Did You Know?

TRIP Offers a Variety of Programs to Homeowners, Homebuyers, and Tenants

Regardless of one’s income, education, or housing situation, TRIP’s NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center offers many programs that can benefit anyone.  Here is a sampling of programs that are currently available: 

Troy Landlord Training Program 

October 6th & 8th, Parts 1 & 2; 6 - 8pm.  Learn from a variety of experts how to make your life – and your tenants’ too -- as painless as possible, without losing your shirt!  Speakers from TRIP’s Rental Management Department, Troy Community Police, Troy Code Enforcement, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, United Tenants, Troy Section 8, and more.  This is geared for homebuyers/first-time landlords, large landlords, small landlords, rental managers.  Everyone finds something valuable at it!  

Register today at 
http://www.triponline.org/news_and_events/WorkshopRegister.html

$15 fee for materials and light refreshments.  Seats are limited so don’t delay!

Home Maintenance Training 

Many of us become homeowners with little knowledge or skills about how to care for our most prized possession – our home.  Well, TRIP can help!  If you want to learn how to do home repairs, or even learn just enough so that you can understand your contractor or repair person’s language, TRIP’s Home Maintenance class is for you!!  This free, 8 week course provides an opportunity to learn a variety of needed skills such as painting, plumbing, electrical work, and more.  You can register for the classes of your choice or take all 8!  Offered twice a year, TRIP’s Home Maintenance Training begins on September 18th at 6 PM and continues on Thursday evenings through November 13th.  To see the schedule or to register, go to www.triponline.org.

In addition to getting the hands-on experience, read the article “15 small jobs that let you invest in your home and hold down household costs” which is excerpted from Money Talks News 
(www.moneytalksnews.com)  

Repair Program 

To Make Homes Accessible for Qualified Elderly and/or Disabled People & Vets

If you know of a Rensselaer County resident – either a renter or a homeowner – that is in need of home modifications to accommodate people with mobility issues (ie. wheelchair ramps, doorway widening, grab bars, etc.) or modifications to help those who are visually and/or hearing-impaired, check out TRIP HomeOwnership Center’s Access to Home Program.   

This program can provide up to $25,000 for eligible repairs for tenants or homeowners who meet income guidelines (which are higher for Veterans) and other criteria.  Visit www.triponline.org or call Rensselaer County Housing Resources at 690-0020 x223 for more information.  

Funding Available for Housing Improvements

HARC Repair Program

Rensselaer County Housing Resources (RCHR) is accepting applications for their Homeowner Assistance for Rensselaer County (HARC) Repair Program.  RCHR received New York State HOME Program funding to assist income-eligible Rensselaer County homeowners (outside the City of Troy) with moderate housing rehabilitation.  Funds can be used for Health & Safety Repairs, Roof Replacement, Structural Repairs, Electrical Repairs, Plumbing Repairs, Heat System Repairs/Replacement, and Energy Efficiency Measures. Applications should be submitted by Friday May 2nd for the current application period.

Access to Home Program 

In addition, RCHR has funding from the NYS Access to Home Program. These funds are used to modify the homes of people with disabilities to make them more accessible. Some examples are: exterior ramps, accessible bathrooms & kitchens, widening doorways, accessible laundry, and modifications for the deaf or blind. Access to Home funds can be used in both owner-occupied and rental units anywhere in Rensselaer County. RCHR is accepting applications for this program on a rolling basis.

For more information, visit http://www.triponline.org/repair/grant_programs.html or call the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center at 690-0020 x223.

Save the Date to Sip for TRIP

We are pleased to announce our 

2nd Annual 

Take a Sip 

for TRIP
event 

on

Thursday, 

June 5, 2014 

at  

The Hilton Garden Inn 

in Troy.

We hope you will join us for a fun night of tasting both New York State Wines and New York State Beers.

All proceeds from this event will support the 

TRIP/RCHR NeighborWorks® Homeownership Center

Take a Sip for TRIP will feature:
:: NYS WINES & BEERS
:: RED CARPET ENTRANCE
       by Alive Entertainment
:: VIP Tasting for Sponsors
:: Light hors d’oeuvres
:: Live Music
:: Wine Pull & Raffles

Click here to become a Sponsor or to buy tickets.

RCHR Awarded Grant Funds to Assist Rensselaer County Residents

Coming this spring, the Rensselaer County Housing Resources (RCHR), will again have grant funding available to assist local residents with obtaining and maintaining their homes. RCHR has been awarded funds under three government programs, providing grant monies which can be used for downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers, home rehabilitation projects, and home modifications to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

Under the Access to Home Program, income-eligible homeowners and renters in Rensselaer County may be able to receive grant funding to make enhancements to their homes in order to increase accessibility. Home improvements include items such as building ramps and widening doorways. Applicants who are Veterans are particularly encouraged to apply and will find that the income eligibility limits are higher for them.

