YONKERS – Governor Hochul, Monday, signed legislation sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey (D, Saugerties) to help low-to-moderate income seniors cover the costs of emergency home repairs through the Residential Emergency Services to Offer Home Repairs to the Elderly (RESTORE) program. Two companion bills were also signed to expand property tax relief for seniors and first-time homebuyers.
The RESTORE program, which is available across all counties of New York, helps seniors remain living independently and safely in their homes by funding needed structural, electrical, plumbing, and heating repairs, accessibility modifications, and appliance replacements.
Recognizing inflation, rising costs, current labor shortages, and supply chain issues, Hinchey’s bill, 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.
“During the pandemic, the cities of Kingston and Hudson were the two most moved in places in the country, which pushed our already fragile housing supply further to the brink and had catastrophic repercussions for many of our neighbors, but especially our seniors who are living on fixed incomes,” she said. “Seniors are the fastest growing population segment statewide and it’s incumbent that we deliver real relief that will help them age safely in the homes and communities they have always known.”
The other pieces of legislation signed by the Governor Monday include bills to expand tax relief for New York homeowners.
