News/Media

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Check out our 2017 Annual Report!

The Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center of WNY recently released our 2017 Annual Report, highlighting the successes of our programs over the past year.

The stats listed below provide a glimpse of what our staff has accomplished in the past year.

  • Agency staff was successful in securing the funding necessary to convert the former P.S. #57 into 27 units of permanent affordable housing for women and women with children, as well as programming space for the Matt Urban HOPE Center.
  • The HOPE Center’s Street Outreach Staff secured housing for 92 homeless individuals.
  • We weatherized 53 units of housing for low-income families, keeping them safe and warm during our long winter months, and reducing their utility bills on average by 25%.
  • We provide support to over 1,040 low-income senior citizens, providing them with case management services, allowing them to remain independent and preventing them from being placed in an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
  • Agency staff provided transportation to senior citizens so that they can attend doctor’s appointments, conduct banking, shopping and participate in congregate meal programming. Our van drivers completed 4,206 one-way trips.
  • Staff provided advocacy and support for 2,370 innocent victims of crime.
  • Our housing department continues to provide safe and affordable housing for low-income senior citizens (32 units), refugees/low-income community residents (20 units), chronically homeless women (20 units) and to youth who have aged out of the foster care system (12 units/24 beds). The Matt Urban HOPE House provided emergency shelter for 620 women and women with children.
  • We assisted 56 homeowners in securing housing repair grants that will help them make health and safety repairs to their home.
  • The Youth Department provided after-school programming and a safe haven for 675 low-income, at-risk neighborhood youth.

Click Here to Read the 2017 Annual Report

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Client Testimonial: Matt Urban Hope Center

Testimonial Transcription from Mr. Mitchell L. Wilson, Sr.

May 8, 2018

“My name is Mitchell L. Wilson, Sr. I want to say that because of the Matt Urban Hope Center and the Security Guard, Kelvin Leonard, and Mr. Earle Blacksheare, whom during my time of depression, lost of life mentally and physically, because of their deep concern for my mental and physical stability, I have a better life. Being a Vietnam Veteran, they showed me a better life and sent me to the correct people to receive help which was so desperately needed. I can’t say how much I deeply appreciate what they have done for me. And I would like to thank the people of the Matt Urban Hope Center for giving me a new chance at life. Only God could have inspired them to help me. There [sic] kindness, there [sic] good heart, soul & spirit brought forth a better person in me. May God continue to bless these individuals and to prosper the Matt Urban Hope Center.

Signed Mitchell Wilson Sr.

Thank You, God Bless

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Celebrate the First day of Spring with #SpringItOnWNY

Spring has officially sprung! To celebrate the First Day of Spring, we are participating in the United Way’s annual #SpringitOnWNY fundraiser.

From 6 p.m. on March 20 to 6 p.m. on March 21, the Matt Urban Center will be accepting donations through our Spring It On fundraising webpage.

This is an opportunity to show your support for the Matt Urban Center and the work we do to support residents of the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood – from youth, to families, to senior citizens. No donation is too small and every bit helps! Your donation will allow us to continue providing essential human services programs to our neighborhood and beyond.

To learn more about our agency and to make a donation, click here to visit our #SpringItOnWNY fundraising page.

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CHDO Open House Events This Weekend

There will be Open House events held at two of our CHDO properties this weekend for interested first-time homebuyers. Visitors can stop by 21 South Ryan Street, Buffalo on Saturday, March 17 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Those interested in 933 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo can visit this property on Sunday, March 18 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Our agents will be on site to answer any questions about the properties.

Click here to learn more about our CHDO program and the homebuyer application process. 

21 South Ryan

  • 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom
  • List price $98,000
  • Open House: Saturday, March 17 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

933 Fillmore Avenue

  • 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom
  • List price $80,000
  • Open House: Sunday, March 18 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

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Save the Date: #SpringItOnWNY

Mark your calendars for March 20 and 21 for the annual United Way #SpringItOnWNY fundraising campaign! Celebrate the beginning of Spring with a donation to help support the Matt Urban Center’s human services programs!

Your donation can provide:

  • Toiletries and essential items for our homeless clients
  • Art supplies for our Youth After School program
  • Home care for our senior citizen clients
  • A night’s stay at our Hope House shelter for homeless women

To learn more about Spring It On and how you can support the Matt Urban Center, visit our campaign page here: https://www.springiton.org/organizations/lt-col-matt-urban-human-services-center-of-wny

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City of Buffalo Community Roundtable

It was a busy evening at 1081 Broadway with the City of Buffalo’s Public Hearing/Community Roundtable event. Members of the community and area non-profit organizations were invited to weigh in on how the City will allocate its 2018-2019 funding, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) funds.

Breakout discussion groups dove into topics including funding needs for housing, community planning, crime prevention, public infrastructure, demolition, and public facilities.

Thank you to all who attended this event!

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Save the Date: Grant Writing Workshop

We’re excited to be partnering with Nonprofit Works to bring a grant writing workshop to Buffalo!

On Tuesday, April 10, the Matt Urban Center will host “Grant Writing Basics” from 9:00AM to 4:00PM at our headquarters at 1081 Broadway, Buffalo. The workshop registration fee is $150 and includes lunch, training materials, and documents that organizations can customize to fit their specific needs. The workshop will cover:

  • Researching and identifying grant opportunities
  • Approaching and developing relationships with grantmakers prior to applying
  • Planning programs and budgets before writing grants.
  • Preparing information and materials typically required in grant applications.
  • Tracking and following-up grant applications after they are submitted

Participants referred by the Matt Urban Center will receive a 20% discount on the price of registration. Use discount code NPW112 when you register online to receive the discount: http://www.nonprofitworks.com/grant-writing-basics-buffalo/

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