Governor Hochul Announces $25 Million in Grants to Help Low- and Moderate-Income New York Homeowners Make Critical Repairs

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on January 20, 2022 that New York State is awarding $25 million in grants to help low- and moderate-income homeowners make critical repairs, accessibility upgrades, and secure down payment assistance for first-time buyers. The funding is distributed across 66 awards to nonprofits and municipalities through seven programs administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

"Every New Yorker deserves the dignity and stability of a secure place to live, and this funding will provide much-needed support to affordable and supportive housing services," Governor Hochul said in the announcement. "These grants will go toward small communities all across the state, and they will fund critical programs that provide immediate assistance to New Yorkers in need."

Program Breakdown

The $25 million is split across state- and federally-funded programs:

• NYS Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program — 22 grants totaling $11.8 million, benefiting approximately 270 households for rehabilitation, down payment assistance, and water/wastewater system improvements.
• NYS HOME Local Program — 19 grants totaling $10 million, supporting roughly 200 owners and tenants with acquisition, rehabilitation, down payment assistance, and rental support.
• RESTORE — 10 grants totaling $1.4 million for senior homeowners, helping approximately 166 households address emergency repairs and code violations that threaten health, safety, or livability.
• Access to Home — 8 grants totaling $1.3 million for accessibility modifications benefiting 80-plus households that include persons with disabilities.
• Access to Home for Heroes — 4 grants totaling $1 million for about 60 veteran households with disabilities.
• Access to Home for Medicaid — 1 grant of $150,000 serving roughly 15 Medicaid-eligible households.
• Mobile and Manufactured Home Replacement — 2 grants totaling $800,000 for low- to moderate-income homeowners replacing dilapidated mobile homes on land they own.

Who the Programs Serve

The RESTORE program specifically targets senior citizen homeowners (typically age 60 and older) who need emergency repairs or code-violation remediation to remain safely in their homes. The Access to Home programs fund modifications such as ramps, widened doorways, and accessible bathrooms so that people with disabilities can continue living independently. The CDBG and HOME Local programs are distributed through nonprofits and municipalities, which accept homeowner applications locally based on income eligibility (generally at or below 80% of area median income).

HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said the grants will "make a huge difference in the lives of homeowners across the state" by enabling accessibility modifications and emergency repairs that keep families in safe, stable homes.

How to Apply

Homeowners do not apply directly to New York State for these funds. Instead, the 66 award recipients — local nonprofits, housing authorities, and municipal agencies — operate the programs in their service areas. Interested homeowners should contact their local awardee or HCR's Office of Community Renewal to find the program covering their county. Program details and the list of award recipients are available on the HCR website at hcr.ny.gov.