Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Affordable Housing Development and Community Wellness Clinic in Rochester

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of True North Apartments, a $39 million affordable and supportive housing development in Rochester's Northeast neighborhood. The development - shaped through collaboration with DePaul, Rochester's faith-based community, and neighborhood leaders - transformed previously vacant sites into 70 affordable and supportive apartments as well as a wellness clinic open to residents and the broader community. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 6,500 affordable homes in Monroe County. True North continues this effort and is part of Governor Hochul's $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

"True North transforms underutilized vacant land into a resource that will benefit residents and the surrounding neighborhood for years to come," Governor Hochulsaid. "These 70 new affordable homes will provide stability and opportunity for residents, while supportive services and a new wellness clinic will connect them to the resources that can help them thrive. My administration will continue working with local leaders and community partners in places like Rochester to create the housing New Yorkers need and strengthen our neighborhoods for the future."

Developed by DePaul, Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency (FLACRA), Person Centered Housing Options, and the Rochester Interfaith Development Corporation, True North consists of three newly constructed buildings located within a half mile of each other. Two residential buildings feature 70 apartments affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Thirty-five apartments include on-site supportive services for residents struggling with homelessness and for those age 55 and older who need support to live independently.

Services are offered by DePaul and Person Centered Housing Options and include linkages to medical care, transportation, financial counseling, and work readiness training. Eighteen apartments are fully accessible and adapted for residents with mobility disabilities, and four units are fully accessible and adapted for residents with sensory disabilities.

The third building is an 8,700-square-foot outpatient wellness clinic operated by Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency. Open to the entire community, the clinic provides mental health and substance use counseling, recovery groups, medication-assisted treatment and case management. The clinic has capacity to serve up to 3,000 individuals annually.

Located near public transportation, a library, recreation center, and senior center, the all-electric development was designed in accordance with Enterprise Green Communities 2020 Plus standards. It incorporates ENERGY STAR appliances, solar panels, water-conserving plumbing, and low- or no-VOC materials.

Financing for True North includes a mix of public and private sources, Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from HCR that are expected to generate nearly $20 million in equity and $10.5 million in HCR subsidy. Additional financing includes $5.5 million from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program and a $750,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME grant through the city of Rochester. The development is also supported by more than $385,000 from the Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between HCR and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Operating funding for the project is being provided by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "True North joins the nearly 5,000 affordable homes built or preserved in Rochester under Governor Hochul's leadership, and its opening marks the culmination of years of community-driven work to help meet Rochester's pressing need for more affordable housing. These 70 apartments and wellness clinic show what's possible when government, community and faith-based leaders, and exceptional organizations like DePaul come together to create housing that strengthens neighborhoods and gives residents the resources they need to thrive. We are proud to partner with DePaul, FLACRA, Person Centered Housing Options, the Rochester Interfaith Development Corporation and the City of Rochester to bring this transformative development to life."

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, "Our Office is proud to support the creation of these 35 permanent supportive housing units that will provide a home and offer support services for some of our most vulnerable fellow New Yorkers. These investments in housing and the wellness clinic will benefit the entire community. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for continuing to make permanent supportive housing a priority in New York State, and to all the state and local partners who supported the development of this important project."

Senator Charles Schumer said, "Every family in Rochester deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. I'm proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit I've fought tirelessly to preserve and expand has delivered more than $16 million to build 70 new apartments at True North Apartments. High housing costs are a key driver of inflation, so we must build more housing for working people to bring down those high prices. I commend Governor Hochul for investing in creating and preserving affordable housing in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region, and I will continue working to secure the federal resources needed to support these efforts and the New Yorkers who depend on them."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "Safe and accessible housing should be a right, not a privilege, for all New Yorkers. This $39 million investment will strengthen our most underserved communities in Rochester by providing affordable housing and creating a wellness clinic open to the public, offering critical resources to those who need them. I will continue fighting for more federal resources to create the affordable, supportive housing that our state needs."

Representative Joe Morelle said, "Every person deserves the stability and dignity of a safe, affordable place to call home. True North Apartments represents an important investment in that promise for our Rochester community. This development will help our neighbors build stronger, healthier futures. I'm grateful to Governor Hochul and all the partners who worked together to make this project a reality, and I remain committed to expanding access to affordable housing and strengthening neighborhoods across our community."

