UNITY MUTUAL TO OFFER EMPLOYER-ASSISTED HOUSING IN CITY THROUGH THE SYRACUSE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE
Syracuse's Oldest Life Insurance Company Becomes Full SNI Partner

(Syracuse, New York)- Congressman Jim Walsh today proudly announced that Unity Mutual Life Insurance Company will immediately begin offering an employer-assisted housing benefit to company employees interested in purchasing a home in the City of Syracuse. 

Under the program, Unity Mutual will award grants of $1,000 per employee for the purpose of helping achieve home ownership in the City of Syracuse.  In addition, the Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative (SNI) will match the $1,000 Unity Mutual grant dollar for dollar.  The $2,000 total home ownership grant may be used for down payment costs, closing costs, home inspection fees, title insurance, and attorney's fees (for both home buyer and bank) in conjunction with the purchase of an eligible home.

"With this announcement, Unity Mutual joins a growing list of local companies who are making a substantial investment in their employees and our community," said Walsh.  "By providing this assistance to its employees, Unity Mutual is supporting home ownership, encouraging investment in city neighborhoods, and strengthening our community's urban core."

"Unity Mutual is proud to become a full Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative partner," said Patrick A. Mannion, President and CEO of Unity Mutual Life Insurance Company.  "Unity has called Syracuse home for 103 years, and we're anxious to help our employees do the same.  Also, we would hope Unity's participation in this great program will give other employers a reason to consider joining. "

All full-time Unity Mutual employees - regardless of income - are eligible to participate in the program.  The purchased home must be a single- or two-family home or townhouse located within the city that will be used as the employee's primary residence.  In addition to the $2,000 Unity Mutual / SNI financial package, participating employees are also eligible to benefit from a host of other SNI-supported products and programs offered through Home HeadQuarters, Inc., the private, local not-for-profit housing agency selected to administer the program on behalf of Unity Mutual.

In addition to announcing Unity Mutual's employer-assisted housing program, Mannion today pledged to use his role as incoming Chair of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce to encourage other area companies to become formally involved in SNI through the establishment of their own employer-assisted housing program or other financial investments.  SNI-supported employer-assisted housing programs similar to Unity Mutual's are currently in place at St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Center, Rural/Metro Medical Services of Central New York,
Le Moyne College, and Syracuse University.

To date, Walsh has secured just under $48 million in federal funding for programming in Syracuse neighborhoods.  That money has been supplemented by over $5 million in local funds and in-kind services leveraged by a private-sector effort currently led by National Grid executive Marilyn Higgins, SNI Chair.

The Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative is a public/private collaboration created in 1999 response to an urgent challenge issued by Congressman Walsh to revitalize distressed neighborhoods in Syracuse.  The effort seeks to match federal resources with private, local contributions.  At the direction of the City of Syracuse and Mayor Driscoll, the effort works in concert with existing community organizations to expand available housing resources, coordinate existing programs, and increase their overall effectiveness. 

(####)

Home | Press List