Schumer Announces Key Senate Panel Backs $200,000 For North Country Housing Coalition

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to approve later today $200,000 for the Points North Housing Coalition in the FY07 Appropriations Bill for Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development. Schumer had aggressively lobbied members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for the project in this years spending bill.

This is great news for the North Country, Schumer said. With the expansion of Fort Drum, the North Country is facing a severe housing crunch. Everyone who raises a family hopes to put a roof over their heads and have a place to call home. With the price of housing soaring to record highs, community solutions are necessary to provide safe and affordable housing, especially for lowincome and atrisk families.

Funding for this project will go towards the development of both shortterm and longterm housing solutions by the Points North Housing Coalition. The coalition represents more than 50 North Country agencies that fund housing proposals in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. In response to the expansion of Fort Drum, this particular grant will support the development of housing solutions for atrisk families and individuals. Specifically, the project will facilitate the establishment of emergency housing for such families and individuals and create support services as a continuum, which provide homeless individuals or families with safe and secure housing while transitioning into affordable and habitable longterm housing.

Later today, the Appropriations Bill for Transportation, Treasure, the Judiciary, Housing, and Urban Development is expected to pass the Appropriations Committee and will head to the floor for a full vote before the Senate. The bill will then proceed to the Conference Committee and finally will be sent to the President before becoming law.