Westchester Residential Opportunities Inc

WESTCHESTER RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES, INC. (WRO) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROMOTE EQUAL, AFFORDABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF OUR REGION.

INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMTHE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM CONSISTS OF OUR SUPPORTED HOUSING APARTMENT PROGRAM, OUR SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY (SRO) PROGRAM, AND AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COMPONENT. IN 2021, THE SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDED INDIVIDUALIZED HOUSING-RELATED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO 45 ADULTS RECOVERING FROM SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, WHO WISH TO OBTAIN PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE, AND INDEPENDENT HOUSING. THE SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY PROGRAM STAFF PROVIDED HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SUPERVISION TO ADULTS RESIDING IN OUR 9 BEDROOM SRO IN 2021.

EVICTION PREVENTION & RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMWRO ASSISTS QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS FACING RENTAL AND/OR UTILITY ARREARS, BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS AGAINST THOSE ARREARS. WRO ALSO WORKS WITH HOUSEHOLDS LOOKING TO SECURE RENTAL HOUSING BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR SECURITY DEPOSITS, MOVING EXPENSES, FIRST MONTH'S RENT, ETC. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE PROGRAM (1) PROVIDES COUNSELING TO PRIMARILY LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO FIND AND MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, (2) NEGOTIATES WITH LANDLORDS TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED, AND (3) MAKES REFERRALS AS APPROPRIATE TO LOCATE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE. IN 2021, THE PROGRAM ASSISTED ROUGHLY 1,500 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

FAIR HOUSING PROGRAMWRO'S FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM WORKS TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION IN THE HOUSING AND LENDING MARKETS. THE PROGRAM HANDLES COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCTS INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING BOTH SYSTEMIC AND COMPLIANT-BASED TESTING, AND ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INVESTIGATIONS. ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS ARE CONDUCTED TO PROMOTE HOUSING ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WRO'S FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO CONSUMERS, CIVIC AND BUSINESS AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND TRAINS REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS, CO-OP BOARDS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO COMPLY WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS. IN 2021, APPROXIMATELY 243 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED WITH FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINTS, AND OVER 1,000 REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS WERE TRAINED IN OUR FAIR HOUSING WORKSHOPS.

HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAMSWRO PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS IN TWO AREAS: (A) FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYING (PROVIDING EDUCATION AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH ON THE HOMEBUYING PROCESS, AS WELL AS FACILITATING ACCESS TO VARIOUS DOWN-PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS). IN 2021, 300 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN OUR HOMEBUYING WORKSHOPS, AND 17 CLIENTS PURCHASED A HOME. (B) MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION (ASSISTING HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE FACING FORECLOSURE DUE TO TEMPORARY INTERRUPTIONS IN INCOME OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, INCLUDING EXPLORING POSSIBLE OPTIONS AVAILABLE WITH THEIR LENDER). IN 2021, WE SERVED 100 CLIENTS, AND CLOSED ON 40 LOAN MODIFICATIONS OR REINSTATEMENTS.