Josh Freifeld, Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation & Improvement Corp. executive director, discussing programs CHRIC provides to county residents to the Jamestown City Council Housing Committee Monday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

As part of an ongoing series of meetings with local housing improvement organizations, the Jamestown City Council heard from the executive director of Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation & Improvement Corp.

On Monday during a meeting of the council’s Housing Committee, Josh Freifeld, CHRIC executive director, discussed programs CHRIC operates to help people find and improving housing in the county. He said CHRIC, which was established in 1978 to improve homes, neighborhoods, communities and the lives of county residents, has a lead-safe program to improve housing for hundreds of children in the county, which is run in conjunction with the Chautauqua County Health Department through a state grant. He added CHRIC receives a $2 million grant every three years, which has improved the conditions of more than 700 house in Jamestown.

Freifeld said CHRIC also has a renovation and rehabilitation program where they work with the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corp. and the cities of Dunkirk and Jamestown officials to assist county residents with home improvements. He said CHRIC is working with city of Jamestown officials on improving three houses in the city with federal Community Housing Development Organization funding. He added that CHRIC receives around $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding from both the cities of Dunkirk and Jamestown.

CHRIC also has a first-time home buyer program where they offer classes to perspective home purchasers to teach them about improving their credit rating, budget management, home maintenance and how to deal with realtors and lenders. Freifeld said the class is offered in both English and in Spanish. He said the class also has an online component. He added the classes usually takes about 12 hours to complete, with an eight hour class session and four hours of one-on-one counseling. The next class will be held in the city April 27 at the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation.

Freifeld also said CHRIC provides quality, affordable rental units as well. He said altogether they have 16 rentals, with 11 being located in Jamestown. He added they also provide a class to renters to assist them in becoming homeowners.

CHRIC also has a handicap modification program to assist seniors with improving handicapped accessibility to improve conditions around their residence.

Freifeld did suggest to city officials they should look into starting a rental registration program geared toward inspecting rental properties to make sure they are up to code. He said Erie, Pa., has a similar program they have been operating for around 10 years.

For more information, visit chric.org.