Housing Action Fund
The Year 1 Application window is now closed.
The Ulster County Housing Action Fund Year 1 Application window closed on May 10th, 2024. The Housing Action Fund accepts applications for a wide variety of project types intended to support equitable and sustainable construction, development, revitalization, and preservation of affordable and supportive housing.
Pre-Application Meetings
If you would like to set up a pre-application meeting to walk through the application process, please contact Kai Lord-Farmer at klor@co.ulster.ny.us.
Please read thoroughly read through all the application materials prior to setting up a meeting. We will not be able to answer specific questions about your project but can generally answer questions about the application process and types of projects we are looking for in Round 1
Application Process
Application Guidance Document: Housing Action Fund: Notice of Funding Availability - Round 1 document for details on program eligibility, award process, and application process.
Rental, For-Sale, and Emergency/Supportive Housing Projects: Applications for Rental, For-Sale, and Emergency/Supportive Housing Projects can use the fillable PDF document or use the online application form.
Fillable PDF Application Form - Rental, For-Sale, and Emergency/Supportive Housing Projects
Online Application Form - Rental, For-Sale, and Emergency/Supportive Housing Projects
Applications for the Housing Catalyst Fund: Applications for Rental, For-Sale, and Emergency/Supportive Housing Projects can use the fillable PDF document or use the online application form.
Fillable PDF Application Form - Housing Catalyst Fund
Online Application Form - Housing Catalyst Fund
Application Submissions
Printed applications must be postmarked by May 10th, 2024 or hand delivered to the address below 3:00 pm on May 10th, 2024. Applications can also be submitted online through the links above. Emailed applications will not be accepted.
Ulster County Planning Department
244 Fair Street
P.O. Box 1800
Kingston, NY 12402
ATTENTION HOUSING ACTION FUND
Fillable PDF Submissions
If you are using the fillable PDF applications, please use the submission upload links below (or to the right under Housing Action Fund Submission Uploads).
- PDF Submission Upload - Rental, For-Sale, and Emergency/Supportive Housing Projects
- PDF Submission Upload - Housing Catalyst Fund
Online Submission Form
If you are using the online application form, please use the forms below (or to the right under Important Links).
- Online Application Form - Rental, For-Sale, and Emergency/Supportive Housing Projects
- Online Application Form - Housing Catalyst Fund
Questions on the application are due on April 19th, after which time no further questions will be answered. All questions and corresponding answers will be published approximately one week after questions from applicants are due.
Round 1 Application Webinar - March 19th, 2024
For Year 1, the following housing project types are eligible for funding:
- Affordable Rental Projects: Development of new housing that is affordable to households earning up to 80% of Ulster County area median income.
- Affordable Homeownership Projects: Development of new housing that provides affordable homeownership opportunities to households earning up to 80% of Ulster County area median income.
- Preservation of Affordable Housing for Housing Co-Ops and Community Land Trusts: Preservation of existing affordable housing that will be owned and operated by tenants or in collaboration with a community land trust or non-profit organization.
- Emergency and Supportive Housing Projects: Funding for the development of emergency and supportive housing projects.
- Housing-Related Infrastructure: Funding for public infrastructure that would directly support the development of affordable housing.
- Housing Catalyst Fund Projects: Funding support for practical and collaborative projects that lead to larger changes in the housing and construction sector that reduce costs and/or remove barriers to preserving or building affordable housing.
Funding by Project Type
Included below is a summary table of the project types and funding maximums proposed for Round 1 of the HAF.
Project Type | Maximum Per Unit Award | Maximum Total Project Award |
Rental Units up to 60% AMI | $50,000 | $500,000 |
Rental Units up to 80% AMI | $30,000 | $400,000 |
For-Sale Units up to 80% AMI | $50,000 | $400,000 |
Rental Units Pursuing 9% LIHTC | $30,000 | $300,000 |
Rental Units Pursuing 4% LIHTC | See LIHTC Section |
|
Preservation of Existing Affordable Housing for Housing Co-Ops and Community Land Trusts | $50,000 | $300,000 |
Emergency and Supportive Housing Projects | $60,000 | $500,000 |
Housing-Related Infrastructure Projects | N/A | $300,000 |
Housing Catalyst Fund | N/A | $50,000 |
Housing Action Fund Summary
The Ulster County Housing Action Fund (HAF), proposed by County Executive Jen Metzger and approved by the Ulster County Legislature on August 15, will support equitable and sustainable community development through the construction, development, revitalization, and preservation of affordable, workforce, and supportive housing.
