New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced the allocation of $9 million in grants through “Zombies 2.0,” a program to combat the proliferation of vacant or abandoned homes that are not maintained during a prolonged foreclosure proceeding, also known as zombie homes.
Selected localities will receive grants ranging between $50,000 and $500,000 based on the size of the community, the scale and severity of their zombie problems, and their proposed use of such funds. The new allocation continues the 2016 Zombie Remediation and Prevention Initiative”¯created by the Office of the New York Attorney General.
Eligible localities must have at least 5,000 residents and more than 100 vacant properties to participate in Zombies 2.0. Regionally, the localities receiving state funds are Liberty, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Newburgh and Poughkeepsie.
“Too many communities throughout New York state are blighted by abandoned homes that decrease property values and threaten the safety of our neighborhoods,” James said in a statement. “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.”
