BURA assists with funding for Eight Days of Hope Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (BURA) – Dozens of volunteers from Western New York, and across the nation, all pitched-in to help paint and repair homes in Buffalo’s Fillmore District last month.

BURA is helping to make sure this work continues in our community! The BURA Board voted today to facilitate the disbursement of $750,000 in funds to the program. These funds will help Eight Days of Hope fix more homes throughout the city in the years to come.

Along with fixing up homes in the Fillmore District, Eight Days of Hope Buffalo is making repairs to Lincoln Park located on between Amity Street and Peck Street in the Fillmore District. 

Calling all contractors! Help BURA with lead remediation!

Belmont Housing Resources for WNY 

2393 Main Street Buffalo

The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA) is hosting contractor recruiting events to help remediate lead inside homes located in high-lead risk neighborhoods in the City of Buffalo.

High-lead risk neighborhoods include the upper west side and the Schiller Park areas – zip codes 14213, 14211 and 14215.

Contractors will be asked to replace windows, doors, paint and make lead-safe improvements to the homes. During the recruitment events applicants will be guided through the process of becoming a contractor with the City of Buffalo. 

For more information contact pjackson@buffalony.gov.

Adams Street Infill Housing Initiative Announcement at City Hall

Today we’re celebrating the city’s continued progress with the transformation of city-owned lots into usable spaces for community benefit.

The Adams Street Infill Housing Initiative uses 24 city-owned lots, to create 12 parcels, where up to 10 homes will be built on Adams Street. The city’s Office of Strategic Planning, the City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA) lead by Mayor Byron W. Brown as chairman, Evans Bank, Buffalo Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corporation and MMB Realty are all collaborating to bring this initiative to fruition. 

Need your house fixed?

You may qualify for a ZERO to LOW-interest loan for housing repairs through the Rental and Owner Housing Rehab Program!

CALL 311 for more information. Call us! Let us know what your situation is and we will help you! 

You can also use the LOOK-UP TOOL to connect you with one of our community partners.

Help BURA with Affordable Housing Projects!

BURA is currently looking for organizations to submit proposals through the federal HOME Investment Partnership Act to help with the development of affordable housing projects in the City of Buffalo.

Help with application intakes!

BURA is also looking for partner organizations to help with application intake for the housing repair programs and the down payment closing cost assistance programs.

For more information visit BURA's RFP Page or the city of Buffalo RFP page.

Landlords who GET payments from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) CANNOT raise rents for 12 months

BUFFALO, N.Y. (BURA) – The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency plays a key role in helping residents who are facing eviction and that is why BURA is reminding homeowners to pay close attention to warnings from the New York State Attorney General.

The state AG’s office released a statement this week reminding homeowners, that they are not allowed to raise rents for 12 months if they are collecting funds from the Pandemic Rental Assistance Program. The state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a pandemic-related rent relief program that helps low to moderate income tenants pay their rent.

“The rules are clear: Landlords who accept ERAP payments cannot raise rents for 12 months,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “This program was created to support struggling tenants and keep New Yorkers in their homes during the pandemic. Landlords who accepted payments from the state yet are still raising rents are double dipping and breaking the law. I urge any tenant who accepted ERAP payments and received a new lease with rent increases from their landlord to contact my office.”

If you are an ERAP recipient and have been notified of a rent increase here are a few tips from the AG’s office:

• Leases that have a rent increase and are within the 12-month ERAP payment period, need to be returned to the landlord for adjustment.
• Check your rental statements for increases or late fees on months covered by the ERAP payment

For more information visit:  https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorney-general-james-reminds-landlords-not-raise-rents-if-they-accept-pandemic   https://tenanthelpny.org/

Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency 

920 City Hall

Buffalo, NY 14202

716-851-BURA

716-851-GROW

www.buffalourbanrenewal.com

Bura’s Mission: "The City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, strives to promote the expeditious undertaking, financing and completion of community development programs and create quality and vibrant urban living in Buffalo New York through neighborhood driven development projects. BURA achieves community development through expenditures development of and rehab of existing houses and or apartments and offering technical and financial assistance to businesses and provides technical assistance and compliance to the City of Buffalo."