The City of Niagara Falls
wants URBAN PIONEERS.
Are YOU one?
Definition:
ur·ban/ˈərbən/
pi·o·neer/ˌpīəˈni(ə)r/
CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS
DOWNTOWN HOUSING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM
RESIDENTIAL APPLICATION
Noun: A person who is willing to
reside in, and dedicate their
time, skills, and energy to
maximize the potential of an
urban setting.
Verb: Physically improve
neighborhoods. Help enrich the
lives of neighbors. Take
ownership of a community.
Synonyms: Initiator – Trailblazer
- Leader
Please complete the application and
mail to:
Niagara Falls Community Development
P.O. Box 69
Niagara Falls, New York 14301
For more information about our program and target area,
please visit www.live-nf.com and
www.facebook.com/LiveNF.com
Please submit any questions regarding
the application to:
Info@live-nf.com
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Program Overview
Incentive:
The City of Niagara Falls will help applicants pay their student loans. In
return, applicants will reside in a targeted neighborhood in Niagara Falls for
two years. This is a reimbursement program. The City of Niagara Falls will
reimburse the applicant for his annual student loan payment amount, up to
but not exceeding, $3,492 a year and up to $6,984 during the full two-year
term of the agreement. This reimbursement will be made directly to the
applicant during his annual certification with the City. The applicant will be
required to show proof of good standing with the loaning agency, and proof
of good standing with either his landlord or mortgage agency. In turn, the
applicant is required to maintain residency, in compliance with program
standards, in the target area for the two year term of the agreement.
Eligible Applicants:
Individuals who have:
-Graduated from an accredited institute for higher education with a two-year
technical degree within 24 months of application.
-Graduated from an accredited institute for higher education with a
bachelor’s degree (or greater) within 36 months of application.
-Are enrolled in an accredited institute for higher education to pursue a postgraduate degree at the time of application.
Target Area:
Downtown Niagara Falls neighborhood made up of a commercial district with
mixed-use apartment buildings, single family homes, multi-unit homes, and
the Park Place Historic District. The target area is within walking distance to
Niagara Falls State Park and the Niagara Gorge. A target area map is included
on the next page.
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Niagara Falls Downtown Housing Incentive Program
Residential Application
Part I - Contact Information
(Please circle or check appropriate answers on all applicable questions)
1. Name: Mr.
/
Ms.
Last: _____________________________________First:__________________________M.I.:_________
2. Social Security Number: ______________________________
3. Address:
Street: ___________________________________________________________
City: _______________________________State:_________Zip: _____________
4. Phone Number: ______________________ Alternative Phone Number: ________________________
5. Email Address: ______________________________________________________________________
6. Alternative Email Address: _____________________________________________________________
7. Personal/Professional Website(s) (Optional):_______________________________________________
8. Are you a United States Citizen? Yes
/
No or
Permanent Resident?
Yes
/
No
9. Please check the box that most accurately reflects your annual household income range.
0-$15,000
$50,001-$75,000
$15,001-$30,000
$75,001 and above
$30,001-$50,000
10. Are you a Veteran (Served honorably on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States)?
Yes /
No
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Part II - For Statistical Purposes Only
11. Please identify your race and ethnicity by checking the appropriate boxes in each of the two
categories below. Please also list your Date of Birth.
Check All That Apply:
Check One:
___White
___Hispanic or Latino
___Black/African American
___Not-Hispanic or Latino
___American Indian/Alaska Native
___Asian
___Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
___Other (Please specify) _________________________
Date of Birth _____ /_____ /_____
Part III - Educational Information
12. Please list (most recent at the top) your college/university educational history below.
Name of
College/University
Example –
SUNY Binghamton
Degree
(ex: AA, BS, MBA)
Area of Study
Date
Awarded/Expected
BS
History (African Studies)
2011
13. Do you currently have an outstanding current loan balance? Yes
/
No
14. Expected balance of outstanding student loan debt as of 1/1/2013: ___________________________
15. Name of lending institutions: (Check All That Apply):
___ Stafford Loan
___ Perkins Loan
___ Institutional Loan
___ PLUS Loan
___ Consolidation Loan
___ Private Loan
___ State Loan
___ Other __________________________________________________
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16. Are your loan payments currently deferred?
Yes
/
No
If yes, until when? (mm/dd/yyyy): _____ /_____ /_____
17. Average monthly student loan payment: _____________________
Part IV – Housing Information
18. Have you ever owned a home?
Yes
/
No
If yes, have you ever not been able to make principle and/or interest payments on your
mortgage, resulting in the property being seized or sold?
Yes / No
If yes, when and where? Year__________City_____________________ State_______________
19. Have you ever participated in a government sponsored first-time home buyer or home renovation
program?
Yes / No
If yes, when and where? Year__________City_____________________ State_______________
20. Have you ever been evicted or terminated from a housing lease or owe a past land lord any
payments?
Yes / No
If yes, when and where? Year__________City_____________________ State_______________
21. Are you looking to buy a home or rent an apartment?
Buy
/
Rent
22. Earliest date you could move into the target area? ____ /____ /______
23. In total, how many adults would be living in your housing unit? (18 years of age and over) ________
24. How many children? (Individuals under the age of 18) ____
25. Do you require special housing/access accommodation to fully utilize our program?
(ADA accessibility)
Yes / No
If yes, please specify: ____________________________________________________________
Part V - Background Information / Criminal History Check
For those who make it to the final stages in the application process, the LiveNF application process will
require a criminal history check. We will investigate for past sexual offenses and violent crimes. The
review process is not lengthy, and normally is completed within a few weeks.
Please answer the following questions fully. Any intentional misrepresentation or omission will disqualify
you. This does not include minor traffic violations.
26. I allow the City of Niagara Falls to complete a criminal background check:
Yes
/
No
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27. Have you ever been convicted as an adult, or adjudicated as a juvenile offender, of any criminal
offense by either a civilian or military court, other than minor traffic violations?
Yes / No
28. Have you ever been evicted, arrested, or convicted due to drug-related criminal activity?
Yes / No
29. Are you currently facing charges for any offense or on probation or parole? Yes
30. Are you subject to a lifetime registration due to a sex offense?
Yes
/
/
No
No
Part VI - Questionnaire
31. How did you hear about this program?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
32. What interests you about living in Downtown Niagara Falls? (Use additional paper if necessary)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
33. Is there a specific property or housing unit within the target area that you already have interest in?
Yes
/
No
If yes, address or location? ________________________________________________________
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Part VII – Remaining Requirements
34. Submit official transcripts:
You are required to submit an official transcript for all colleges attended, reflecting the most recent
semester’s work. The transcript(s) should be in a signed and sealed envelope from the Registrar and sent
to the Niagara Falls Community Development, attention: Seth Piccirillo, Director of Community
Development (mailing address listed on page one of the application.)
35. Attach Résumé:
You are required to include a 1-2 page résumé with your application. Please be sure that this résumé
accurately reflects your recent work experience (paid and unpaid) and any prominent school or
community activities.
37. Submit Two Essays (Not to exceed 750 words each):
What is your personal mission statement? (The objective of this essay is to provide us with a better
understanding of you and your career/life philosophy)
38. We briefly defined what an urban pioneer is on page one of the application. Define what an Urban
Pioneer is to YOU and what can you offer to the revitalization of downtown Niagara Falls?
Affirmation:
I affirm that all statements made on this application, including all attachments are true and complete to
the best of my knowledge. I understand that misrepresentation can become cause for denial of
admission or expulsion from this program.
Signature:_____________________________________________
Date:
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