NORWICH - Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) announces its latest investment in affordable housing with a contribution of $500,000 through the State’s Housing Tax Credit Contribution Program to Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities (ECHO).
The funds will be used for construction and upgrades at 3 multi-family rental homes across Norwich with 58 dwelling units with capacity for 115 residents. All three properties will be rented to low-, very-low, and extremely low-income households located at 120 Elizabeth Street, 91 South 2nd Avenue, and 130 Washington Street.
The program is administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority’s tax credit program
that allows organizations to make contributions to eligible non-profit agencies in lieu of paying a portion of their Gross Revenue Tax bill. While NPU is a tax-exempt organization, it pays taxes on the purchase of its electricity.
“We are excited to continue our collaboration with ECHO to address the pressing need for more housing that is affordable,” said Jeff Brining, General Manager of NPU. “For more than 120 years, NPU been an important part of the fabric of our community; through our latest investment, we are deepening our relationship with the community we are proud to serve.”
“Norwich Public Utilities continues to be an invaluable community partner with their continued support and advocacy for housing that is affordable,” said Julie Savin, Executive Director of ECHO. “We believe that this decent and safe housing is a basic human need to which everyone is entitled. This housing is essential for the long-term, economic viability of the region, and we thank NPU for its long-standing support of our work.”
With this latest investment, NPU has provided ECHO with more than $5.5 million to support their critical work since 2004.
The $500,000 will be used for targeted rehabilitation across the three multi-family properties in Norwich, which together include 58 apartments. The planned improvements include:
- Replacement of old, drafty windows at 91 South 2nd Avenue to improve energy efficiency and resident comfort; installation of new kitchen cabinets at the same location to ensure safe, functional, and modern living spaces.
- Upgrades to the HVAC systems to provide reliable heating and hot water year-round at 91 South Second Avenue.
- A full roof replacement at 120 Elizabeth Street to stop leaks and protect the building; and
- Replacement of an aging boiler at 130 Washington Street to improve reliability and energy efficiency.
All the properties are currently occupied and will remain that way during this rehabilitation work; there will be no temporary relocations for any residents.
About ECHO
Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities (ECHO) was established in 1989 with the mission of providing affordable housing for families in Eastern Connecticut whose income is too low to support the purchase or rental of a home at market rates in the communities in which they work and wish to live.