BURA – Matt Urban Human Services

March 8, 2021

Eviction Prevention Funds Available Through STAND UP Buffalo

The Matt Urban Center, in partnership with the City of Buffalo’s STAND UP Buffalo program and 211 WNY, is providing rental assistance to at-risk residents who have been economically impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Arrears assistance for a maximum of three months and up to $4500 can be provided to those experiencing a COVID-19 hardship who meet income requirements.

Community members who are interested in applying to this program must first contact 211 WNY for initial intake and eligibility assessment. Those deemed eligible will then be referred to staff at our Matt Urban Hope Center. For more information, please visit www.211wny.org

February 11, 2021

BURA Launches “STAND UP Buffalo” Initiative

Mayor Byron W. Brown recently announced the launch of the Small Business, Tenants, And Neighborhood Development Underwriting Program or “STAND UP Buffalo” Initiative. The initiative is comprised of a series of direct assistance grants and programs that will allow residents and business owners to respond to the unique challenges the global Coronavirus Pandemic has caused in Buffalo and cities across the nation.

The Matt Urban Center is proud to be one of the community agencies that are partnering with the City to deliver critical services to City residents and small businesses. Other collaborating agencies include:

2-1-1 WNY
Restoration Society
Belmont Housing Resources
Center for Elder Law and Justice
Catholic Charities
Buffalo Urban League
Old First Ward Community Association
Heart of the City Neighborhoods
University District Community Development Association
Housing Opportunities Made Equal
Neighborhood Legal Services
Westminster Economic Development Initiative

“The Matt Urban Center provides a wide range of services to the East Side of Buffalo including, home repairs and weatherization, affordable housing development, multiple programs aimed at addressing homelessness as well as robust programs for youth and seniors,” said Ben Hilligas, Executive Director. Our mission is to provide programs that revitalize neighborhoods, serve families, and change lives. When I hear ‘STAND UP Buffalo’ I immediately think of the strength and resilience of our community and the solidarity we demonstrate and represent as citizens of the City of Buffalo. We thank the Mayor for his commitment to fair and equal housing in the City of Buffalo.”

Read the full press release with more information about the STAND UP Buffalo Initiative by clicking here.

February 2, 2021

MUC Housing Department Expands Reach

Our Housing & Community Development Department is excited to announce being awarded the 2020 Community Partnership Initiative through Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency. This year will mark over 20 years that we have been serving the East Side of Buffalo with home repair assistance and other programming through this contract, and is an exciting time with the expansion of our service area to include many additional East Side neighborhoods. We look forward to continuing our partnership with BURA. For more information call 716-893-7222 x213.

To find out if the Matt Urban Center is the community based organization that serves your neighborhood, click here and submit your property address.

December 6, 2018

Buffalo Urban League Homebuyer Seminar

The Buffalo Urban League, in partnership with the City of Buffalo, Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, and Evans Bank, will host a first time homebuyer orientation at the Matt Urban Center on Thursday, December 13 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

The class will include an overview of the home buying process, how to apply for a mortgage, tax benefits, credit repair and counseling, budgeting and more. The guest speaker will be Liz Blazely.

The class is free and open to the public, but you must register by calling (716) 250-2418. Please notify organizers in advance if you require special accommodations.

November 2, 2018November 5, 2018

First Time Homebuyer Orientation @ MUC

The class will include an overview of the home buying process, how to apply for a mortgage, tax benefits, credit repair and counseling, budgeting and more.

The class is free and open to the public, but you must register by calling (716) 250-2418. Please notify organizers in advance if you require special accommodations.

September 6, 2018

Join us for our Quarterly Community Breakfast!

Want to learn more about our programs at the Matt Urban Center and hear the latest update on our School 57 renovation project?

Join us on Saturday, September 22 at 10:30AM for our quarterly community breakfast! The event will take place in the third floor hall of our main headquarters at 1081 Broadway.

We will have a presentation on the renovations currently underway at the former School 57 building, followed by a roundtable with our Housing & Community Development, Youth, and Hope Services programs. A brief survey will be conducted to inform the discussion at our next meeting.

Light breakfast will be provided. Please contact us with questions at (716) 893-7222 x310 or eblacksheare@urbanctr.org.

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018

Creating Homeowners in Our Community

The Matt Urban Center’s Housing & Community Development department is thrilled to share that we have renovated and sold three properties in the Broadway Fillmore and South Buffalo communities to low-income first-time homebuyers!

The homes are located at 928 and 933 Fillmore Avenue and 21 South Ryan Street. All three properties were given full gut rehabs, including installation of new roofs and siding, and full interior renovations with new flooring, appliances and finishes.

One of the properties, located at 933 Fillmore Avenue, was owned by a couple who no longer live in the neighborhood. It had been their dream to fix up the house, but unfortunately they did not have the resources. They originally purchased the home for $18,000, but they decided to sell it to the Matt Urban Center for $1.00 so that it could be renovated and once again become an asset to the neighborhood.

The sale of these three properties brought in over $200,000 to be re-invested in the Matt Urban Center’s next community development project.

We’re incredibly grateful to our partners in this process: The City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, Lamparelli Construction, Mia Mootry and Tamika Collins of Hunt Real Estate, Neighborworks, the Office of Joshua E. Dubs, and Marielis Rodriguez and our SNAP program workers for maintaining and cleaning the properties prior to closing.