890 Union Members New Owners
Home-Buyer Program Grows

By HOWARD MEGDAL

Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Shaun Donovan and District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts were on hand Oct. 25 at DC 37 offices to celebrate a joint housing program that has provided assistance to more than 3,500 union members in securing a home, with nearly 900 already having made purchases.

The Municipal Employees Housing Program, which is marking its first anniversary, also receives assistance from the city's Department of Neighborhood Housing Services. It gives preference to municipal workers for five percent of the units in city-sponsored lotteries for affordable homes, down-payment grants of up to six percent of the purchase price, and extensive homebuyer training and education throughout the process.

"This program has succeeded far beyond what we could have imagined," Mr. Donovan said during the ceremony, which was marked with a birthday cake.

Roberts Made Appeal

Mr. Donovan said the MEHP took root when Ms. Roberts wrote him a letter in May 2005 asking what could be done to provide more affordable housing for her members.

"I saw members who were homeless," said Ms. Roberts, whose union represents many of the city's lowest-paid workers. "That was very painful to me."

NHS Chief Executive Director Sarah Gerecke said she was struck by the speed with which an idea became reality.

Quick Turnaround

"This has been so remarkable," she said. "This program was discussed in July, and we were off and running by September."

She added that the educational aspects of the program are vital to its success. "Today, there are far too many people buying homes without counseling," Ms. Gerecke said. "We know that people in this program will be able to stay in their homes as long as they want to."

Under the program, a single person making up to $39,700 is eligible for the down-payment grants. The maximum eligible income is $45,350 for a two-person household, $51,050 for three, $56,700 for four, $61,250 for five, $65,750 for six, $70,300 for seven and $74,850 for eight people.

890 New Home-Buyers

According to the union, 3,525 members have entered the education program, with 890 purchasing homes through the initiative already.

For Gerald Horton, a DC 37 member working as a Technology Support Representative in the Brooklyn Public Library, buying a home for his family was a pipe dream until he heard about MEHP last year. After enrolling, he closed on a Bronx co-op last month.

"This is something my wife and I were hoping and dreaming for," he said. "As soon as I read about the program, I knew it was something we had to do. Every night I look up at the ceiling and think that this is a blessing."