At this year’s annual meeting, the energy in the room was palpable as we reflected on a transformative year for INHS. As a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that all our neighbors have access to high-quality, affordable housing, we are proud to share the milestones we’ve achieved together in 2024.

View our 2024 annual report here for a deep dive into our programs, services, and resident experiences throughout 2024!

Annual Meeting Awards

Each year, INHS honors members of the community for their impact and commitment to their community. See the honorees below and click here to learn more about the awards and to view past awardees.

• Lucy J. Brown Leadership Award: Chavon Bunch, Southside Community Center
• Florence Hoard Beautification Award: Historic Statues Committee
• David Sprague Exemplary Service Award: Scott Reynolds, INHS 

Putting People First: Property Management Milestones

Our largest department, Property Management, now 27 employees strong, continues to be the backbone of our mission. Managing over 650 rental units across 36 locations in 16 communities, our team ensures that residents not only have safe, clean homes but also feel heard, empowered, and supported.

This year marked a turning point: for the first time since the pandemic, we are fully staffed in the field. This has allowed us to make significant improvements in:

• Work order completion timelines
• Apartment turnover and lease-up speed
• Resident satisfaction and communication

Our properties have never looked better, thanks to the tireless efforts of our facilities team, who are on call around the clock.

Introducing Resident Services

Recognizing that housing is just one piece of the puzzle, we launched our Resident Services Program in 2024. Led by our new resident services coordinator, Claire Ratzlaff, this initiative connects residents with vital resources, organizes community events, and strengthens communication. In 2025, we’ll expand this work with trauma-informed care training for all staff and more formal resident engagement channels.

We’re deeply grateful to those who contributed during event registration—your generosity directly supports this vital program.

Expanding Our Reach: Real Estate Development Highlights

INHS added over 90 new rental apartments and townhomes to our portfolio in 2024, serving more than 1,200 residents in high-quality housing. Two standout developments include:

Village Grove – Village of Trumansburg

• 46 new rental apartments and townhomes
• 10 affordable for-sale homes (coming soon)
• 9 market-rate lots for private development
• A new home for the Trumansburg Community Nursery School
• Supportive housing for formerly unhoused Veterans, in partnership with the Salvation Army

We celebrated this milestone with a ribbon-cutting and a moving video produced by Well Said Media, showcasing the voices and stories of Village Grove residents.

Wheat Street Apartments – Village of Cayuga

Our first development in Cayuga County transformed a 1950s elementary school into 47 affordable rental units. In partnership with the Gavras Center, nine of these apartments now offer supportive housing for residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2025, INHS remains committed to our mission: helping people at every stage of life access safe, stable, affordable housing. From emergency home repairs to new homeownership opportunities, we are here for our neighbors—because everyone deserves a place to call home.

Thank you to our staff, partners, donors, and community members for making this work possible. Together, we are building more than housing—we are building community.

Community Housing Trust: A Historic Milestone

We’re proud to report that our Community Housing Trust (CHT) now includes 71 permanently affordable homes in Tompkins County, with 17 new homes currently under construction—the most we’ve ever built at once! In December, we invited the community to witness the awe-inspiring moment when one of these homes was craned into place on Sears Street in Ithaca. The CHT uses a shared-equity model to ensure long-term affordability and community ownership.

Revitalizing Existing Housing

In 2024, we completed a $10 million renovation of Verona Village, a HUD senior housing property in Ovid, Seneca County. Originally built in the 1980s and never renovated, Verona Village was in disrepair when INHS acquired it in 2020. Today, it stands transformed—inside and out—offering safer, healthier homes for its residents.

Sustainability at the Forefront

Sustainability is a core value at INHS. Our Village Grove project is our greenest yet, earning PHIUS certification as a Passive House and NetZero development, along with Enterprise Green Communities Certification. We consistently exceed green building standards across all our developments.

Looking Ahead: New Developments

Our Real Estate Development team is planning exciting new projects in:

• Varna (Town of Dryden): 50+ rental apartments and 6 for-sale CHT homes, with support for young adults transitioning out of homelessness.
• Downtown Ithaca: A senior housing community with 50+ one-bedroom apartments and a daycare facility.
• City of Auburn: A 50-unit Passive House rental project for households under 60% AMI, with 25% of units reserved for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Manufactured Housing: A New Frontier

Since launching our Manufactured Housing Community initiative in 2021, we’ve invested $9.5 million into the Compass Manufactured Home Community near Trumansburg. This year, we’re filling vacant pads with new for-sale and rental homes, continuing our mission to provide affordable, dignified housing in rural areas.

Homeownership: Empowering Dreams

Our Homeownership Department had a banner year:

• $918,000 in down-payment and closing-cost assistance helped 30 households buy their first home.
• Over 250 households received one-on-one counseling, and over 100 participated in our Homebuyer Education courses.
• Our Minor Repair Program served 135 households with urgent repairs and accessibility upgrades.
• We closed $550,000 in rehab loans for 24 households to complete major renovations.

Our staff often serve as the only point of contact for vulnerable homeowners, identifying not just housing issues but broader needs like food insecurity. Their work is a testament to our holistic approach to community well-being.

Looking Ahead to 50 Years

As we prepare to celebrate INHS’s 50th anniversary in 2026, we reflect with gratitude on the thousands of lives we’ve touched. None of this would be possible without you—our Board, staff, volunteers, funders, donors, residents, and community partners.

Thank you for your continued support. Here’s to building stronger, more inclusive communities—together.