CHIP

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Area program strives to maintain complexes throughout the region

by: Jill Kraft

With the cost of living continuing to rise and the need for low-income or subsidized housing doing the same, one local organization is trying to ease the burden and help residents find affordable housing.

The Chenango Housing Improvement Program Inc., (CHIP) located in Norwich, is a non-profit organization that owns and manages 11 apartment complexes in and around Chenango County. The complexes are designed to aid low-income individuals as well as families and senior citizens. In total there are 137 units – ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms. The complexes are spread throughout the county in Afton, Oxford, Bainbridge, Sherburne, Norwich, Smyrna and Greene. CHIP housing is also available in Sidney, Binghamton and Harpursville.

Each complex is operated by management fees, which are collected from tenants, and each unit is subsidized depending on the tenant’s income. CHIP depends on funding from the Rural Preservation Program in addition to each tenant’s federal and state subsidies. The apartment units on average cost between $150 to $900 a month to rent.

“We try to ensure the tenants pay only 30 percent of their income,” said CHIP Executive Director Wayne Patafio.

Currently Patafio says the complexes are at a 98 percent occupancy level, and there are many more people on the waiting lists. “We are always pretty full,” he said.

Patafio also explains all of the complexes were built differently, at different times and for different needs. The funding to keep the complexes subsidized are from HUD, USDA Rural Development or the New York State Division of Housing.

Some complexes are specifically for senior citizens and/or handicapped individuals, while others target individuals or families who meet the income guidelines.

In addition to managing the 11 various complexes, Patafio explains CHIP does much more within and on the outskirts of the community it serves.

CHIP is an active member of the Chenango Housing Council and has been for some time. As part of the council, CHIP has taken on the responsibility of working with the handicap ramp program. The program is designed to build reusable aluminum handicap accessible ramps for people with disabilities.

“We have eight of them in use now; however, we are not advertising them as we once did, because we do not have the funding to keep building them,” said Patafio. Finding funding to continue the program is one obstacle that Patafio says is difficult these days. “Having enough money to pay to heat all the buildings is hard enough,” said Patafio.

Looking ahead to the upcoming year, Patafio says providing a successful “work camp” is one goal the housing council hopes to achieve. As a member of the housing council, CHIP has a hand in helping with the programs held in the New Berlin area this summer.

Work Camp involves approximately 400 children/students from across the United States who gather and stay at Unadilla Valley School for one week. The children will work throughout the community to help low-income, disabled or senior citizens make improvements to their homes. Director of New Berlin Housing and Preservation Michael Wesolowski says everyone involved in putting the work camp program together is dedicated to ensuring the event will help the community. “It should be great,” he said.

“We have been doing the preliminary work for a year already. We are hoping to have a very successful program,” said Patafio.

Every year, Patafio said the job of finding affordable housing for everyone in need gets tougher; however managing and keeping the 11 complexes he has available open to those in need is one responsibility he, as well as the housing council, is trying hard to preserve and address.

Application packages are provided to any interested party. Contact the CHIP Offices at 27 W. Main St., Norwich or call 334-3867. The complexes in Chenango County are: Afton Edge Apartments in Afton; Brookside Apartments in Oxford; Chendelot Apartments in Bainbridge; Grace Manor Apartments in Sherburne; Marlene Meadows Apartments in Norwich; Smyrna Schoolhouse Apartments in Smyrna; and Village Greene Apartments in Greene.

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