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Mary Ellen Zebrowski mzebrowski@wwarc.org Warren and Washington ARC (518) 857-0267 36 Quaker Rd Queensbury, NY 12804 |
Anne-Marie Lockhart, President of the Warren & Washington Counties Chapter of NYARC, Inc., (WWARC) is pleased to announce that the Warren & Washington Counties ARC has $250,000 in funding available through a grant from the New York State Division of Homes & Community Renewal (DHCR) to make accessibility improvements to homes throughout Warren and Washington Counties.
“We are pleased that the WWARC proposal was selected to receive funding out of the many other competitive grant applications throughout the Capital Region and New York State. The ACCESS to HOME Program coincides perfectly with the mission of the WWARC, to provide services, advocate for and offer opportunities to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, thereby enabling them to realize their full potential in our communities.”
According to DHCR, “The Access to Home Program provides financial assistance to property owners to make dwelling units accessible for low- and moderate income persons with disabilities. Providing assistance with the cost of adapting homes to meet the needs of those with disabilities will enable individuals to safely and comfortably continue to live in their residences and avoid institutional care.”
“Retrofitting homes for persons with disabilities enables persons who may have a range of difficulties with daily living due to physical disabilities, effects of aging or service-related disabilities, will keep people in their homes and out of institutions. This is a major investment in our communities,” said John Von Ahn, Executive Director of the WW ARC.
“We will be working cooperatively with the many other service organizations in our area to support these efforts. Among these are the Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center and the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Regional Resource Center who will be instrumental partners in the success of this program. We will also be accepting referrals from public, non-profit and health organizations to the extent desired by their clients,“ he said.
Program applicants must be a resident of Warren or Washington County, have a disability or medical reason requiring accessibility adaptations, and be income eligible. Funds used to provide accessibility modifications are awarded to property owners in the form of a deferred grant, which requires a five-year regulatory agreement to keep the property accessible.
WWARC is a not for profit agency employing approximately 350 people serving over 300 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Warren and Washington Counties since 1962.
Please contact Christine Utter, the Warren & Washington ARC Service Coordinator Director, at 793-4204, extension 242 for additional information or Peter Guidarelli at 518-857-0267.
