Review Unlocks Federal Funds at Rockland Community Development Office

NANUET, NY - Rockland County Executive Ed Day today announced numerous initiatives at the Office of Community Development as a result of his review of that agency.

He made the announcements Wednesday at Hyenga Lake Senior Housing complex in Clarkstown, where he met with tenants and staff.

"Hyenga Lake illustrates the progress we are making under my administration to use the funds that Rockland County receives in the Office of Community Development to actually help the people of Rockland County," the County Executive said.

Day reorganized the community development office in February after a long review including its finances, to ensure full compliance and accountability in the department's operations. In 2016, Dr. Penny Jennings, assisted by the County Auditor and the Law Department, began a top to bottom dissection of the Office of Community Development. Among the changes earlier this year: The administration started proceedings against a Ramapo enterprise and a Haverstraw business for misuse of block grant funds. Internally, four positions were eliminated, disciplinary action was taken and reporting responsibilities were revamped.

SEE:

• Review Unlocks Federal Funds at Rockland Community Development Office
• County Exec Reorganizes Rockland Community Development
• Fighting over Rockland Block Grant Program
• Rockland County Exec Ed Day responds to Legislative Demand on Community Development Program

For example, Community Development receives funding from HUD for a program called HOME: Tenant Based Rental Assistance. The program allows clients to pay 30 percent of their income for rent, with vouchers paid by the federal government making up the rest. For years, this funding sat in an account at Community Development, unused for so long that the federal government was preparing to take the money back, Day said.

"This was just one of the many problems I inherited at Community Development," he said. "I ordered a top to bottom review of Community Development and my staff found that these funds were not being used. That has now changed."

There are now 59 people were enrolled in the HOME: Tenant Based Rental Assistance program, an allocation of $585,960 that the federal government was about to seize.

"Those are 59 Rockland residents who now have safe and affordable housing all over Rockland County, including Hyenga Lake," Day said

.Hyenga Lake Tenant Mike Perkins, 61, told the County Executive that he was close to being homeless when he found last fall that he was eligible for the program.

"It was like a dream come true," he said.

Resurrection of this long-dormant program is just one sign of progress in the Office of Community Development. There are numerous others, including:

* The allocation of $1.5 million in HUD funds that were in jeopardy of being taken by the federal government due to failure to use from 2009-15.

* Entering into an $800,000 contract to help pay for the acquisition of a 55-unit complex for low income families in Spring Valley.

* Collection of $50,000 in payments for defaulted Section 108 loans. And all but three Section 108 loans up to date. The rest are under scrutiny.

* Re-establishing the First-Time Home Buyers program, which has already helped four Rockland families.

"These are just a couple of examples of how we are making changes in the Office of Community Development to make sure that the federal funds we get are used to the benefit of all people in Rockland County," Day said.

At the same time, the county has been working with auditors to untangle some questionable past practices that went on for a long time in the department under prior administrations.

"We will be able to reveal some of those findings soon," Day said. "I vowed I would fix this office and I am proud to say that we are well on the way toward making sure that there is accountability in the Office of Community Development."

PHOTO: Rockland County Executive Ed Day meets with tenants and staff at Hyenga Lake/ contributed