Ulster County Housing Action Fund Round 3 Applications
Published on September 03, 2026
Applications for Round 3 of the Ulster County Housing Action Fund Open on September 17
Informational Webinar Scheduled for September 15
KINGSTON, NY - Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger today announced that applications for Round 3 of the Ulster County Housing Action Fund (HAF) will open Thursday, September 17, with applications due by 3 PM on December 11. The Ulster County Planning Department will host a virtual informational webinar on Tuesday, September 15 at 6 PM to walk applicants through the program and the application process. To register, visit ulstercountyny.gov/Housing-Action-Fund
Round 3 will make $2 million available for projects that support the construction, development, revitalization, and preservation of affordable, workforce, and supportive housing across Ulster County. This round also introduces a new grant category incentivizing housing for workers in key sectors of the local economy.
The Housing Action Fund supports a wide range of project types, including affordable rental and homeownership projects, Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit developments, preservation of existing affordable housing through co‑ops or community land trusts, emergency and supportive housing, and housing‑related public infrastructure. The new workforce housing category targets priority industries that struggle to find and retain employees due to the high cost of housing: agriculture, skilled trades, healthcare and home health care, the arts, and essential public services. All workforce housing units remain open to all eligible applicants, consistent with federal and state fair housing law.
In general, the HAF focuses on serving households earning up to 80% of Ulster County Area Median Income (for example: $93,850 for a 4‑person household or $65,700 for a 1‑person household, based on HUD FY2026 income limits). Projects receiving HAF grants must keep units affordable for at least 50 years, with priority given to projects that secure permanent affordability.
“Through the Housing Action Fund, the County has supported the creation of hundreds of units of housing for affordable rent and ownership, and encourages innovative solutions that meet the needs of our residents,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “Round 3 expands our ability to support the workers who keep Ulster County running — from EMTs, teachers, and home health aides to farmworkers and tradespeople — and helps ensure they can continue to live here, contributing to the local economy. I encourage municipalities, nonprofits, and housing partners to apply and help us continue building the housing our residents need.”
Questions about the application are due by November 20, 2026 and should be directed to haf@ulstercountyny.gov. Answers will be posted on the Housing Action Fund Website approximately one week after the deadline.
The Housing Action Fund was established by the County Executive Metzger and approved by the Ulster County Legislature in August 2023 as a $15 million initiative to support healthy, energy‑efficient, climate‑responsible housing for households earning up to 80% AMI, with a focus on the county’s most vulnerable residents. The Housing Policy and Oversight Committee (HPOC) oversees administration of the fund.
Across its first two rounds, the HAF has committed $4.45 million to 10 projects Countywide, including one completed and occupied project, five under construction, and four in pre‑development.
For more information, visit ulstercountyny.gov/Housing-Action-Fund