The Homeowner Rehabilitation Program can assist income-eligible homeowners with home repairs such as health and safety repairs, roof replacement, structural, electrical, plumbing and heating system repairs or replacements, window replacements and energy efficiency measures.

The Small Cities grant program can assist income-eligible first-time home buyers with grants to be used for down payment and/or closing costs at the time of purchase.

“We are pleased to again receive funding for these important programs that assist individuals in acquiring and maintaining their homes.” Said TRIP Executive Director Patrick Madden. These programs can be a lifeline for individuals who are striving to maintain their independence. ”Income-eligible Rensselaer County residents outside the City of Troy may apply for these grant opportunities. Applicants need to be income eligible and current on their mortgage, property taxes and homeowners insurance at the time of application in order to qualify.

For more information about these grants or other homeowner programs, visit RCHR’s website at www.triponline.org/county or call TRIP NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center at (518) 690-0020.

Tonight's 2012 Annual Homecoming Dinner Postponed

Due to anticipated weather conditions and our concern for your safety we are regrettably postponing this evening's Annual Homecoming Dinner.
We will be back in touch with you when it has been rescheduled.
Thank you and Stay Safe.

RCHR Program Profile: Rensselaer County Homeownership Program (Small Cities)

Similar to the Homebuyer Incentive Program available in Troy, the Small Cities program offers prospective homebuyers in Rensselaer County grant funding to assist with down payments and closing costs. Eligible applicants do not need to currently live in Rensselear County.

Administered by the RCHR & TRIP NeighborWorks Homeownership Center, Small Cities funding is available to first-time homebuyers with an annual household income at or below 80% of the area median income (80% of the area median income for Rensselaer County is approximately $62,500 for a family of four), and can provide applicants with either $15,000 or $20,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.

To qualify for the Small Cities Program, applicants must complete a homebuyer education program and be looking to purchase a house anywhere in Rensselaer County (excluding Troy). Funds can be used towards down payments, closing costs, and/or to reduce the mortgage amounts to make the purchase affordable for the homebuyer.

If the benefits of this program sound like something that you or someone you know might be interested in, the first step is to attend a Homebuyer Orientation session. More information can also be found on the TRIP website:

www.triponline.org/buy/down_payment_closing.html.

TRIP & RCHR's Homecoming Dinner to Honor Ron Canestrari, 2012 Community Citizenship Awardee

This year's TRIP & RCHR Homecoming Dinner, to be held on October 29 at the Franklin Terrace Ballroom, is sure to be an evening to remember as we present the 2012 Community Citizenship Award to the Honorable Ron Canestrari. 

Assemblyman Canestrari has truly earned this award through his decades of public service -- first as the Mayor of Cohoes and then as a member of the New York State Assembly for eleven terms, representing this area and serving as Majority Leader for the past six years. He has been a strong advocate on a variety of  key issues for Capital Region residents, including quality higher education and economic development initiatives.  Assemblyman Canestrari will be retiring from the NYS Assembly at the end of the year to be able to devote more time for personal interests. We wish him well and will definitely miss him as an advocate for the 106th Assembly District. 

We hope you will join us in thanking New York State Assembly Majority Leader Canestrari for his dedication as a public servant and his many years of commitment, determination, and support of the Capital District.

For tickets to the Annual Homecoming Dinner call Gail at 272-8289 ext. 212 or email gail@triponline.org.

Announcing the 2012 Troy Treasure Awardee: Michael A. Esposito

TRIP is proud to announce that this year's "Troy Treasure" awardee is Michael Esposito!  As a lifelong resident of Troy, he has been chosen for his tireless, lifelong efforts toward improving Troy's Little Italy as well as the entire city.  He has also helped to preserve Troy's history by serving for years as the city's unofficial historian. Mike will be recognized at TRIP & RCHR's annual Homecoming Dinner on October 29th.

Early on Mike recognized the potential in our city and has dedicated his life to supporting Troy through his activism, organizing, and recording our history through stories. One of his most ambitious projects was the book "Troy's Little Italy."  Mike is also an integral force in organizing community events including an annual stickball tournament, celebrations of famous Troy residents, and Troy's annual International Festival.

As Frank Visco says, and many would agree... "Mike has the goods." 

Congratulations, Mike, on being this year's "Troy Treasure!"

For tickets to the Annual Homecoming Dinner call Gail at 272-8289 ext. 212 or email at gail@triponline.org.

Don't Forget to Bring Your Old Electronics to the TRIP & RCHR Green Fair, 9/29

On September 29th, from 9 AM - 1 PM, in the Troy Marina Parking lot (just north of the Green Island Bridge), TRIP & RCHR will host our first Green Fair. Underwritten by Citizens Bank Foundation and in partnership with Rensselaer County and the City of Troy, TRIP & RCHR will host eLot Recycling and local organizations providing an array of Capital Region eco-knowledge.