Assemblymember Demond Meeks said, "Safe, stable and affordable housing is a basic human right and the cornerstone of a healthy and thriving community. The completion of True North Apartments will open 70 new doors and will bring compassionate, permanent supportive housing directly to our neighbors experiencing homelessness and our cherished seniors. By pairing affordable living with on-site, wrap-around mental health and recovery services through FLACRA, this development addresses the root causes of housing instability and delivers real health equity to Rochester's Northeast neighborhood. I am grateful to DePaul, FLACRA, Person Centered Housing Options and all the community partners who fought to transform these vacant lots into places of healing, dignity and opportunity for our families."

Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans said, "The opening of the True North Development is a shining example of what we can achieve when we work together and invest in Rochester's neighborhoods and people. By bringing 70 affordable housing units and a recovery and wellness clinic to the city's Upper Falls neighborhood, this project directly aligns with our mission to build a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Governor Hochul and all the dedicated partners who came together to help city residents thrive - today and for generations to come."

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, "Stability in day-to-day life starts with having stable, high-quality housing. With mental health and supportive services provided on site, True North Apartments will serve as the model for providing holistic support to our community members most in need. I want to thank Governor Hochul for tackling the affordability crisis head-on and for her continued partnership in addressing the housing needs of Monroe County."

DePaul President Mark Fuller said, "DePaul is grateful to Governor Hochul, New York State and all of our partners for their support in building affordable, healthy, and resilient communities. True North is the culmination of collaboration and a shared vision to address critical housing and supportive service needs in Rochester's Upper Falls neighborhood. These new apartments and wellness clinic transform formerly vacant lots into spaces which provide a stable foundation for individuals to take meaningful steps towards a brighter future."

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "The completion of True North Apartments demonstrates how new developments can leverage clean energy and incorporate the latest energy efficient appliances to deliver comfortable, modern living spaces for New Yorkers. This project is an important step towards expanding affordable, supportive housing opportunities that prioritize both the health and well-being of residents as well as the surrounding community."

FLACRA President and CEO Jennifer Carlson said, "The True North Project represents what is possible when community, partnership, and care come together with a shared purpose. This new space (FLACRA Wellness & Recovery Clinic, 373 North Street, Rochester), allows us to provide truly integrated, whole-person care in a therapeutic environment designed around dignity, comfort, and connection. By working closely with DePaul, RIDC, and PCHO, we are creating more than a place to receive services. We have created an innovative approach that connects individuals and families with the care, safe housing supports, and resources they need to transform their lives."

Person Centered Housing Options Executive Vice President, Chief of Development and Community Engagement, Nicholas Coulter said, "Working together across agency lines to provide comprehensive and intensive supportive housing to the most vulnerable populations in our communities is what changes the landscape of homelessness across our state. DePaul, PCHO, RIDC and FLACRA couldn't do this amazing work without the support of our government officials, community stakeholders, and most importantly the people we serve. PCHO is proud to add this supportive housing program to the plethora of options the people we serve have in ending homelessness!"

Rochester Interfaith Development Corporation President Pastor Franklin R. Ross said, "RIDC proudly celebrates the opening of the two residential buildings and wellness clinic of the True North Project in Rochester's NE Quadrant. The project reflects the spirit of unity and compassion among faith communities, transforming formerly vacant lots into homes that offer stability, dignity, and hope. RIDC extends its heartfelt gratitude to DePaul for its partnership and shared commitment to bringing this vision to life. Together with DePaul, PCHO and FLACRA, RIDC is advancing the work of restoration and revitalization through development, demonstrating what can be accomplished when communities come together with a shared purpose. Additionally, we thank Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Malik Evans, County Executive Adam Bello, Council member Michael Patterson, Assemblyman Demond Meeks, former Mayor Lovely Warren, and NYS Homes and Community Renewal for their steadfast support for this project."

Governor Hochul's Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York's housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes - for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. There are currently more than 450 certified Pro-Housing communities throughout the state, including the city of Rochester.

As part of FY27 Budget, Governor Hochul secured a number of landmark reforms to New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her "Let Them Build" agenda. "Let Them Build" also includes executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.

The enacted FY27 Budget completes the Governor's current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 87,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The enacted FY27 Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.