$2 Million Proposed for Affordable, Emergency Housing

KINGSTON, NY - Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has recommended $2 million in support from the newly-created Ulster County Housing Action Fund for five affordable housing and emergency housing projects in Ulster County.

The Housing Action Fund closed the Year 1 application window on May 10, 2024. In June, the Housing Policy and Oversight Committee (HPOC), the body established to oversee the implementation of the Housing Action Fund, reviewed applications and made recommendations to the County Executive for consideration. Based on the HPOC’s review, County Executive Metzger is recommending that the County Legislature release $2 million from the Housing Action Fund to support five projects, all of which meet the Fund’s affordability and sustainability requirements:

•              $300,000 to the Affordable Housing Conservancy for the development of Harmony Hall, a 51 Unit Permanent Senior (62+) Affordable Rental Housing development in the Town of New Paltz.

•              $500,000 to RUPCO for the Quality Inn Conversion Project in the Town of Ulster, an 83 unit permanently affordable and supportive housing development for homeless individuals or families with unmet housing needs.

•              $400,000 to the Affordable Housing Conservancy for eight new affordable manufactured homes at the Gallis Hill Manufactured Home Park in the Town of Hurley. 

•              $400,000 to Ulster County Habitat for Humanity for the development of the Jeffrey Court project in the Town of Saugerties, a subdivision with 10 new affordable homes developed for homeownership.

•              $400,000 to the Kingston City Land Bank for the Third Avenue Housing Development in the City of Kingston, an approximately 50 unit new, affordable housing development on a vacant infill site in the city.  

The Legislature will take up the County Executive’s recommendations at the September 17 legislative session. 

“Ensuring that every resident of Ulster County has access to safe, affordable housing is not just a policy goal, but a moral imperative,” said County Executive Metzger. “By investing $2 million from the Housing Action Fund into these five critical projects, we are taking a significant step toward addressing the urgent housing needs of our community. All of these projects, moreover, meet our strict energy and sustainability requirements, which is good for the environment and good for residents’ health and their pocketbooks. I want to thank the members of the Housing Policy and Oversight Committee for their diligence and hard work in reviewing the applications for funding.” 

“This investment from the Housing Action Fund underscores our dedication to tackling the housing crisis head-on,” said Peter Criswell, Chair of the Ulster County Legislature. “The proposed projects will have a lasting impact, providing much-needed affordable housing options and fostering a sense of security and dignity for our residents. The Ulster County Legislature remains committed to continuing this critical work to ensure housing for all.”

"I am incredibly excited to see the projects recommended by the Housing Action Fund oversight committee come before the legislature,” said Majority Leader Abe Uchitelle, Chair of the Legislature's Health, Human Services, and Housing Committee. “This marks a significant step toward a sustainable housing investment that is transparent, begins with an open application process, and is led by experts in tackling the housing crisis. I thank County Executive Metzger for stewarding this process, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the legislature to move these forward."

“I fully support Executive Metzger’s recommended allocation of $2 million from the Ulster County Housing Action Fund. This allocation will support the creation of over 200 permanently affordable and emergency housing units in our county,” said Jeff Collins, Ulster County Legislator and Chair of the Housing Subcommittee. “This is an important step in helping to address our county’s housing needs, and it will result in a significant reduction in the number of our unhoused residents. We all know that resolving our housing crises will take time, energy, commitment, and money. We also know that we need housing solutions throughout the county. These five recommendations will create housing in New Paltz, the Town of Ulster, Hurley, Saugerties, and Kingston. This proposal starts the process of bringing housing to the people of Ulster County.”

“On behalf of the Housing Policy and Oversight Committee, I want to thank the County Planning Department Staff for their insights and efforts as we evaluated these critical projects,” said Fawn Tantillo, Chair of the Housing Policy and Oversight Committee. “We are not just building homes, we are building a stronger, more inclusive community. The Housing Action Fund is a testament to Ulster County’s commitment to ensuring that every resident has access to safe, affordable housing.”

In August 2023, the Ulster County Legislature approved a resolution spearheaded by County Executive Metzger to create a $15 million Housing Action Fund to support the creation of healthy, energy-efficient, and climate-responsible housing units that serve households making up to 80% of Ulster County Area Median Income, with an emphasis on housing that serves the county’s most vulnerable populations. All projects funded by the HAF must be highly energy efficient and all-electric, consistent with the County’s climate and energy goals. The positive response and success of Round 1 of the Housing Action Fund demonstrates the effectiveness of the fund as a tool for building housing that is both affordable and sustainable.

For more information on the Ulster County Housing Action Fund, visit the Participate Ulster website here: https://participate.ulstercountyny.gov/housing-action-fund.