HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MADE EQUAL (HOME) *

phone (716) 854-1400 s fax (716) 854-1140*

Fighting For Civil Rights Since 1963

The Greater Buffalo Community Housing Center

(CHC)

What is the CHC?

The Greater Buffalo Community Housing Center (CHC) is a program that provides housing search assistance and other services to participants of Erie County's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs. 

Although Section 8 makes most rental housing in Western New York affordable for low-income individuals and families, many people have used it to lease apartments in the neighborhoods in which they already live.  Often, those neighborhoods suffer from high rates of unemployment, crime, and limited access to good schools, and public services; some of those neighborhoods are also characterized by a high degree of racial segregation.  When individuals and families move to communities with lower concentrations of poverty, school quality, personal safety and job access increase.

The goal of the CHC is to empower families to make a truly free and informed choice about where they will live--and, if their choice is to move to another neighborhood or community--to make their transition a successful one.

Our History

In 1989 Jessie Comer and seven other African-Americans from Western New York filed a lawsuit charging federal, state and local governments with discrimination in their housing programs.

In 1996, a settlement agreement was forged that eliminated barriers to publicly assisted housing and brought a substantial number of new subsidies to the Buffalo area.  These vouchers enable low-income families to have greater access to housing in the private market. The settlement also provided for the creation of the Greater Buffalo Community Housing Center.

The CHC opened its doors in 1999 and since then has assisted over 2000 families to move into the housing of their choice.

The Program

During the orientation session for receiving a Section 8 voucher, participants are first given the opportunity to sign up for a small group session or "mobility meeting". At these sessions, held weekly at HOME, participants learn:

• how to identify good housing,

• how to meet landlords' screening criteria and more about the services provided by the CHC. 

• the benefits of seeking housing in areas not adversely affected by high rates of poverty.

Attendees also receive a listing of landlords with vacant units who participate in the Section 8 program.

After the small group session or mobility meeting, interested participants will  be paired with a mobility counselor from HOME.  The mobility counselor  works one-on-one with CHC clients to discuss their housing needs and talk about which communities might best meet those needs.  Some clients  also qualify for additional assistance with the housing search including help with application fees and reimbursement for  childcare. 

For more information please e-mail us or contact us at (716) 854-1400 and ask to speak with a mobility counselor.

Who We Serve

Everyone who is interested may use our mobility library which gives information about what's available in the different communities and municipalities throughout Erie County.  The CHC will also provide listings of affordable housing available in Erie County.

 Those who have been issued a Section 8 voucher through Belmont Shelter Corporation (Belmont), Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA) or the Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo (RACB), are eligible to participate in our program.  If you are interested in more information, or to find out if you are eligible for our program please contact us at (716) 854-1400 or  e-mail us. Mobility counselors are available to talk to you weekdays from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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