Items that can be recycled for FREE include: batteries, cameras, cell phones, electronic toys, florescent light bulbs, lawn mowers, etc. For a full list of recyclable items visit: http://elotrecycling.com/.

** Note: for those recycling computers-- eLot will be accepting both computers that have already had their hard drives erased as well as those that will still need to be scrubbed.  When depositing your computer, there will be signs indicating which pallet to leave your machine on.  Computers still needing to be cleaned will be brought back to the eLot warehouse to have hard drives erased.

Deeper Shades of Green: TRIP & RCHR Green Fair, September 29th

Do you have a pile of old electronics taking up space in your house or garage? Have you ever considered home composting? And what's the deal with solar energy?

All of these questions and more will be answered at TRIP & RCHR's first annual Green Fair on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at the Troy Marina Parking Lot (just north of the Green Island Bridge). Underwritten by Citizens Bank Foundation and in partnership with Rensselaer County and the City of Troy, TRIP & RCHR will host eLot Recycling and local organizations providing an array of Capital Region eco-knowledge. Invited groups include Cornell Cooperative Extension, Real Goods Solar, Transition Troy, Troy Shares, CEO, Troy Bike Rescue, Habitat for Humanity, and others.

The Green Fair will run from 9am - 1pm and is open to the public. eLot will be accepting "almost anything that plugs in" for free recycling while other groups and agencies will offer information and demonstrations at our educational expo.

Organizations interested in exhibiting at this event may contact Mary at TRIP, mary@triponline.org or (518) 272-8289 x213.

We hope to see you there!

New Faces at TRIP: Caitlin Casterlin

Caitlin Casterlin

Welcome to TRIP's newest HomeOwnership Advisor, Caitlin Casterlin! With her strong financial background, having previously worked in banking and at the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, Caitlin is sure to be a valuable member of the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center team!

Caitlin's lifelong interest in helping people, especially on an individual level, led her to work with TRIP & RCHR. She looks forward to working with clients as they navigate the worlds of financial stability and homeownership. Having recently purchased a home herself, Caitlin knows how daunting the process can be and hopes to guide others away from possible obstacles.

In addition to the time Caitlin spends working on her new house, she also enjoys hiking with her dog. As a foster pet owner, Caitlin houses, trains, and socializes dogs who will eventually be adopted. This process allows animals to live in comfortable homes rather than shelters while shaping their behavior into desirable pets.

We are all excited to have Caitlin as a member of the TRIP & RCHR community! Welcome!

Call for Nominations: Troy Treasure Award

TRIP is seeking nominations for the 2012 Troy Treasure Award-- an individual, group, or business committed to improving Troy. We know there are many of you, and we would love to see you honored as a Troy Treasure. This year's Troy Treasure awardee will be recognized at the TRIP & RCHR Homecoming Dinner on October 29th.

Please nominate your favorite Troy resident, business, group, etc. today! The deadline for nominations is July 19th.

More information and nomination forms may be found at http://www.triponline.org.

Thank you to Housing Counselors Susan Vosburgh and Birgit Wood

Everyone at TRIP would like to offer a huge "Thank You" to Housing Counselors Susan Vosburgh and Birgit Wood. Both of these wonderful ladies left TRIP in June for new employment.

Susan and Birgit worked in the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center for 4 1/2 years and 2 1/2 years respectively. They will both be sorely missed by their clients and all of the staff here.

We wish them luck in their new positions!

TRIP & RCHR Program Profile: Mini-Repair

One of the biggest issues for many homeowners is the cost of maintaining one's home. For low-income families, however, the prohibitive costs can lead to serious health and safety concerns in the home. To address some of these issues, Rensselaer County Housing Resources (RCHR), created the Mini-Repair Program.

This program, started in 1998, provides labor free of charge for up to five full days per year for income-qualified elderly, disabled, and/or very low income homeowners; homeowners only pay for the materials needed. Helping these families stay in their homes longer while maintaining the local housing stock is the mission of the Mini-Repair Program. Another benefit to Mini-Repair customers is ensuring that the labor needed to get the job done is by a qualified and trusted worker-- a full time RCHR employee.

Common jobs covered by the program include porch and stair repairs, minor electrical work, small painting or plastering jobs, installing smoke detectors, etc. While major repairs can not be performed under the Mini-Repair Program, RCHR staff can assist homeowners to find qualified, affordable contractors for these projects.

Helping County residents with small home repairs ensures that little problems do not grow to become a threat to anyone's health or safety. Keeping homes safe and comfortable will strengthen both the buildings in Rensselaer County while also the spirits. Since its founding, the Mini-Repair Program has served over 3,250 customers.

