A single mother of two recently closed on the purchase of a 2-bedroom affordable apartment at the Aurum, a newly constructed 115 unit condominium on Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard and West 131 Street. First-time homebuyer Ingrid Berges had successfully entered a NYC HPD "lottery" to apply for one of 23 affordable units in the new building.
Ms. Berges participated in the NYC Housing Partnership's Homeownership Education and Counseling Program. The program, supervised by Director of Homeownership Education Emily McIntosh, provides the information, knowledge and tools for potential homebuyers to make smart, informed homebuying decisions.
The Aurum was developed by BRP Companies and “reflects BRP’s core mission to create high-quality, energy-efficient housing in emerging neighborhoods,” said Meredith Marshall, Managing Partner and Co-founder of BRP Companies.
The New York State Affordable Housing Corporation also provided grant funds to the 23 buyers, further enhancing the affordability of the units.
Ms. Berges expressed her appreciation to Ms. McIntosh and Shelia Martin, the NYC Housing Partnership's Chief Operating Officer, and Wendy Lyons, the HP's Deputy Director of Program Operations, saying “Thank you for guiding me through this long process that was worth it 100%. It was a true pleasure working with the Housing Partnership.”
According to Ms. Martin, “Nonprofit and for-profit developers alike benefit from our array of marketing services which streamline the HPD mandated process required to qualify interested homebuyers and renters for affordable homes. The Housing Partnership customizes outreach and marketing services for each project. We create marketing materials’ content, fliers and advertisements to reach target audiences. We assist in the administration of lotteries for affordable rental projects and in determining applicant eligibility. For homeownership projects, the Housing Partnership also reviews each applicant’s ability to qualify for a mortgage.”
The Housing Partnership, a not-for-profit organization, serves as New York City's primary intermediary for the development of new and rehabilitated affordable housing on both public and private sites, creating nearly 60,000 units over 35 years.