Belmont Housing Resources for WNY

BHR is best known for providing rental assistance (Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers) provides a whole range of affordable housing resources. Their HCV waiting list is closed, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a range of services for the community to take advantage of. You can walk in any time to access any of their services, but if you’re coming in to talk to a HCV housing specialist about your rental assistant, calling ahead is always greatly appreciated. There’s free parking behind the building and it’s less than a block from the Summer/​Best metro station. Come right in, sign in at the security desk, and the two nicest receptionists you will ever meet will take care of you.
Housing Resource Center — two rooms of computers, exclusive apartment listings, telephones and a dedicated full-​time staff member, Synta, to help people look for housing. Synta is knowledgeable about emergency housing, accessible housing, senior housing, family housing, or whatever you may need. When I volunteer in landlord-​tenant court, I refer my clients, who have just been evicted from the apartments, to Belmont’s Housing Resource Center. The best case scenario for my clients is usually that they will get a little more time to before the marshalls remove them, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are on the brink of homelessness. Being about to refer them to Belmont makes a huge difference in how both the client and I feel walking out of the courthouse.
Foreclosure Counseling — Belmont offers FREE foreclosure counseling for homeowners that are at risk of or in the midst of a foreclosure. I don’t think there is another agency in town offer this service for free and Belmont has some of the only certified foreclosure counselors in the state. Colden and Anthony do a great job and have relationships with the folks doing loan modifications at various institutions.
Homeownership Programs — Belmont has a FREE home-​buyer education workshop which will satisfy the requirement that many banks have for participation in first-​time homebuyer programs. Don’t go paying for a class somewhere else because the trainers at Belmont are incredible and have ton of experience. They can also help you with matched-​saving accounts for buying a house or starting a small business.
Property Management — Belmont manages quite a few affordable housing properties throughout WNY including senior housing, family housing, and housing for adults with disabilities.