TRIP & RCHR Program Profile: Homebuyer Incentive Program

Providing first-time homebuyers with opportunities for success is the backbone of the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center, and the foundation of the Homebuyer Incentive Program (HIP). HIP funding, administered through the City of Troy, is available to first-time homebuyers with an annual household income at or below 80% of the area median income (which is $62,500 for a family of four) and can provide eligible applicants with either $15,000 or $20,000.

To qualify for a HIP grant, applicants must be looking to purchase a one or two family house in the City of Troy. Funds can be used towards down payments, closing costs, and/or to make up any difference between the purchase price and the sale price that would be affordable for the homebuyer. If HIP sounds like a program that you or someone you know might be interested in, the first step is to attend a Homebuyer Orientation session. A schedule of upcoming workshops can be found at  http://www.triponline.org. 

More information about HIP can also be found at  http://www.triponline.org/buy/down_payment_closing.html#HIP.

HomeOwnership Center Luncheon a Success!

On Thursday, May 17th, the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center hosted its 9th annual HomeOwnership Center Luncheon. This year's theme was "Homebuying-- Now's the Time, Join the Team." Attendees included supporters of the HomeOwnership Center, local realtors, and elected officials.

Welcoming guests was the Honorable Steve McLaughlin of the 108th NYS Assembly District. Doug Dylla , a national homeownership consultant, provided information about national trends, including a pent-up demand for home purchases particularly among first-time homebuyers, the demographics of future homeownership markets, the challenges facing today's buyers, and how strong partnerships between lenders, realtors, government, and not-for-profits such as TRIP's HomeOwnership Center can best help homebuyers reach their goals.

TRIP Board President Joseph Fleming and Doug Dylla
at the 2012 TRIP HomeOwnership Center Luncheon

Paul Semanek, past president of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors, spoke about local trends and the current state of homebuying in Rensselaer County. He also endorsed pre-purchase education such as that offered at TRIP's HOC to create prepared, informed, and ready buyers.

TRIP Executive Director, Patrick Madden, and Bobbi Carter, Director of TRIP's HomeOwnership Center, provided data about the outcomes of our work and the subsequent local economic impact. The 2012 donors of our HomeOwnership were thanked and new partners were warmly greeted. Thank you to everyone who atteneded; we look forward to seeing you again next year!

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Documents the Benefits of Pre-Purchase Counseling

TRIP & RCHR, our customers, and our supporters know all about the importance of pre-purchase homebuyer counseling, but now the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a study corroborating that knowledge.

Released in May, the study written by Jennifer Turnham and Anna Jefferson, sampled 573 individuals and found significant levels of achievement in homebuyers who received pre-purchase housing counseling. They were more likely to be mortgage-ready, have a signed purchase agreement, and havevdecent credit scores as a result of the financial, budgeting, and homebuying information received.  Additionally, the study tracked participants at 12 to 18 months after receiving pre-purchase counseling services and found that "only one of the purchasers had fallen at least 30 days behind on his or her mortgage payments and none had a major derogatory event on a mortgage account."

If you or someone you know is considering homeownership, don't miss out on pre-purchase education and its benefits. At the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center we offer free, professional housing counseling with certified counselors. For more information, go to http://www.triponline.org or call us a (518) 690-0020.

To read the complete HUD Pre-Purchase Counseling Outcomes Study go to  http://www.huduser.org/publications/pdf/pre_purchase_counseling.pdf.

Call for Nominations: Troy Treasure Award

TRIP is seeking nominations for the 2012 Troy Treasure Awardee -- an individual, group, or business committed to improving Troy! We know there are many of you, and we would love to see you honored as a Troy Treasure. This year's Troy Treasure Awardee will be recognized at the TRIP & RCHR Homecoming Dinner on October 29th.

Please nominate your favorite Troy resident, business, group, etc. today! The deadline for nominations is July 16th.

More information and nominations forms may be found at http://triponline.org/news_and_events/2012TroyTreasureNominations.html .

Calling for a Troy Treasure!

TRIP is seeking nominations for the 2012 Troy Treasure Awardee -- an individual, group, or business committed to improving Troy. We know there are many of you and we would love to see you honored as this year's Troy Treasure.

More information and nomination forms may be found at our website or by calling TRIP at 272-8289.

The deadline for nominations is July 16th, 2012. This year's Troy Treasure Awardee will be recognized at the TRIP & RCHR Homecoming Dinner on October 29th, 2012.

Mark Your Calendars!

The TRIP & RCHR Annual Homecoming Dinner will be held on October 29th, 2012 at the Franklin Terrace Ballroom. Come support Honorable Ron Canestrari as he receives the 2012 Community Citizenship Award. Also presented will be the 2012 Troy Treasure Award to a soon-to-be-named awardee.