Established in 1984, Otsego Rural Housing Assistance, Inc. (ORHA) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the sole housing preservation company in Otsego County. The major focus of our housing assistance and community development work is directed toward county-wide programs and initiatives. In recent years, we’ve focused on four types of programs:

• Owner-occupied home rehabilitation and emergency repairs for low-income and elderly homeowners, including mobile homes on land the occupant owns. Our funding sources for these initiatives have included the New York State HOME program, the Affordable Housing Corporation, and Community Development Block Grants.
• Consultation and coordination for home accessibility modifications to assist homeowners with disabilities and to support aging in place. These programs have historically included Access to Home, Access to Home for Veterans, and RESTORE.
• Administration of the HUD Section 8 rental assistance program in Otsego County through a contract with New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers allow eligible residents to seek rental housing that works for them, assisted by the voucher that will pay a major portion of their combined rent and utility costs.
• Consultation, grant writing, grant administration, and development planning for towns, villages, and organizations in Otsego County. Call us for details!

Most of our programs serve low-income county residents, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.