Tribe gives office to Malone agency

HOGANSBURG — The Akwesasne Housing Authority and a Malone weatherization company are teaming up to help people improve their homes.

Though the company, ComLinks, has worked with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in the past, this year its representatives have space on the reservation to interview potential clients.

"We've always served the community, but outreach has been a problem," said Brian E. Cassini, executive director of ComLinks. "Getting folks to come in and make their application here, which would be the normal route, has been a challenge."

ComLinks is a grant-funded agency that serves Franklin County with housing renewal programs, domestic-violence intervention and economic development. It receives funding through the federal Department of Energy, which is filtered from the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal.

Though the reservation is in Franklin County, the tribe historically has not participated in many of its programs, Mr. Cassini said.

Now that a program manager is on the reservation, that has changed dramatically.

Mary Ann Durham from ComLinks comes to the Akwesasne Housing Authority from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. twice a month. She holds half-hour interviews with interested applicants to determine if they are eligible for the program. Ms. Durham's days have been mostly full, with the exception of a few no-shows here and there, according to Melanie J. Conners, the Housing Authority's housing services manager. She could not provide specific numbers.

"There are people who always need weatherization in their homes. Through time, your insulation might collapse or move," Mrs. Conners said.

The program is available to anyone on the reservation, not only Housing Authority residents.

The partnership has been in the works for months, and originally was intended only to increase ComLinks' profile around Akwesasne.

"What really blew us away was they took it to the next level and provided us office space," Mr. Cassini said. "It allows Mary Ann to take in far more applications than she normally would if people had to come out to our main office in Malone, which is about 30 minutes by car."

To schedule an appointment, call 1 (518) 358-9020.