New York State Attorney General Letitia James last week announced another round of grants thats address the growing statewide issue of “zombie homes” – vacant or abandoned homes that are not maintained during a prolonged foreclosure proceeding.The City of Newburgh is on this list and will receive $200,000.

The funding from “Zombies 2.0” will provide 48 municipalities with a total of $9 million to address housing vacancy and blight. The grants will provide funds to municipalities to increase housing code enforcement, track and monitor vacant properties, and bolster legal enforcement capacity to ensure banks and mortgage companies comply with local and state law.

“Too many communities throughout New York State are blighted by abandoned homes that decrease property values and threaten the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Letitia James. “These grants will go a long way in supporting municipalities and ensuring they have the resources they need to combat this nuisance. Revitalizing our communities is always a priority and I am proud that my office can help turn these abandoned properties into valuable assets.”

The Zombies 2.0 funds will allow the City to continue to employ community-based staff who work on maintaining the vacant property registry, assisting residents facing foreclosure or eviction, and creating equitable code enforcement policies.

“I want to thank Attorney General James for her continued dedication to our great city,” said Mayor Torrance Harvey. “This investment will help us continue to eliminate urban blight, one block at a time.”

The City of Newburgh would like to remind the community of the upcoming series of quarterly meetings with the Neighborhood Development Task Force, which will be held Wednesday, July 17. The first session will begin at 2:00 p.m., and will be held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 83 Broadway. The second session will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Newburgh Heritage Center, 123 Grand Street.