Federal grant to fund senior and very low-income family housing

OLEAN, N.Y. — Small-revenue senior citizens across the state will quickly see some major enhancements in and about the complexes they stay in.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand a short while ago announced thousands and thousands of dollars in federal general public assistance will now give seniors obtain to safe and sound and dependable housing.

Olean Residence stands as the architectural centerpiece of downtown Olean.

“It truly is in excess of 200 years previous,” said Anne Kivari, Olean Housing Authority executive director. “And of course at 1 stage it was a hotel right here in downtown Olean.”

Olean Residence is a federally backed household complex for very low-revenue senior citizens and people who are disabled, and features 60 one particular bed room apartments.

“There is a lot of record,” explained Kivari.

To support preserve that record, the Olean Housing Authority received a federal cash fund grant of much more than $816,000, portion of a statewide plan that also awarded tens of millions to housing authorities in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.

Kivari suggests the annual grant was the optimum she’s ever obtained, and worked with her board of administrators to establish a list of initiatives, as the authority serves residents in additional than 300 models across the metropolis.

“It can be pretty remarkable,” explained Kivari. “Developing what we get in touch with a wishlist since there is items clearly we would like to do, and issues we can and are not able to do.”

On the can-do list is the ongoing repairs of the building’s exterior, as very well as improvements to the fire escapes and upgrades to the lighting out back.  

Inside of, programs phone for renovated and modernized senior residences, stability procedure updates, and an expanded laundry place which at present has only two washers and dryers. 

“It’s going to make it less difficult for all people close to listed here,” said Eva Boutwell, who has lived at Olean Household for a few decades. “We will not have to wait around as extensive.”

She claims the growth will most likely avoid her from owning to do her laundry right after she will get house from get the job done at 1 a.m. in get to get a device.

“It can be difficult,” claimed Boutwell. “There have been two of them down below executing it when I arrived in. So I just waited. Sat listed here and waited.”

“An up to date, refreshed condominium is very good for your mindset, and they’re deserving of some thing nicer,” claimed Kivari. “This is a single of senior citizen complexes, Seneca Court docket.”

Kivari states with 60 models and only 8 handicapped spaces, part of the grant revenue will enable take care of the parking difficulty, as the little large amount is a far length from the apartments and their long hallways.

The authority is wanting to work with an engineer and architect to reconfigure the parking, set up further lighting, protect greenspace and incorporate additional spots. 

“It really is not easy,” said Kivari. “It’s not safe. it is not functional. I consider there’s 29 areas and we have 60 apartments. And I want to say about 70{56ef4555b1160ba09e855af6afd9aff20ca1ee0c32187e33609ae0a92f439672} of the people that dwell right here have a car or truck.”

“It is a long wander, especially when you might be senior citizens,” said Donald Swisher, who is 70 and has lived at the elaborate for 13 a long time. “We should really have superior parking. Due to the fact we get extra and more people today that have vehicles.”

Swisher states he is hopeful that he and his neighbors will quickly have much better accessibility to parking.

He’s equally grateful for the prepared stability upgrades and the total investment is his wellbeing and wellbeing.

“It would make me really feel good,” explained Swisher. “Lot of moments, you feel like they do not actually treatment in a lot of spots. But these folks, they do.”

Also part of the authority is Alder Court docket, which characteristics 55, a single-to-4 bedroom models for small-money households, as there are about 220 little ones inside the housing authority.

Kivari says funding will be utilized to renovate the laundry home, purchase a new Hustler for plowing and mowing, as effectively as construct a new playground to change the authentic just one from the 1970s that was a short while ago taken out. 

“That was a precedence when we identified out we had been receiving that variety of income,” stated Kivari. “It’s crucial, and exciting, and new and distinctive. It is critical that they have someplace to play. I hope they are as enthusiastic as I am when we eventually do get it.”

Kivari states the housing authority has three decades to use this round of funding.