SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony, and for a description of the bills which will be discussed at the hearing.

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.

SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Companies (NPCs/RPCs) develop, rehabilitate, and manage affordable housing, provide tenant assistance, prevent homelessness, administer youth and senior programs, help lower income families become homeowners, and facilitate neighborhood safety and community participation.

The Neighborhood Preservation Program, with 160 companies, provides resources to community-based, not-for-profit organizations to revitalize their neighborhoods and provide affordable housing services. And with a network of 72 companies, the Rural Preservation Program is in almost every county in the state and is the primary means for development and rehabilitation of affordable housing in rural areas.

Historically, core funding for the programs has been $65,000 annually per group to support operating costs, including rent, utilities, or staff. In State Fiscal Year 2004, the Executive cut the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation programs by 48% and 54% respectively and subsequently vetoed the legislature's restoration of the programs' funding.

1. What impact have the NPP and RPP programs had on local communities throughout New York State? What is the current need for the NPP and RPP programs and the services they provide? What other funding sources have the programs been able to leverage?

2. What impact will the budget cuts have on the NPP and RPP programs? How will the cuts affect the groups' ability to operate? How will the budget cuts affect the communities in which the companies operate?

3. Has state funding for the programs kept up with the rate of inflation? How much would each group receive annually if state appropriations had increased at a rate equal to the rate of inflation?

4. A. 3248 (Lopez) would allow for the merger or consolidation of Preservation groups and provide increased contract awards for such merger or consolidation. What affect would such change have on the programs? Is this proposed change desirable?

5. How can the NPP/RPP programs be enhanced? What improvements can be made to build upon past success?

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on The Future of The Neighborhood And Rural Preservation Programs are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Caryn Canfield
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Housing
Room 513 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: canfiec@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4355
Fax: (518) 455-4128

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

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