The Access Community Action Agency has been selected to receive $1.6 million from the Connecticut Department of Housing through its fourth round of highly Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties (CHAMP) initiative. These funds will allow Access to complete its Accessing Home–Danielson project by acquiring and rehabilitating three buildings on two contiguous lots, which will create or preserve a total of nine affordable housing units in Danielson. Eight of the units will be reserved for low- and moderate-income families, and one will provide supportive housing for an adult with special needs whose income is not greater than 25% of the Area Median Income.
The awarding of funds to Access was announced earlier this week by Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Department of Housing (DOH) Commissioner Evonne M. Klein, and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) President and Executive Director Eric Chatman. The state is investing more than $70 million in federal and state funds for 16 affordable housing projects across the state that will transform their communities and build and rehabilitate a total of 694 affordable rental apartments.
“The funding we’re announcing today will result in approximately $116 million in private investment for Connecticut’s housing stock,” said Governor Malloy. “Leveraged with our recent commitment of about half-a-billion dollars to create and preserve affordable housing in the state, these projects will foster economic growth, revitalize neighborhoods, raise the quality of life for everyone, and provide more affordable homes that are so important in keeping people, young and old, in Connecticut.”
“This award will allow us to continue our efforts to provide quality affordable housing in northeastern Connecticut”, said Access President and CEO Peter DeBiasi. Other Access affordable housing initiatives include 10 apartments in four multi-unit properties in Willimantic through its Access to Assets program, and a total of 59 one-bedroom apartments for seniors at Willington Woods in Willington, CT and Elisha Brook in Franklin, CT. The Access Community Action Agency is the federal and state designated anti-poverty agency for Windham and Tolland Counties. Access provides supplemental food, emergency shelter, energy assistance, energy conservation services, job and life skills training, youth mentoring, group homes, senior housing and more for low-income families and individuals. For more information about Access’ services, call (860) 450-7400 in the Willimantic area, (860) 412-1600 in the Danielson area, or visit www.accessagency.org.