Senator Michelle Hinchey Receives 2022 Advocate of the Year Award From Rural Housing Coalition

KINGSTON, NY – The Rural Housing Coalition of New York, a statewide membership organization of rural housing professionals who design, develop, finance, build, and manage affordable housing to meet the needs of rural New Yorkers, has named Senator Michelle Hinchey their 2022 Advocate of the Year in recognition of her work in the State Senate to bring unparalleled investment, attention, and policy solutions to address the housing crisis in rural and upstate New York.

“I am deeply humbled to receive this honor from the Rural Housing Coalition, who have been incredible advocacy partners in the fight to ensure affordable homeownership for all New Yorkers in our upstate communities,” Senator Michelle Hinchey said. “After decades of disinvestment, and at a time when upstate’s housing shortage grows more severe by the day, we delivered unprecedented state investment that is being used right now to build more permanent, affordable homes in our communities. Upstate New Yorkers deserve a future where they have access to safe, stable housing, and I will continue to take action to address the urgency of our local housing crisis.”

Michael J. Borges, Rural Housing Coalition Executive Director, said, "The Rural Housing Coalition of New York congratulates Senator Michele Hinchey on receiving the 2022 Advocate of the Year Award for her efforts in assisting the residents of rural communities, particularly seniors and low-moderate income households, with securing state funding and legislative changes that will improve both their lives and where they live.”

In her first term, Hinchey created and secured the largest comprehensive package of funding for rural and upstate housing programs totaling $236 million dollars, which includes funding to convert hotels and motels into affordable homes through the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act (HONDA) — a program that had previously been available to New York City until Hinchey successfully advocated for its expansion statewide. Hinchey’s upstate housing capital plan was also responsible for the creation of the Small Rental Development Initiative, which incentivizes developers to construct buildings with 20 units or less in rural and upstate communities, and funding to create homeownership opportunities for low-and moderate-income families through the Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC), among other investments.

Senator Hinchey’s bill to lower homeowner repair costs for seniors by expanding the New York State RESTORE Program was recently signed into law by the Governor. The bill (S9193), a priority piece of legislation supported by the Rural Housing Coalition, improves the RESTORE program by increasing the maximum cost allowed per project to $20,000 and extending the construction deadline for RESTORE projects to 60 days.

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