chuck schumer

A newly proposed bill by the senate will cut funding for housing programs in the Rochester area, reports the Democrat and Chronicle. Concerned with the changes, Senator Chuck Schumer visited a southwest Rochester neighborhood to share his concerns with the residents.

The proposed cut would reduce the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Investment Partnerships Program spending budget from $900 million in the past year to $66 million in the upcoming year. This effect will trickle down to local organizations, such as HOME Rochester.

The HOME Rochester housing assistance program helps first-time buyers with their down payments and closing costs, and assists with the renovation of vacant homes. Since 2002, HOME Rochester has rehabilitated and sold over 630 houses in the Rochester area.

The program particularly focuses on low- to mid-income families who are looking to purchase their own home.

“When a family gets to own their own home they do better. Their kids do better at school. The parents do better at work. Everything works out better, even the health of the family.”

With four in 10 Americans saying they are very likely or somewhat likely to move within the next five years, Schumer believes that the funding for restoring these old homes is crucial for the community.

“I will use everything in my power to get this program restored,” says Senator Schumer, standing in front a home restored by the HOME program. “This house pays taxes, this house keeps property values higher around the neighborhood, so they pay more taxes, this house keeps people in jobs so it makes sense to do these programs. Rochester has done extremely well, it is one of the great successes of the HOME program.”

Mayor Lovely Warren agrees that the funds are crucial to the city’s revitalization of neighborhoods.

“Rochester’s poverty problem is well-documented and these funds are crucial to our neighborhood revitalization and community development efforts,” she said. “Such a drastic funding reduction will have a significant negative impact on our efforts to bring safer, more vibrant neighborhoods, more jobs and better educational opportunities to our city.”