Ossining Celebrates IFCA's Newly Renovated Affordable Rental Housing

OSSINING, NY — The Interfaith Council for Action finished essential renovations to two of its flagship properties — 65 Hunter St. and 2 James St.

Local residents, advocates and officials celebrated with a ribbon-cutting July 15.

IFCA Board Chair, Maryann Sorese, IFCA Executive Director Karen D’Attore and Mayor of Ossining Victoria Gearity cut the ribbon.

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Also in attendance were County Legislator Catherine Borgia; Deputy Counsel/Bureau Chief Office of Rent Administration for NYSHCR Chuck Lesnick; Ossining Town Supervisor Dana Levenberg; Ossining Town Councilmember Kim Jeffrey; and Ossining Village Trustee Quantel Bazemore.

During 2015, IFCA embarked on major rehabilitation work on all of its 14 properties, officials said. This included a gut renovation of 65 Hunter, a three-unit dwelling in the village.

Purchased in 1977, this building had some significant structural problems including a rear extension that was built with no foundation.

Now repaired and restored to its full potential, this property will provide three working class families with comfortable apartments on a quiet village street. The property includes a shared use front porch and yard with Hudson River views.

Located on the same building lot is IFCA’s five-unit property at 2 James Street.

It also required a gut renovation due to significant structural issues with a two-floor addition at the rear of the building.

Now that it has been restored, IFCA is thrilled to welcome five new families to this three-story building with stunning Hudson River views, officials said.

Due to a shortage of decent, affordable rental housing, more and more of our neighbors find themselves living in increasingly dangerous housing conditions, unable to move to safer quarters because of cost and lack of availability.

IFCA’s recent renovations demonstrate a way to solve this problem in an affordable manner that allows Ossining to remain a place where people from all walks of life, all ethnic backgrounds, and all socioeconomic levels live together in relative harmony. By rehabilitating substandard housing, we are also improving quality of life for all residents. This is critically important to our community’s economic growth and viability.

Organized in 1968 by community members, IFCA provides a range of affordable housing development, property management and supportive services to low and moderate income people.

IFCA owns and manages 87 affordable apartments in Ossining and Tarrytown NY. It is also a pioneer in the development of transitional housing for the homeless, currently maintaining 16 units through Westchester County’s Emergency Housing Apartment Program (EHAP).

IFCA's professional staff provides property management services, including tenant selection, lease-ups, rent collections and after-hour emergency service. A staff social worker provides case management and other supportive services to tenants.

IFCA’s target population is primarily low-moderate income working singles and families, most of whom earn less than 50 percent of the area median income — or under $36,500 a year for a single-person household in Westchester County.

PHOTO: Front row L-R – IFCA Board Chair, Maryann Sorese, IFCA Executive Director Karen D’Attore and Mayor of Ossining Victoria Gearity cut the ribbon/courtesy