Author: Sarah Maurer

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Employment Opportunity: Chief Community Development Officer

Now Hiring: Chief Community Development Officer

Job Description: The Chief Community Development Officer (CCDO) will serve as a critical member of the senior leadership management team of the Matt Urban Center. The CCDO is responsible for the management of the properties and housing development projects that are owned and/or managed by the agency. The CCDO ensures compliance with program delivery requirements, including owner-occupied housing rehab, homebuyer activities, weatherization, rental housing rehab and development, asset management and affordable housing finance.

Click the link above for full listing. Please submit cover letter and resume to our Chief Operations Officer, Karen Baer, at kbaer@urbanctr.org.

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Employment Opportunity: Housing Specialist

Now Hiring: Housing Specialist

Job Description: The Housing Specialist’s primary responsibilities will include working with area residents to apply for grants and assist with housing department projects to further our mission of maintaining safe and affordable housing.

Click the link above for full listing. Please submit cover letter and resume to our Director of Housing & Community Development, Maya Shermer, at mshermer@urbanctr.org.

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Virtual Sessions with Buffalo Animal Adventures

Our youth department is excited to share that they will be offering virtual enrichment sessions with Buffalo Animal Adventures every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m.

Buffalo Animal Adventures is an outreach program that uses animal ambassadors to educate audiences on the importance of wildlife preservation and conservation.

To participate in the online sessions, click the link below:

https://call.lifesizecloud.com/2926398

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Youth Department Now Offering Online Tutoring Sessions

The Matt Urban Center’s Youth Department is now offering afterschool virtual programming via Zoom!
Our staff will be holding Math and ELA tutorial sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:15-5:15 p.m.  These sessions will be target toward students in grades 3-8.
Zoom links for each age group can be found on our website and Facebook page. Like our page and stay tuned for more fun activities coming your way!
Grades 3 & 4:
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WNY Childcare Resource Network Provides CARES Child Care Scholarship

The WNY Childcare Resource Network recently announced that it is offering scholarships for childcare for essential workers who are in need of support.

Essential workers using a regulated child care provider will receive a scholarship for the cost of care as long as the funds to support it are available.  All licensed and regulated providers who are caring for essential workers are able to participate in this new program.

Access to affordable and safe child care is a barrier for working parents during the best of times, and even more so during a crisis.  New York State’s plan will ensure that the workforce that is needed to protect and care for the public during this pandemic have the child care that allows them to continue to serve us all.

Visit the CARES Child Care Scholarship website here for more information and application.

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Barkley Family Shows Their Love for Children at Hope House

 

Even though he’s quarantined at his home in California, Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Barkley and his family still have families in Buffalo on their minds and in their hearts.

Last week Barkley and his wife, Brittany, reached out to the Matt Urban Center and generously offered a $10,000 donation to support the 25 children and mothers who are currently quarantined at our Hope House homeless shelter.

In 2019, the Barkley’s visited Hope House and participated in an Easter Egg hunt with the families who live there. That experience still resonates with them a year later, and as the COVID-19 pandemic swept through, they had those families on their minds. They specifically requested that their donation be spent on the needs of the children living at Hope House, to make life a little better for them during tough times.

“Knowing that they’re quarantined like everyone else, but that there’s 25 kids running around in this confined space, the moms are probably going crazy, I can’t even imagine,” Barkley said. “Anything that we can do to help, whether it’s games, puzzles, an iPad or two, anything to keep those kids busy, arts and crafts, anything that can go immediately towards this COVID-19 relief is what we wanted.”

Barkley recently spoke about his donation to the Hope House on One Bills Live. You can listen to his interview here.

Our staff at the Matt Urban Center are incredibly thankful to the Barkley family for supporting our clients during this time.

Thank you, Matt and Brittany, for your amazing generosity!

Join Matt Barkley in Giving Back

You can team up with Matt Barkley and take action to help those who need it right now.

Our agency’s programs and services support families living on Buffalo’s East Side. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we need your help now more than ever.

Please consider helping the Barkley’s donation go even further by making your own donation to the Matt Urban Center. Together we can help more Buffalo families get back on their feet.

Donate Here

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COVID-19 PROGRAM UPDATES

As a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, our agency has had to make some temporary changes to our programs and procedures. Please see below for updates from each of our sites and programs on how they will be functioning in the interim. We will continue to send updates as things change.