In exchange for investment from the fund, the HAF will require the creation of healthy, energy-efficient, and climate-responsible housing units that serve households making up to 80% of Ulster County Area Median Income (i.e., $81,300 for a 4-person household, $56,950 for a 1-person household), with an emphasis on housing that serves the county’s most vulnerable populations. The HAF will also encourage innovative housing solutions, such as supportive housing, adaptive reuse of existing buildings for housing, tiny home communities, and accessory dwelling units.
Why do we need a Housing Action Fund?
Longer Stays in Emergency Housing: In 2021, the average length of stay for unhoused families in emergency housing was four months; today it is 18 months, due to the lack of permanent housing options.
Increasing Rents, Stagnant Wages: Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment increased nearly 60% over the past 12 years (inflation-adjusted) while wages have remained stagnant for low- and moderate-income families.
Rental Housing Cost Burden: Approximately 12% of owners and 29% of renters in Ulster County are “severely cost burdened,” spending more than half of their monthly income on housing. More than half of all renters are burdened or severely burdened, devoting more than 30% of their income to housing.
Homeownership is Out of Reach: Housing sale prices rose 43% in four years to $350,000 in 2022, putting homeownership out of reach for more than half of Ulster County residents.
Housing Availability: The county’s vacancy rate (vacant rental or for sale units) was approximately 2% in 2021, placing upward pressure on rent and home prices.
Loss of Emergency Housing: Economic opportunities, cost of maintenance, and other factors have resulted in a loss of emergency housing beds for unhoused individuals and families, with limited replacements offered by the private sector.
Workforce Needs: Business leaders increasingly point to the lack of housing and its cost as the main factors contributing to the difficulty of finding workers for their businesses.
How does the Housing Action Fund Work?
Administration: A Housing Policy and Oversight Committee (HPOC), comprised of affordable housing experts and professionals, would be appointed to oversee the administration of the fund.
Funding: The HAF will be seeded with $15 million from the County’s current excess fund balance. The County Executive has also proposed dedicating 25% of occupancy tax revenues annually to ensure long-term resources for the fund.
Funding Awards: On an annual basis, Ulster County would release a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and request competitive proposals from affordable housing developers, nonprofit organizations, and individuals for housing projects that support the mission of the HAF.
Project Types: The HAF would support a wide variety of housing and housing-related projects including affordable rental and for-sale projects, non-traditional housing projects, emergency housing, accessory dwelling units, infrastructure projects needed for affordable housing projects, and small grants for projects to spark innovation in the housing sector. Projects would be required to use non-fossil fuel systems and appliances to help meet the County’s climate goals.
Affordability: All projects that receive HAF funding would be required to remain affordable (rent or sell units to households making 80% of Area Median Income or less) for a minimum of 50 years.
Who else has done this?
The housing fund model has been successfully implemented throughout the country and New York State. Dutchess, Westchester, and Tompkins County all have implemented versions of a housing trust fund. The Tompkins County Community Housing Development Fund has been in operation since 2009, providing approximately $6.8 million dollars to support the development of 875 affordable housing units with most units being placed in a community land trust.
Housing Policy and Oversight Committee Members
The members of the Housing Policy and Oversight Committee members have been appointed. To see details on scheduled HPOC meetings, visit the Ulster County Legislative Calendar here.
Fawn Tantillo, Chair
Fawn Tantillo served as an Ulster County Legislator from 1993 to 2003. Tantillo also worked as a legislative staff member for Ulster County from 2012 to 2023. She has also been a small landlord and property manager for 15 years and brings this experience to the Committee.
Susan Blickstein, Vice-Chair
Dr. Blickstein has served as a planning, policy, engagement and research consultant to municipalities, counties, MPOs and state agencies for over 30 years. She has served as Director of Planning for two multi-disciplinary planning, transportation, and engineering firms and, since 2007, as the Founding Principal of Susan G. Blickstein LLC (SGB, LLC) since 2007.
Soham Dhesi, Secretary
Soham is a Senior Investment Office for the Leviticus Fund, a regional nonprofit loan fund (CDFI) founded in 1983 that uses capital to alleviate poverty and improve the economic and social conditions of low-income individuals and families throughout the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut area.
Loriman Rhodell
Lori is a long-time community organizer and housing advocate having worked for Office of the Mayor of the City of New York, Oglala Sioux Housing Authority, and El Puente de Williamsburg, a community-based organization (CBO) in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Sara Bayer
Sara A. Bayer is an Associate Principal and Director of Sustainability at Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP), dedicated to designing housing, specifically affordable and supportive housing. There, she manages many of the firm's most energy-efficient multifamily housing projects, including two that have won NYSERDA Buildings of Excellence Awards.
Questions
Have a question about the Housing Action Fund Proposal? Ask it here and our team will answer.
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