HOUSING

Our Goal

Stable homes that strengthen families, build generational wealth, and renew neighborhoods. 

Buffalo and Niagara Falls face persistent housing challenges that undermine long-term stability, wealth-building, and economic mobility. The City of Niagara Falls Community Snapshot (October 2019) highlights that nearly half of the city’s 49,000 residents—about 23,700 people—live in or near poverty, a 23% increase since 2010 despite a slight population decline. Poverty is concentrated in neighborhoods such as Highland, Hyde Park, and LaSalle, where residents face limited access to good-paying jobs, education, and transportation. 

The Need

    • Niagara Falls: The City of Niagara Falls Consolidated Plan (Draft 2025–2029) reports that 6,090 households earning below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing. 

    • Niagara County: The CEDS 2025 identifies a lack of affordable housing and limited housing options as a key challenge across the county, highlighting gaps in supply for low- and moderate-income families. 

    • Buffalo: The Erie County Draft CEDS (2022–2026) notes that over 42,000 Buffalo households are cost-burdened, reflecting a shortage of affordable housing in high-need neighborhoods. 

    • Niagara Falls: 90% of homes were built prior to 1969, and 95% of occupied units predate 1980, placing many at risk for lead paint and structural hazards. 

    • Niagara Falls: 56% of renter units and 20% of owner units have at least one substandard housing condition. 

    • Buffalo: Older housing stock is concentrated in neighborhoods like East Buffalo and the West Side, with many units in need of rehabilitation and upgrades. 

    • Niagara Falls: Nearly half of households are cost-burdened (49% of renters and ~34% of owners), limiting opportunities to save for down payments or build wealth through homeownership. 

    • Buffalo: Income disparities and high housing costs, with median household income at $58,945 (over $13,000 below the NYS average), create similar barriers. 

    • Niagara Falls: Over 300 households are on the housing rehabilitation waiting list (dating back to 2019). 

    • Buffalo: Many families remain in older, substandard housing due to affordability and rehabilitation bottlenecks, reinforcing multi-generational housing instability. 

KCCD’s housing work is central to our mission. We prioritize: 

  • Mixed-income developments 

  • Affordable rental housing 

  • Property acquisition & rehabilitation 

  • Wealth-building pathways through homeownership 

  • Education on maintenance, budgeting, and sustainability 

  • Faith-based mentoring and family support 

Our Approach