This comprehensive social service program, established in the latter part of 1998, assists families with information and referral services. There are three main phases of the CCP: assessment and identification of tenant needs; program strategies and implementation; and tenant organizing and community building.

These phases are designed to develop greater social and human capital of the households residing in specific city-owned properties. By combining BAALDC assessments with tenant input, the objective is to initiate a comprehensive community development social strategy toward individual properties and residents.

To date, BAALDC counselors have met with over 300 individual families, assessed their needs, and provided direction in securing entitlements, job placement, health care maintenance and family support activities.

BAALDC intervention has secured numerous Section 8 Housing Certificates, 300 Food Stamp and Medical entitlements, 50 Social Security supplemental incomes for seniors, and over 50 permanent job placements. In addition, more than 100 teens were registered into after school "Beacon Programs" where the main focus is on sportsmanship, self esteem/character building and understanding community diversity.

Recently, the BAALDC used its HPD Community Consultant Contract to encourage existing and former homeless tenants to enter into a wide variety of programs. In adopting this community development approach toward qualified households, the LDC seeks to provide short-term interventions with longer-term self-esteem and living skills development. They believe that this approach through the Community Consultant Program empowers building residents to prevent and solve their own problems.

The NPCP is a landlord-oriented assistance program that provides abandonment assistance and preservation services to property owners. Through this program, the LDC supplies outreach and assistance to owners of buildings in disrepair, identifies potential problems and suggests both short-term and long-term solutions.

Under NPCP, the LDC also negotiates and monitors voluntary repair agreements, assists owners in applying for rehabilitation loans and refers owners to HPD's Small Property Owners Advocacy Unit when necessary to resolve inter or intra-agency issues.

Other related services include:

• Senior Citizen Rent Exemption (SCRIE)
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
• Weatherization Referral and Packing Program (WRAP)
• Real Property Tax Credit (IT-214)
• New York State School Tax Relief (STAR)
• HPD/NYPD Narcotics Control and Complaint Referral Services, including Registration of Properties into "NYPC Clean Halls" program.

The Participation Loan Program (PLP) provides loans to private owners for the moderate- to gut-rehabilitation of multiple buildings with more than ten units. City funds at one percent interest are combined with marketrate private financing to produce a below market interest rate. Funds may also be used for refinancing in conjunction with rehabilitation.

After rehabilitation, real property taxes may be abated through the J-51 Program, and all apartments are placed under New York State's Rent Stabilization System. In vacant buildings, rents are set at the market rate.

Conventional benefits of the J-51 exemption/abatement program include a 12 year exemption from taxation on an increase in assessed valuation resulting from the improvements. Benefits also include the abatement of the annual tax bill for up to 20 years, by an annual amount not to exceed 8.3 percent of the Certified Reasonable Cost (CRC) of the work, to a maximum of 90 percent of the CRC.

Projects may qualify for Moderate Rehabilitation benefits if they meet the following:

• 60 percent occupancy before, during and after rehabilitation.
• CRC at least $2500 per unit in major capital improvements, including one major system.
• Proper prio r notice to HPD and the tenants. All multi-family buildings in New York City with at least ten residential units are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to occupied buildings located in Community Districts, like Belmont, which have been designated priority lending areas by HPD.

The Small Homes Private Loan Program uses City Capital funds and/or Federal funds in combination with loans from private participating lenders to rehabilitate privately owned 1-20 unit buildings. The Program's objective is to provide affordable financing for small buildings that require moderate to get rehabilitation and are unable to obtain conventional financing. Properties in all parts of the five boroughs of New York City are eligible. Buildings may be occupied or vacant. Borrowers are required to provide 10 percent of the project's total cost. Loans will be made using HPD funds in combination with bank funds. The loan amount is up to $43,000 per unit in HPD funds, with an interest rate of 1 percent for up to 30 years. The maximum for bank loan pools varies, as do the interest rates and loan terms. For vacant buildings, rents will be set at the market rate and entered into the rent stabilization system. For occupied buildings, rent increases will be kept to a minimum. These buildings are also entered into the rent stabilization system. In no case will existing tenants be displaced. Several priority areas have been identified for the Small Homes Private Loan Program, including Belmont.

HIP was developed in cooperation with private banks to provide loans to help small homeowners improve their properties. HIP loans of up to $20,000 are made to owner/occupants of one to four-family homes located throughout the City. City funds reduce the bank interest rate to 2.5 percent or 5 percent, depending on the borrower's income.

The Article 8A Loan Program provides lowinterest rehabilitation financing to owners of multiple dwellings (1-20 unit buildings) for the upgrading or replacement of major building systems, with an emphasis on energy items. Article 8A has a $15,000 per unit loan limit, thus making it appropriate for buildings needing less work than those applying for PLP loans.

After rehabilitation, real property taxes may be eligible for abatement through the J-51 Program. The J-51 Program is an as-of-right tax exemption and abatement for residential rehabilitation or conversion to multiple dwellings.

HPD has undertaken a new initiative to address the City's at-risk housing stock, 'Pathways to Responsible Ownership,' or ProHousing. This program will identify buildings in poor health, or those at risk of abandonment, and prescribe treatment necessary to put those buildings on the road to recovery. HPD is also creating a new Owner Services Program which will provide in-depth counseling on finance and management issues.

The LDC works closely with the Department of Housing's anti-abandonment effort, the Housing Education Program (HEP), which offers a series of courses to assist owners, managers and superintendents in managing and maintaining their buildings.

The program's Core Curriculum provides extensive instruction on how to prevent building deterioration and abandonment more effectively. It offers beginning and advanced courses on building management and systems maintenance as well as multi session courses on finances and working with tenants.

Core Curriculum courses include:

• Introduction to Building Management and Systems of the Residential Property Owner
• Advanced Building Management
• Advance Building Systems/Physical Plant
• Building Finances
• Working With Tenants

In addition to its Core Curriculum, HEP offers several other educational services including seminars on water and energy conservation, heating and plant maintenance and more specialized services for owners working with anti-abandonment programming. Courses are offered frequently and are free of charge to qualified applicants.

Seminars are held periodically on Friday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, and Tuesday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at HPD's offices at 100 Gold Street (Room 1R3). To register, contact:HPD at 212-863-8830 or BAALDC at 718-561-7220 or 718-295-2882.