New London nonprofits awarded $1 million for affordable housing projects
New London — Three New London nonprofits collectively are receiving a $1 million boost to affordable housing projects now underway in the city.
Checks totaling $1,056,111 were handed out at City Hall on Thursday to representatives from New London Homeless Hospitality Center, HOPE Inc. and New London Landmarks.
The contributions from Eversource were made through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority as part of the Housing Tax Credit Contribution Program, which provides donors with one-for-one credit on state corporate taxes. Eversource is the largest contributor to the program, donating $9.5 million of the $10 million handed out this year.
Thomas Dorsey, Eversource’s manager of government affairs, was on hand Thursday for the check and said he understands the importance of the money.
“Some of these organizations cannot do without this,” Dorsey said. “We believe in strong communities and affordable housing is the foundation in any strong community.”
The New London Homeless Hospitality Center is using $365,916 in tax credit funding to construct a duplex unit on Friendship Street in New London. The new units will provide access to affordable housing for very low-income adults by incorporating rental subsidies funded under the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program, said Catherine Zall, director of the New London Homeless Hospitality Center.
HOPE Inc. is using $400,000 on the renovation of a foreclosed three-family house on Belden Street, one of 20 homes HOPE has built or renovated to help transform that neighborhood. Marilyn Graham, HOPE's executive director, said her organization began its focus on the Belden Street neighborhood in 2002, when the City donated three very distressed properties to HOPE.
“HOPE’s work on Belden Street has transformed the street from a blighted rental neighborhood to an attractive area of quality homeownership opportunities for low-income families,” she said.
New London Landmarks will be using $290,695 in funding to rehabilitate 23 Franklin St., a project well underway, said Laura Natusch, executive director of New London Landmarks.
"We're so grateful to Eversource for making this project possible," Natusch said. “Their contribution will allow us to save a Greek Revival house built by Edward Hempstead and to preserve the legacy of local civil rights icon Linwood Bland Jr., who lived in this house for 40 years. Best of all, when we're all done someone will be able to affordably own this beautiful house steeped in history."
Terri O’Rourke, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut, said Habitat received $500,000 in this round of funding toward the development of 14 housing units in the Greeneville section of Norwich, the largest such development in the organization’s history.
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