The DHCR Commissioner, Deborah VanAmerongen, Brian Lawlor, Executive Deputy Commissioner, and OFSC Director Joe Rabito stopped by the NYS Rural Advocates Annual Meeting in Cooperstown last month. We informally discussed the housing budget for next year and the Commissioner was “hopeful” about funding for affordable housing. We used the opportunity to thank her for the open communication and commitment to task forces and the RPC program, and voiced our concerns about not having a rural point person for housing, consideration for Smart Growth and fair housing in a rural context, especially in the QAP and the Rural Rental Assistance Program. The Commissioner noted that she was working with her staff to review the 515 program so decisions can be made about the current portfolio.

Other issues discussed included rural rehabilitation and the new complexities and expense in dealing with asbestos. When asked about the apparent shift in Small Cities funding away from housing, The Commissioner expressed support for housing funding through Small Cities and combining housing and Main Street.