Residents of Buffalo's Fruit Belt community are working together to guide the future of their neighborhood.

The community is reporting back on what anti-displacement strategies they've learned through a recent grant.

They are now applying for a $1 million grant to implement those strategies.

Like most things, these plans were affected by the pandemic.

The group had to think up a short term strategy for renter assistance due to the eviction fear the pandemic brought.

"We're still working through how we can best interact with the current mechanisms in place to protect renters. So we're working with Erie County and the City of Buffalo to try and lend whatever funds we can get through this process to help renters," said Marjorie McAllister, Buffalo Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corporation program manager.

The long term strategy for the area includes a stronger partnership between the community land trust and the land bank to make houses there permanently affordable.