Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Passport
  • Support WSKG
Donate
  • Donate
  • logo
  • logo
  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
  • Donate
  • More
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Passport
    • Support WSKG

WSKG - Local news and arts, broadcasting NPR radio and PBS TV.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...
  • Donate your vehicle to support WSKG

WSKG (https://wskg.org/with-american-rescue-plan-funds-construction-on-binghamton-affordable-housing-projects-begins/)

  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
Listen Live WSKG
Listen Live WSKG Classical

Watch Live WSKG TV
Watch Live PBS Kids
Coronavirus Updates
Coronavirus Updates

With American Rescue Plan Funds, Construction On Binghamton Affordable Housing Projects Begins

By Jillian Forstadt | September 28, 2021
More
  • More on Affordable Housing
  • Subscribe to Affordable Housing

VESTAL, NY (WSKG) — Construction to restore several vacant and blighted buildings on Binghamton’s North Side began Tuesday.

The construction cost is covered, at least in part, by funds allocated to the city through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The properties will be turned into a combined 27 apartments for people currently experiencing homelessness.

Greater Opportunities for Broome and Chenango will provide supportive case management services to residents at four sites across the neighborhood: 39-49 Munsell St., 25 Moffatt Ave., 22 Way St. and 4 Sturges St.

Construction to 39-49 Munsell St. in Binghamton, pictured above, began Tuesday. The blighted building, along with four others on the city’s North Side will be rehabilitated into new affordable units with supportive services from Greater Opportunities of Broome and Chenango. (Jillian Forstadt/WSKG)

Kelly Robertson, Deputy Director of Greater Opportunities for Broome and Chenango, said any household experiencing homelessness will be eligible to live there, no matter their income.

“If a client can pay, they will pay up to 40 percent of their income,” Robertson explained. “So if that’s $200, that’s all they will pay and the subsidy will pick up the rest. The only qualification is that they have to be homeless at the time of entry.”

A grant from New York’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative will subsidize rent at all four sites.

City officials announced last month at least $6 million dollars of the $46 million allotted to the city through ARPA will go to housing.

The North Side Rehabilitation Project is one of two housing projects that has received ARPA funding from the city so far, the other being the second phase of the First Ward Action Council’s North of Main Revitalization (NoMa) project.

Mayor Rich David said the North Side project was identified after it experienced funding gaps due to an increase in the cost of construction materials.

“I certainly am working on other projects where I envision allocating a portion of that funding for, but the concept that just because we allocated $6 million that we have, like, a list of $6 million worth of projects, we do not,” Binghamton Mayor Rich David said.

David said he will ask non-profits and individual community members to propose ideas for the remaining portion.

City officials obligated approximately $258,000 to the North Side Rehabilitation Project, and another $355,000 for the housing initiative North of Main. The First Ward Action Council will use the funds to create 23 affordable units by renovating six blighted properties and constructing a four-unit building on a vacant lot.

During a virtual town hall held by Democratic members of the Binghamton City Council in May, attendees indicated they want ARPA funds to go to more affordable and safe housing, as well as youth programs and direct financial assistance

Robertson said Greater Opportunities of Broome and Chenango will work with the Southern Tier Homeless Coalition to identify eligible residents for its apartments through the coordinated entry system, which tracks homelessness across six counties in the Southern Tier, as well as availability in shelters, emergency housing and more permanent solutions.

Services through Greater Opportunities will be available to residents to address mental health and substance use, among other needs, so that residents can effectively stay in their homes permanently.

Robertson said she expects all units will be open within two years.

Recent Posts

  • In PA primary, two state budget leaders’ experience used against them

    HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) – Pennsylvania Republican voters appear to want to replace two key state budget negotiators with a pair of far-right challengers. Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) and Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), both longtime incumbents, are well-respected in state political and policy circles.

  • Proposed constitutional amendment would ensure abortion rights in New York

    ALBANY, NY (WSKG) - New York state lawmakers are considering a change to the state’s constitution that would enshrine the right to abortion as part of a larger guarantee of equal rights. The sponsor of the measure said it’s needed now more than ever.

  • Uncertainty still clouds New York’s 23rd Congressional District special election

    VESTAL, NY (WSKG) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has yet to call a special election for the 23rd Congressional District after Rep. Tom Reed resigned last week, as Republicans remain perplexed about how to handle filling the vacancy. Under New York state statute, the governor must schedule a special election within 10 days after a seat in congress is vacated, meaning Hochul must call the 23rd District by Friday.

  • Binghamton residents hold vigil for victims of Buffalo shooting

    BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — Binghamton residents held a vigil Thursday night, honoring the victims of the Buffalo shooting. Around a hundred people gathered in downtown Binghamton.

  • Gillibrand, Stefanik weigh in on baby formula shortage “national emergency”

    CANTON, NY (NCPR) — New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is proposing new legislation she says will get baby formula to families quickly as the US faces a shortage. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the Democrat said the bill would lift some restrictions on importing baby formula from the E.U, Canada, the U.K., and Japan, which could get more products on shelves within a week after the bill is signed.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...

About WSKG

WSKG connects you to local and global news and the arts online, on the radio, and on TV. NPR and PBS affiliate.

CONTACT US
email: WSKGcomment@wskg.org

phone: 607.729.0100

address: 601 Gates Road Suite 4, Vestal, NY 13850-2288

DONATE

Pay an underwriting invoice


  • WSKG
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Science
  • News
  • Your Radio
  • Schedule
  • TV
  • About
  • WSKG Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Public Reports & Policies
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
  • Protect My Public Media
FCC PUBLIC FILES
WSKG-FM
WSQX-FM
WSQG-FM
WSQE
WSQA
WSQC-FM
WSQN
WSKG-TV
WSKA
Disabled and need assistance with the online FCC public file?
Contact Gary Talkiewicz
WSKG
601 Gates Road
Vestal, New York 13850
607-729-0100
gtalkiewicz@wskg.org

Full Frequency Information Listed Here

WSKG

89.3fm   Binghamton
91.1fm   Corning, Elmira
88.7fm   Hornell
90.9fm   Ithaca
89.9fm   Odessa
91.7fm    Oneonta
90.5fm   Watkins Glen

WSKG Classical

91.5    Binghamton
105.9  Cooperstown
90.7    Corning
88.1    Greene, Norwich
92.1     Ithaca

WSKG HD TV

Binghamton
46.1 Broadcast TV
7 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Elmira
30.1 Broadcast TV
8 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Oneonta, Cooperstown
8 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Hornell
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

© Copyright 2022, WSKG

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