An organization known for buying “the worst house on the block,” renovating it and then renting its apartments at below-market value to local working families received the third annual Stanley Schear Leadership Award on May 21, 2009 for its contributions to Westchester County over more than 40 years.

The Interfaith Council for Action (IFCA) Inc. in Ossining, the oldest state-chartered Neighborhood Preservation Company in Westchester, is also known as a pioneer in developing transitional housing through county grants for people who are making the transition from being homeless to being independent.

The award was presented at the annual Stanley Schear Award Breakfast at the Osborn Retirement Community, 101 Theall Road, Rye.

The announcement was made by the Senior Housing and Services Coalition of the county’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS). The coalition initiated the award in 2007 to honor Schear, a leading advocate for affordable housing who passed away in 2006 and had been the coalition’s long-time chairman and guiding spirit.

IFCA has been a steadfast advocate for affordable and workforce housing since it was founded in 1968.

The not-for-profit organization also helps to preserve neighborhoods when it buys, renovates and maintains affordable housing. It has bought and renovated 20 properties, and currently maintains 100 units of safe and affordable housing in Ossining, Tarrytown and Croton.

It also provides extensive community service because it is aware that families in need of assistance for housing often also need help in other areas. Among those are coordinated services in areas of counseling, referrals to local agencies, free tax preparation, educational workshops and programs to benefit children.

Beth Hofstetter, coalition chair, said Schear would be pleased by the recognition of IFCA.

“Stanley Schear was a long-time affordable housing advocate with a special penchant for helping low-income people secure safe and reasonable quality housing,” Hofstetter said. “So it is fitting that IFCA, with its outstanding record will be the latest recipient.”

June A. Jarvis, IFCA’s executive director, said she is accepting the award on behalf of the organization for its work in developing, maintaining and advocating for safe and affordable housing.

“We truly appreciate this honor, and we are gratified to know that our efforts have been recognized,” Jarvis said. “The support and encouragement of IFCA’s colleagues in this community and our Westchester county legislators are what make it possible for us to expand and enrich the services we provide. For this we are truly thankful.”

IFCA was founded with a coalition of local faith-based institutions, but it does not maintain any faith-based alliances. With the exception of rents, IFCA relies solely on private donations and available government funds, which it noted have been “decreasing at an alarming rate year after year.”

DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter praised the coalition and IFCA for focusing attention on the affordable housing issue.

“Affordable housing is one of our most crucial needs,” Carpenter said.  “IFCA has been a strong, long-time advocate for its work in helping to fill this area.”

Schear, as part of his work with the coalition, helped to bring more services, activities – and in some cases, service coordinators – to senior apartment buildings.

He was a founding board member of the Housing Action Council, Inc., which received the first Stanley Schear Leadership Award in 2007. He was also a community activist who championed the needs of the homeless and fought to ban racial discrimination in housing. In addition, he founded and directed the Bridge Fund of Westchester, which enabled those at risk of becoming homeless to stay in their homes.

In addition to DSPS, breakfast sponsors are the Wartburg Adult Care Community, the Osborn Retirement Community, Westhab, State Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer, the Community Housing Resource Center, the United Hebrew Geriatric Center,  the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services, Sunrise Senior Living and the Housing Action Council.