ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HOUSING

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs (NPP and RPP) provide grants to cover the costs of not-for-profit community groups engaged in a variety of housing activities ranging from housing development and rehabilitation to homebuyer counseling and tenant assistance. These not-for-profits are known as Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Companies (NPCs and RPCs). Since 1990, NPCs and RPCs have played an instrumental role in the creation of tens of thousands of units of affordable housing. According to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), on average for every dollar invested in an NPC the company was able to leverage an additional $40. The number for Rural Preservation Companies is even larger, with the groups being able to leverage $209 for every one dollar the State invested. Currently, Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs serve the vast majority of the State. However this year the Executive has proposed new legislation that could result in the elimination of many of these programs. This hearing will examine the current operation and potential statutory modifications of the programs, such as those proposed in the Executive's budget, and the effects that these modifications could have on the operation and effectiveness of the programs.

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Vito Lopez
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Housing

1. The Executive's legislative proposal gives extensive authority over the operation of the program to the Commissioner of the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) without express guidelines and limitations. Does the Executive have a plan regarding how these programs would operate in the future? What results are anticipated to follow the delegation of this discretion to the DHCR?

2. Are there ways to improve the oversight and review of the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Companies? Could the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Coalitions play a role in facilitating oversight and communication?

3. Are the different areas and population groups of the State served equitably? If not, what areas of the State or populations are not being served or are underserved?

4. What methods exist to provide incentives to Neighborhood and Rural preservation companies to provide new services in underserved areas? Are there incentives that would lead the companies to streamline their operations, to merge or to otherwise change their composition to more effectively meet their goals?

5. Could current policies be modified to make the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs more effective and efficient? If so, what policy changes would allow for these improvements to be made and what, if any, would such policy changes cause?

I plan to attend the following public hearing on the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Housing on March 1, 2011.

I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

I would like to be added to the Committee's mailing list for notices and reports.

I would like to be removed from the Committee's mailing list.

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:

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