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Division of Housing & Community Renewal

Office of Community Development

Community Development staff serve as staff to the Low-Income Housing Trust Fund Corporation - a public benefit corporation that provides State-funded loans and grants to both for-profit and not-for-profit entities to develop housing for low-income families, tenants with special needs and the low-income elderly. Community Development staff also administer the State's Neighborhood and Rural Preservation programs, which provide administrative funding to local non-for-profit organizations that carry out housing preservation and development activities within their communities. Additionally, Community Development administers the allocation of Federal low-income housing tax credits across the State. These tax credits promote the production of low-income rental housing projects by reducing the Federal Tax liability of investors who finance the acquisition and construction of these projects.

Bureaus & Units:

Community Services Bureau

The Community Services Bureau (CSB) is responsible for the central coordination and administration of the Neighborhood Preservation Companies Program (NPP); Rural Preservation Companies Program (RPP) and Legislative Member Item Program (MIP).

As part of its duties, CSB develops policy and procedures for NPP, RPP, and MIP; prepares application and reporting forms for those programs; develops criteria and evaluation instruments for Requests for Proposals under the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs; prepares monthly reports to the Legislature and to the Division of the Budget on the Legislative Member Item Program; and monitors the Regional Offices to ensure State-wide consistency of policy application.

Design Services Unit

The Design Services Unit (DSU) reviews and approves plans and specifications for all Low-Income Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) programs and provides on-site construction monitoring during the building phase of projects. Design reviews are a critical component of the Application review process and DSU staff participate in Project Development Meetings with the Applicant's Development Team. DSU staff also provide technical assistance on design issues to both DHCR staff and program participants.

Energy and Rehabilitation Services Unit

The Energy and Rehabilitation Services Bureau (ERS) provides central administration for five programs that support housing rehabilitation, energy conservation, improvements to correct health, safety, and accessibility conditions, and downtown and neighborhood community renewal efforts. Staff process contracts and payments, prepare reports and research, provide training and technical assistance, and coordinate program activities with regional offices, other agencies, and state and national organizations.

ERS manages the following programs:

Environmental Analysis Unit

The Environmental Analysis Unit (EAU) conducts environmental review for housing construction and rehabilitation projects funded by the Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC). Environmental review is conducted according to regulations under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) at 6 NYCRR Part 617. Additionally, for HOME projects, environmental review must be conducted according to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as interpreted by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58.

The purpose of SEQR is to consider environmental factors along with other factors in the planning, review and decision-making process as early as possible. Under SEQR, the HTFC cannot provide funding for the project until it has complied with the provisions of SEQR.

NEPA, which is incorporated into HUD's environmental review process, delegates responsibility to complete environmental reviews to the HTFC for administration of the HOME program. Under NEPA, construction cannot begin on a project, even using state funds, until the environmental review is completed according to Part 58 requirements.

Environmental Reviews must be conducted on projects given the following awards:

Should you have specific environmental questions on a particular project, please contact the Environmental Analysis Unit.

Program Management Unit

Program Management staff are responsible for oversight of the individual Office of Community Development (OCD) programs. This includes ensuring that rules and regulations and program guidelines are consistent with the statutory intent of the Legislature as well as monitoring to ensure that all Applicants and program participants are treated consistently according to standardized, clearly communicated policies and procedures. Individual managers are assigned to all OCD programs.

Last updated on 10/16/08

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