Otsego Rural Housing Assistance Inc., founded in 1984, provides and preserves affordable housing throughout Otsego County. Our programs connect families with support, resources, and funding to improve their living conditions and quality of life. Over 40 years, ORHA has administered more than $30 million in housing assistance for Otsego County families in the form of rent payments, home rehabilitation project costs or home-buying assistance.
At ORHA, we run a variety of programs to help address Otsego County residents’ housing needs. These include rent assistance, home repair assistance and accessibility modifications for people with disabilities. We have also supported the development of two affordable senior housing projects in the county and continue to maintain the waiting list for one, Alden Park Apartments in Cherry Valley.
We provide rent assistance through the Section 8 program. Section 8 is a federal program that helps low-income families afford decent, safe housing. Last year we served 161 households. The core Section 8 program, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is like a “coupon” program. Families receive vouchers they can take to any rental unit that meets basic quality standards and fits their budget. Section 8 then pays a portion of the family’s rent and utility costs. This allows families to live where they want — near family, in a good school district, in a safe neighborhood — instead of only areas where rents are lowest.
Currently, our waiting list for the HCV Program is closed. However, our Section 8 program also includes a Project-Based Voucher Program tied to specific rental units. Twenty-two one-bedroom apartments in the Oneonta Heights senior building make up our PBV Program, and this waiting list is still open. Elderly households of up to two people who meet the income limits may be eligible.
Our home repair and accessibility modification programs are mostly funded by state and federal grants. These programs cover the costs of repairs or modifications to the homes of income-qualified families. This provides a double benefit to our county: these homes are now safe and decent for their occupants and are preserved for the next family. In 40 years, we’ve completed more than 1,400 projects, including 17 last year.
ORHA has funds available through two state programs, RESTORE and Access to Home. RESTORE pays for urgent health and safety repairs for homeowners age 60 or older. Access to Home pays for accessibility modifications for people with disabilities, including renters.
We are also excited that Otsego County was just awarded a Community Development Block Grant by New York state. ORHA collaborated with the Otsego County Planning Department on this application, and we will administer the program. This program will assist homeowners with rehabilitation of their homes to bring them up to code and improve their overall condition.
All of these programs have a waiting list. Each program has unique requirements, including income limits, but they might surprise you. For example, CDBG’s annual income limit for a family of four is $70,100.
Our repair and accessibility programs all rely on contractors to perform the work families need. ORHA is always looking for new contractors to work with us. Contractors must carry liability and worker’s compensation insurance, and many of our projects also require lead-safe certification. Contractors who would like to start bidding on our projects should reach out to our main office or complete the form on our website. We especially encourage minority- or women-owned businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses to contact us.
ORHA’s operational costs are supported primarily by the New York State Rural Preservation Program. Each year this program provides us the administrative funding we need to pursue these programs and run them in Otsego County. ORHA is staffed by four people, including me, who dedicate their working hours to a simple idea: People deserve a safe, decent home. We are supported by our board, who share that conviction. (If you do, too, you may be interested in board service. ORHA could particularly use board members with legal, financial or fundraising experience.) and we are lucky every year to receive a small amount of private donations, most of which we use to help people with small-cost needs that don’t fit any of our programs.
To learn more about ORHA, visit www.otsegoruralhousing.org. Our website contains full program details, contact information, applications and ways to help. You can contact us at 607-286-7244, or for Section 8, at 607-547-8839. Or, send us an email at orha@otsegoruralhousing.org.