MUC Headquarters, 1081 Broadway
Our main headquarters is open, but we are not accepting any walk-in clients. The building is open to staff and deliveries only. Tenants may drop off rent payments at the dropbox in the lobby at 1081 Broadway if they are unable to mail them. All inquiries should be made via phone at (716) 893-7222.

ESL/GED Program
Our ESL and GED classes are suspended until April 20, per the Buffalo Public Schools mandate. Please keep an eye on our website for updates on this timeline.

SNAP Program
Our SNAP workforce development program is suspended until further notice.

Senior Services Program
Our senior services staff are no longer doing home visits at this time. Our senior services program is still working with clients via phone and can be reached at (716) 893-7222 x207 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Housing & Community Development Programs
All City of Buffalo housing assistance program inquiries – including the Emergency Repair program, HomeGrown program, and Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance program – are being referred to call the Old First Ward Community Association at 716-856-8613 x103.

Housing staff are still supporting our receivership tenants over the phone at (716) 893-7222 x214. All tenants should be paying rent via mail to the Matt Urban Center, 1081 Broadway, Buffalo NY 14212 if possible, or at the dropbox in the lobby at 1081 Broadway if they are unable to mail them. Tenants at our apartment buildings can continue to pay rent via the dropbox at their respective buildings.

Weatherization Program
Our weatherization staff are still working Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We ask that all new applicants request information by phone at (716) 893-7222 x218 or via email at jparylo@urbanctr.org or by mail to the Matt Urban Center, 1081 Broadway, Buffalo NY 14212.

Matt Urban Hope Center, 385 Paderewski Drive
The Matt Urban Hope Center is currently closed and all services are suspended until further notice.

Hope House Shelter, 586 Genesee Street

Our Hope House shelter is still accepting referrals, but our capacity is currently at 50% to maintain a safe distance between residents. We are only accepting 25 women and children at this time. We will accept referrals as families depart through the Department of Social Services and 2-1-1. All questions regarding the shelter can be directed to our Hope Services director at (917) 717-1400.

T.J. Dulski Community Center, 129 Lewis Street

The T.J. Dulski Center is currently closed to the public. I n light of the local school closures, all youth program operations have ceased until further notice.

Our food pantry at T.J. Dulski will be open every other week on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The next date the pantry will be open is Wednesday, April 1.

Permanent Supportive Housing Programs

Our permanent supportive housing programs are suspending all home visits and will continue to support our clients over the phone. Our staff can be reached at (716) 893-7222, x530.

HELP Buffalo I & II, 368 & 384 Broadway
No visitors are permitted at our HELP Buffalo apartments at this time. Tenants can continue to work with their case managers via phone.

Hope Gardens, 58 Oberlin Avenue
No visitors are permitted at our Hope Gardens apartments at this time. All group activities and congregate dining have been suspended. Food will be delivered to tenants’ apartments. Tenants can continue to work with their case managers on site and via phone.

Questions? Reach out to us at (716) 893-7222 or via email at info@urbanctr.org.

We hope all of our clients, partners, supporters and community members stay safe and healthy during this time!

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Permanent Supportive Housing Celebrates Black History Month

 

Our permanent supportive housing department recently celebrated Black History Month with an event at Hope Gardens! Clients and staff made decorations, sang, read poetry, played trivia, enjoyed a spoken word performance by Monique Murphy, and an African drums performance by Marvin Harris. Our Hope Gardens cook made an amazing traditional African soul food dinner, too!

 

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Black History Month Celebration

The Matt Urban Hope Center will host a Black History Month celebration event, featuring a cultural meal and a presentation with facts about famous African American men and women and their accomplishments. The event will take place on Thursday, February 20 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Urban Diner at 385 Paderewski Drive. For more information, contact Cherise Carson at (716) 893-7222 x329 or ccarson@urbanctr.org.

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Re-Pack the Bag Community Resource Fair

Join the Matt Urban Center and BlueCross BlueShield of WNY for a community resource event featuring a variety of vendors and a backpack giveaway for youth. Event runs from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Matt Urban Hope Center, 385 Paderewski Drive. For more information, contact Cherise Carson at (716) 893-7222 x329 or ccarson@urbanctr.org.

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