Darlene’s Story – FlexFund/NYSERDA Customer

Darlene Costick lives in Cicero, New York with her brother in a home their father built in 1952. Other than her four years away at college and the first year and a half during construction, Darlene has lived in this home all of her life. She moved back in with her parents after college to care for her ailing father, stayed to care for her mother and now takes care of her brother who, six years ago, was diagnosed with complete kidney failure.

This winter season she finally faced replacing the 50+ year old furnace. At 57 years old and working two jobs, Darlene planned to pay for the new furnace by closing out a retirement fund that she had built working as a substitute teacher.

“I figured that it had to be done, there was no getting around it, and there was no way anyone was going to lend me the money to do it,” said Darlene.

Darlene’s BPI-certified contractor suggested she contact Home HeadQuarters for affordable financing through their FlexFund Home Improvement Program. The FlexFund, available to homeowners throughout Central New York, is a loan pool formed through a partnership of 12 area financial institutions who loan money to Home HeadQuarters who in turn loans it affordably to homeowners who would not typically qualify for bank financing.

For Darlene, the FlexFund Home Improvement financing also made it possible for her to qualify for an interest rate buy-down for the loan and a matching grant through the NYSERDA Home Energy Improvement Program. With the energy grant, Darlene and her brother were able to add air conditioning to their home which is critical for a person suffering with kidney failure.

“We never could have afforded the whole thing otherwise and it will just mean a better quality of life for my brother,” said Darlene. “This is such a great program. I never felt like I had a stupid question or that anyone was too busy to help me. I felt like everyone really cared and wanted to help.”

For Darlene, her referral to Home HeadQuarters made it both affordable and convenient to make the much-needed improvements to her home.

“While this still all won’t be easy, the FlexFund Program has really made all the difference in the world.”

TIPP HILL

Editor's Note: Everyone at Home HeadQuarters is mourning the loss of John Moulton. He was a bright and generous man who gave so much to the Tipp Hill neighborhood. We'd like to leave his story on our website as a tribute to a man we will all miss very much. Our thoughts and prayers go out to John's family and friends.

Last week, during his usual daily walk through one of Tipperary Hill's many parks, John Moulton and his spaniel Annabel ran across some other recent transplants to the area. The couple, who recently moved to Syracuse from Rochester and settled in Tipp Hill, had much to say about their new locale.

"They just kept talking about how much friendlier the people were here versus Rochester," said Mr. Moulton. "They seemed fairly amazed at the difference."

John Moulton considers himself a transplant of sorts even though he is a native of Central New York. Raised in Cortland, he moved out to California and lived there for 17 years until family obligations brought him back to the Northeast. After living with his sister for a few years, John decided that it was time to begin searching for a home of his own that fit all of his needs.

Legally blind, Mr. Moulton required specific living arrangements that included close proximity to his work, easy access to downtown and surrounding areas and someplace his enthusiastic spaniel could comfortably call home. He narrowed his house search to the area surrounding Coleman's Restaurant where he works. He was excited to learn that he would then be eligible for a Tipp Hill Purchase & Rehab Grant* offered through the Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative.

"My realtor told me about this great program that offered money for my down payment and for fixing things up," said Mr. Moulton. "The Tipp Hill grant made it easier for me to get a better house and to take care of what needed to be taken care of."

The Purchase & Rehab Grant provided through Home HeadQuarters offers new homebuyers in the Tipperary Hill area up to $3,000 for down payment or closing cost assistance and up to $4,500 for property improvements. Other Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative programs offered in Tipp Hill include Home Improvement Loans for both homeowners and investor-owners, and mini-grants for exterior "curb appeal" home repairs. The Purchase & Rehab Grant that Mr. Moulton took advantage of is available to buyers purchasing one- to three-family homes, which is how John Moulton surprisingly found himself not only a new homeowner, but a new landlord as well.

"I didn't expect to be the owner of a two-family home," said Mr. Moulton. "but it has worked out nice, with good tenants and a house that doesn't require too many repairs."

Now that he is settled in his new home, John Moulton is thinking about his future projects. He plans on checking into a Tipp Hill Home Improvement Loan so he can get the outside of his house painted and complete some other improvements.

Mr. Moulton delights in many aspects of Tipp Hill and Syracuse. He and Annabel enjoy hiking in all of the many parks that are within walking distance of his home including Burnet Park, which is just up the street. He likes the fact that Syracuse offers such affordable living and that the homes in his neighborhood are well kept. He was surprised to note that many Tipp Hill homes offer huge back lots that could easily accommodate many things like a swimming pool or garden. Many major thoroughfares and bus routes are easily accessible to him and downtown is only minutes away. He partakes of the many good restaurants nearby and rides his bicycle to shops and other places of interest. But most of all, John Moulton enjoys the benefits of living in a pleasant and clean neighborhood full of good neighbors.

"I'll tell you this," said Mr. Moulton. "After living in LA for a long time, you certainly appreciate the friendliness of the people here. People are more willing to help you out in Syracuse and Tipperary Hill-they're just good people to deal with."

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