Agency's commitment stays strong, report says

Homebuyers' programs are successful, but rental properties pose problems.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The staff and board of commissioners of Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority are committed to remain good stewards of YMHA's resources, Eugenia Atkinson, YMHA executive director, said in her annual report.
YMHA's board of commissioners held their December and annual meetings Tuesday at the administrative offices at Amedia Plaza on Boardman Street.
Atkinson said there are many challenges facing YMHA in the months and years to come as federal standards change and less federal funding is available. She said, however, that YMHA's mission to continue to build better communities, then serve those communities, is clear.
Reviewing activities of 2005, board members said homebuyers' programs are successful, but rental properties pose problems.
Atkinson said YMHA's programs to help people become first-time homebuyers are going well, including the construction on the first five homes in the Hope VI housing project on the North Side.
HOPE VI is a housing grant program through Housing and Urban Development that targets revitalization of obsolete or distressed public housing.
New neighborhood
Arlington Heights is a new neighborhood of 30 homes west of St. Elizabeth Health Center, centered at 750 Park Ave. The homes will range between 1,300 and 2,000 square feet and have a base price of $54,400.
Megan Shutes, YMHA's HOPE VI coordinator, has said most of the funding for the Arlington Heights project comes from a $19.75 million federal HOPE VI grant awarded to YMHA in 2003.
Board members said Tuesday that the problem areas for the agency continue to be unpaid rent and repair costs of rental housing. They also want to upgrade security systems at YMHA facilities.
Since June, $83,381 is owed on 183 units. January through March, $20,134 was owed on 57 units, and for April through June, $29,620 was owed on 30 units.
Atkinson said repairs to security systems in the last year have cost about $20,000, and about $43,000 is needed for additional repairs and upgrades.
Video links on new security equipment will allow YMHA staff to view security camera images from the computers at their work stations, she said.
The board recognized YMHA staff members, including 22 with service of 20 years or more. Dorothy Henry, a zone manager, has been a YMHA employee for 38 years.
The board also lauded the efforts of teen-ager Matthew Crnarich, who designed and supervised construction of a gazebo for residents of YMHA's senior citizen's high rise in Struthers. Crnarich has been in Scouting for 10 years and is a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 101 in Struthers. He chose the gazebo construction as his Eagle Scout project.
Crnarich, a sophomore at Struthers High, said he devoted about 64 hours to the project and secured the building materials through donations.
tullis@vindy.com