC is one of several non-profits awarded funding to purchase foreclosed homes under the federally funded NSP program. When UNCCRC acquired 898 Brush Hollow Road, it was evident the home needed to be demolished and rebuilt. Habitat for Humanity in Nassau County had been looking for sites in Nassau County and OHIA recommended a joint venture.

When the site is cleared, Habitat will build a two-story, single family detached colonial home of 1236 sq/ft. Typically Habitat homes have three bedrooms with a basement. The new home will have EnergyStar© appliances, solar power, high radiant heating systems and many other green building applications. Habitat has many partners to assist in building homes that are EnergyStar© “tier 4” and LEED-H certified green homes.

OHIA is also providing funding to cover a portion of the construction costs through its HUD HOME Assistance Partnership Act program. The house will be sold at cost, with zero down, interest free mortgage to a qualified family selected from the community, whose household income is at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI). The selected family will also help build their new home. The monthly mortgage payments will average less than $395 (plus taxes and insurance). Families interested in applying for the Habitat for Humanity home should contact UNCCRC at (516) 997-9399.