The City Tackles Vacant Housing & Code Enforcement with New Grant
/The City of Albany has been awarded a grant of $1,000,000 which will focus on many different areas to combat and help solve some of the problem associated with vacant housing and code enforcement.
The grant will be used to implement the following:
Mow to Own Program – A program that allows local residents to own vacant lots after showing they can take care of them for a year with no issues
6-8 Pro-Active Demolitions – Following research by Harvard University on actions to reduce blight & gun violence, the City will acquire and proactively demolish 6-8 properties with community input and regulatory approvals
Good Neighbor School – An educational program to provide tenants & landlords with education and access to resources to improve the landlord-tenant relationship, in partnership with tenant & landlord groups
An additional attorney to find property owners who are not complying with code violations and collect upon the judgments the City wins in housing court
Housing Services Advocate – a person to be hired to be a neutral third party for landlords and tenants in assisting them with education and accessing resources
Deep Dive Block Program – A program where the city brings City Departments and outside partners to specific blocks for a few hours to work and connect with residents to address their issues
Estate Planning Program – A program that identifies and proactively reaches out to at-risk senior property owners for end-of-life discussions about their property. Simple wills will be drawn up for those who need them to ensure the property does not become vacant upon their passing
Not funded by the grant, but promised by the City in the application:
Proactive Inspections using data-driven approaches
Vacant Building Registry Improvements
Amendments to the City’s Rental Dwelling Registry legislation
Distribution of a Renters’ Bill of Rights, and other education materials on the Landlord-Tenant relationship
