Sen. Formica Attends Launch of New London Housing Program Building Affordable Homes for Local Families

October 30, 2017
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Senator Paul Formica joins Peter Battles, the founding member of ECHO who has served as President since 1991, at the launch of the Home New London Program. The new program will create 22 new, affordable homes throughout New London.

New London – State Senator Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) joined local officials and community members on October 18 to celebrate the launch of the Home New London Program, a homeownership program founded by Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities (ECHO) at a newly renovated home on Plant Street.

The program was created to provide 22 new homes for low to medium income residents in New London. State lawmakers and local officials joined program organizers and supporters to dedicate one of these homes and officially launch the program earlier this month.

“It is amazing to see the hard work that went into this project to build a new home for a family in need. To see the end product today, and to see the joy it can bring to first-time homebuyers, is a wonderful event to witness,” said Sen. Formica. “I want to thank all those who have made this program possible. From the city of New London and state of Connecticut, to the generous donors, and to all those who worked to build this home: thank you.”

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Senator Formica and local New London officials meet outside a house recently renovated as part of ECHO’s Home New London Program.

With support from the Connecticut Department of Housing and local donors, this new initiative launched by ECHO will purchase and rehabilitate 16 blighted properties and assist six additional buyers with mortgages. Thus far, five homes have already been rehabilitated under the program.

The program is funded by a $2.6 million grant awarded by the state Department of Housing as well as support from the City of New London, Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, People’s United Community Foundation, Liberty Bank Foundation, Dime Bank foundation and Chelsea Groton Foundation.

Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities (ECHO) was created 28 years ago as a nonprofit housing development company to develop housing for low-income families in Eastern Connecticut.