POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – As part of multi-faceted efforts to expand housing supply in Dutchess County and create more affordable and accessible options for residents, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced the application process for the latest round of funding through the Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund (HTF) is now open, with up to $3 million available to local developers for the creation or preservation of affordable housing, including smaller-scale projects in rural areas. The HTF application is available through Dutchess County’s online grant portal. Application deadline is Monday, June 9.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “The Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund is more than just dollars – it’s about the people. It’s about making sure local families, workers and older adults can afford to live in the communities they love. We’re focused on supporting projects that not only expand access to affordable housing but also blend into and enhance the unique character of our towns and neighborhoods. We encourage developers of every size to take advantage of this opportunity and be part of the solution.”
This round of HTF funding focuses on the program’s Housing Creation and Preservation (HCP) component, which supports affordable rental housing through new construction, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, property acquisition and preservation of existing units. Application instructions and guidance are available online.
Both private for-profit and non-profit developers are eligible to apply; and small builders are encouraged to apply. The County’s Department of Planning & Development will host a workshop for applicants on Monday, May 5, at the Dutchess County Farm and Home Center, 2715 Route 44 in Millbrook, from 1 to 3 p.m. Applicants can register for the workshop by completing this registration form.
The Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund provides a flexible and nimble funding source to aid the implementation of a variety of affordable housing efforts, with several main goals:
The HCP component supports new affordable rental housing through new construction, rehabilitation of existing homes, and adaptive reuse of non-residential buildings. Eligible projects may be fully affordable or mixed-income, including single-room occupancy rentals. The HCP also funds property acquisition for affordable rental housing by non-profit developers and the preservation or rehabilitation of existing affordable units to ensure long-term affordability.
The affordable units created through the Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund can either target all households with incomes up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Dutchess County, or a portion (no more than 20 percent of the units) can target households with incomes up to 80 percent AMI.
Additional information about the Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund is available on the Department of Planning & Development’s website.
Dutchess County’s Housing Trust Fund is one of several programs County Government is utilizing to expand housing accessibility. Other programs include the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership funding programs, as well as the Owner Occupied Property Rehabilitation program. Information about these and other housing initiatives is available online.
