Matt Urban Center and Heart of the City Neighborhoods have funding available for the 50/50 and Target Streets programs for code related repairs. Read more.
Hope Center Soft Opening Next Month
We are excited to announce the soft reopening of the Hope Center happening in early August 2023. Located now at 243 Sears Street at Hope House, the Hope Center is opening its doors to resume some of its programming, continuing in the 20+ years of service to our Broadway Fillmore community and Western New York.
Our clothing boutique and personal essentials pantry will be opening on Monday, August 7, 2023 in the lower level of Hope House. Entry to the building is on the south side of the building, with walking and driving access to the parking lot from either Sears Street or Playter Street. Enclosed is a flyer to share with your networks and clients as well as hours below.
Personal Essentials
- Every 1st, 2nd & 3rd Thursday of the month
- 1:30pm – 4:00pm
Clothing Boutique
- Monday – Friday
- 1:00pm – 4:00pm
- Maximum five (5) items per month
Our food pantry will be reopening at a later date – stay tuned for more information on that date and a community resource day to launch the full grand opening of the Hope Center in the Fall. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Hope Center Director, Kevin Glover at 716-290-7543 or kglover@urbanctr.org.
Another way to get in touch!
The Matt Urban Center’s Housing and Community Development Department has created a new way for you to contact us! Since our service area has expanded, we want to reach as many people as possible. With our new Inquiry Form, any small group or block club can schedule a time to meet with us- virtually for now- and learn about available programs in a more intimate setting where we can tailor our presentation to focus on your specific questions and needs. We’re looking forward to meeting with more of our neighbors and getting more residents entered into our programs. We are here to help! Just follow the link below, answer a few questions, and one of our Housing Specialists will contact you to schedule a call. We hope to hear from you soon!
MUC Seeks Bids for Unarmed Security at 19 Doat Street
The Matt Urban Center will begin providing case management services at 19 Doat Street, Buffalo, NY, 14211 in May of 2021. The Matt Urban Center seeks the services of a qualified contractor to assist in unarmed security personnel services at this site.
The full Request for Proposals can be viewed here: RFP Unarmed Security – Crossroads at Genesee 2021
The deadline for submitting a proposal is Friday, February 26 at 3:30 p.m. All bids must be submitted via U.S. Mail or delivery to:
Andrew Linneman, Purchasing Agent
Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center of WNY
1081 Broadway
Buffalo, NY 14212
Questions on this request for qualifications may be directed to purchasing@urbanctr.org or (716) 893 – 7222 ext: 227.
Request for Bids – Construction Rehab in Buffalo, NY
The Matt Urban Center is requesting bids for an upcoming project at 103 Sweet Avenue on Buffalo’s East Side. The project seeks to rehab the single family home so that it can be rented to a qualified household. Sealed bids are due Friday, October 2, 2020 at 3:00 pm delivered to 1081 Broadway Buffalo, NY 14212. Additional details and application to bid can be found on our Bid Opportunities page.
Welcoming our New Chief Community Development Officer
We’re excited to welcome Ryan Undercoffer to the role of Chief Community Development Officer at the Matt Urban Center!
Ryan joins the Matt Urban Center from M&T Bank, where he served as a Project Manager on a number of large-scale, enterprise-wide projects. Prior to his role at M&T, Ryan served as Finance Manager for the Niagara Falls Department of Community Development, where he worked for several years helping to manage a multi-million dollar grant portfolio made up of federal, state, local, and private funding sources. Ryan also spent several years working on legislative staffs, serving the Niagara Falls City Council and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ryan currently serves on the boards of Pinnacle Community Services and the Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity. He and his wife, Lauren, have two children, Joanna (3) and Evan (1). They live in Niagara Falls, NY and enjoy hiking the Niagara Gorge on the weekends. Ryan is also a long-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu player and enjoys competing and helping others to learn the sport.
Summer Camp Applications Now Available!
Summer Camp Alert! The Matt Urban Center’s Youth Department is now accepting applications for our Summer Camp! Our summer camp can help ensure your children stay on track academically, socially and emotionally by providing much needed resources! Social Emotional Coordinators and Certified Teachers are on staff with programming ready!
Applications are available online (due to questions required and formatting, cannot be completed with a cell phone) or stop by one of the locations below to pick up to pick up an application. We look forward to seeing you!
– 129 Lewis Street between 8:00 am -4:00 pm, ring bell for service
– 1081 Broadway: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm, available in front lobby
Chef’s Tour at Hope House
We had a great time meeting with our new chef friends from The Black Sheep, Amy’s Place, and Swan Street Diner to give them a tour of our project at School 57, including the space where our Urban Diner and commercial kitchen will be. They helped us brainstorm how we could develop our Hope Works job training program to better utilize this amazing space. We’re looking forward to an awesome partnership with these fine folks as we build out the kitchen and develop future programming!
Creating First Time Homeowners in Cheektowaga
We are excited to announce that we have once again successfully created homeowners through our CHDO program. The Matt Urban Center’s Housing & Community Development team recently sold two properties located at 18 and 20 Randolph Avenue in the Town of Cheektowaga to low income first time homebuyers. We partnered with the Town of Cheektowaga to build two 3-Bedroom, 2-bathroom homes with garages on a vacant lot. Thank you to our attorneys, agents and housing department for continuing our mission to revitalize neighborhoods, serve families and change lives.
This opportunity is sponsored by the Town of Cheektowaga and the HOME investment Partnership Program through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
City of Buffalo Annual Action Plan Meeting
The City of Buffalo will host a community meeting at the Matt Urban Center, 1081 Broadway, on March 14, 2019 from 6:00-7:30pm to gather input from community residents to inform its Annual Action Plan.
Residents are invited to share their thoughts on neighborhood needs and target areas. This will inform how the City allocates funds from the following entitlement programs provided by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD):
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Benefits low-income households and neighborhoods by providing funds to repair homes, demolish abandoned properties, improve public facilities such as parks and recreation centers, repave streets and fix sidewalks, promote economic development, and provide human services.
HOME Investment Partnership (HOME): Assists with the construction or renovation of housing for low-income homebuyers and renters.
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG): Addresses the needs of the homeless through street outreach, emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid re-housing activities.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA): Provides rental assistance and supportive services to persons with HIV/AIDS and their families.
For more information on the meeting or if special accommodations are required, contact the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning at 851-6578 or HUDAdministrator@city-buffalo.com. Burmese, Arabic, Nepali, and Karen speakers MUST RSVP for translation services.