Westchester Residential Opportunities Inc

TO PROMOTE EQUAL, AFFORDABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF OUR REGION.

INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMTHE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM CONSISTS OF OUR SUPPORTED HOUSING APARTMENT PROGRAM, OUR SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY (SRO) PROGRAM, AND AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COMPONENT. IN 2023, THE SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDED INDIVIDUALIZED HOUSING-RELATED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO 44 ADULTS DIAGNOSED WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, WHO WISH TO OBTAIN PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE, AND INDEPENDENT HOUSING. THE SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY PROGRAM STAFF PROVIDED HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SUPERVISION TO ADULTS RESIDING IN OUR 9 BEDROOM SRO IN 2023.ADDITIONALLY, WRO PROVIDES HOMELESS OUTREACH TO ASSIST HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO FIND HOUSING. WRO PROMOTES HOUSING MOBILITY, AFFORDABILITY AND STABILITY FOR MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, AND LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME GROUPS.

HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAMSWRO ASSISTS QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS IN THREE AREAS: (A) FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYING PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES EDUCATION AND COUNSELING IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH ON THE HOMEBUYING PROCESS, AND FACILITATES ACCESS TO VARIOUS DOWN-PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. IN 2023, 360 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN OUR HOMEBUYING WORKSHOPS, AND 39 CLIENTS PURCHASED A HOME, INCLUDING 18 WHO RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $516,190 IN GRANTS TO PURCHASE THEIR HOMES. (B) MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH ASSISTS HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE FACING FORECLOSURE DUE TO TEMPORARY INTERRUPTIONS IN INCOME OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, INCLUDING EXPLORING POSSIBLE OPTIONS AVAILABLE WITH THEIR LENDER. IN 2023, WRO SERVED 150 CLIENTS, AND CLOSED ON 50 LOAN MODIFICATIONS OR REINSTATEMENTS.(C) AGING IN PLACE PROGRAM, WHICH ASSISTS SENIOR HOMEOWNERS (62 AND OVER) TO REMAIN IN THEIR EXISTING HOMES BY MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO THE HOME TO ACCOMMODATE AGE-RELATED CHANGES OR DISABILITIES. IN 2023, WRO SERVED 17 CLIENTS WITH EVALUATIONS OF MODIFICATION NEEDS OR FACILITATING ACTUAL MODIFICATIONS.

EVICTION PREVENTION & RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMWRO ASSISTS QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS FACING RENTAL AND/OR UTILITY ARREARS, BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS AGAINST THOSE ARREARS. WRO ALSO WORKS WITH HOUSEHOLDS LOOKING TO SECURE RENTAL HOUSING BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR SECURITY DEPOSITS, MOVING EXPENSES, FIRST MONTH'S RENT, ETC. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE PROGRAM (1) PROVIDES COUNSELING TO PRIMARILY LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO FIND AND MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, (2) NEGOTIATES WITH LANDLORDS TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED, AND (3) MAKES REFERRALS AS APPROPRIATE TO LOCATE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE. IN 2023, THE PROGRAM ASSISTED 588 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

FAIR HOUSING PROGRAMWRO'S FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM WORKS TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION IN THE HOUSING AND LENDING MARKETS. THE PROGRAM HANDLES COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCTS INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING BOTH SYSTEMIC AND COMPLAINT-BASED TESTING, AND ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INVESTIGATIONS. ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS ARE CONDUCTED TO PROMOTE HOUSING ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WRO'S FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO CONSUMERS, CIVIC AND BUSINESS AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND TRAINS REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS, CO-OP BOARDS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO COMPLY WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS. IN 2023, 197 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED WITH FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINTS, AND 26 REAL ESTATE AGENCIES INCLUDING 600 INDIVIDUAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS AND 119 CO-OP APARTMENT DIRECTORS WERE TRAINED IN OUR FAIR HOUSING WORKSHOPS.ADDITIONALLY, WRO MANAGES AN AFFIRMATIVE HOUSING MARKETING PROGRAM FOR RENT AND RESALE OF FAIR AND AFFORDABLE HOMES. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, WRO COLLECTS APPLICATIONS AND ADMINISTERS A LOTTERY FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. IN 2023, WRO MARKETED 280 HOUSING UNITS IN THREE ALL-AFFORDABLE RENTAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ASSISTED IN THE CLOSING OF FOUR RE-SALES OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOMES.