North Hempstead gets $740,000 for abandoned, vacant homes

The Nassau County Community Development Block Grant program has awarded the Town of North Hempstead $740,000 to address abandoned and vacant homes.

Town officials plan to use the funds to acquire and redevelop zombie homes to be sold to first-time homebuyers. The money will also be used to help low-to moderate-income homeowners pay for house repairs, and improve storefronts along Prospect Avenue in New Cassel.

The block grant is a federally funded program for local governments to pay for neighborhood revitalization projects, infrastructure improvements, public service initiatives, and other efforts. The money comes to Nassau County from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

North Hempstead won $740,000 from the block grant program in 2017. The money funded initiatives at the town’s Community Development Agency.