Community Housing Development Fund

The Community Housing Development Fund (CHDF), formerly the Housing Fund, is a joint effort of Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and Cornell University. The Fund helps communities and organizations throughout Tompkins County respond to the diverse affordable housing needs of county residents. Projects must include affordable housing units for low and moderate income households. Established in 2009, the program operates under a Memorandum of Understanding through 2027.

In addition to partner contributions, the CHDF receives funds from developers under the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency's (IDA's) Workforce Housing Policy. The policy requires residential developers receiving IDA incentives to either set aside 20% of total units as on-site, affordable housing or to contribute $5,500 for every unit in the project to the CHDF.

The Round 26 CHDF grant cycle opened March 23, 2026 and closed May 1, 2026. Applications are no longer being accepted for Round 26, but you may view the Round 26 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)(PDF, 249KB) for details on program eligibility, award process, and application instructions.

Tompkins County staff are on hand to answer questions concerning the program and to add interested parties to notification emails for future rounds. If you have questions about the NOFA, please email the Planning and Sustainability Department or call 607-274-5560.

Program Overview
The Community Housing Development Fund is designed to ensure that newly constructed or rehabilitated housing units remain affordable to successive buyers or renters. Permanent affordability is retained by such measures as income qualifying prospective buyers or renters and limiting the sales price or rent of units; separating the ownership of the land from the ownership of the housing unit, whereby only the housing unit is purchased by the homebuyer, and by restricting the amount of equity that a homeowner can take from the housing unit upon sale (Community Housing Trust model); or other equivalent mechanisms. Eligible uses of the fund include the cost of land, construction, or any development costs that will reduce the cost of new or newly rehabilitated, non-student housing units developed, provided these housing units remain permanently affordable by using a mechanism such as the Community Housing Trust or another acceptable mechanism.

Table of Projects Awarded Funds (2009-present)(PDF, 156KB)

Housing Affordability and Supportive Infrastructure Grant Program

The Tompkins County Housing Affordability and Supportive Infrastructure Grant (HASIG) Program provides grants of up to $10,000 for municipalities to undertake activities such as grant writing, zoning revisions, planning studies, and research that address housing affordability and supply issues.

The 2026 HASIG grant cycle opens Monday, March 2, 2026, and applications will be accepted through November 18, 2026, or until funds are depleted. Applications are reviewed every third Wednesday. Full program details and requirements are available in the 2026 grant guidelines(PDF, 185KB).

Applications must be submitted through the Common Grant Application platform. New applicants can create an account to get started, and the applicant tutorial provides step-by-step guidance.

Tompkins County staff are available to answer questions you may have about the program. Contact us by emailing the Planning and Sustainability Department or call 607-274-5560.

Housing Snapshot

Tompkins County staff track the housing market to ensure that assumptions and goals from the Housing Strategy remain valid, track progress toward Housing Strategy targets, and identify emerging trends.

• 2024 Housing Snapshot(PDF, 1MB)
• 2022 Housing Snapshot(PDF, 3MB)
• 2020 Housing Snapshot(PDF, 6MB)
• 2019 Housing Snapshot(PDF, 1MB)
• 2018 Housing Snapshot(PDF, 281KB)

Tompkins County Housing Strategy

The Tompkins County Housing Strategy(PDF, 639KB) was endorsed by Unanimous Vote of the County Legislature in July 2017. Developed using information gathered through the 2016 Housing Needs Assessment, the 2016 Housing Summit, the County's 2017 Legislature/Department Head retreat, and input from community members, this Strategy aims to guide Tompkins County in meeting its housing needs through 2025. The Strategy proposes (1) direction and targets for housing efforts, (2) approaches to achieving desired housing outcomes, and (3) monitoring and support needed to track progress and identify concerns that may arise along the way. The 2017 Tompkins County Housing Strategy replaces the previous 2007 Housing Strategy(PDF, 33KB).

• Tompkins County Housing Strategy (2017)(PDF, 639KB)
• Slide Presentation from the June 20, 2017 meeting of the County Legislature's Planning, Development and Environmental Quality Committee(PDF, 1MB)

Tompkins County Housing Needs Assessment

The Tompkins County Housing Needs Assessment was completed in 2016 to update and expand upon the 2006 Affordable Housing Needs Assessment. The 2016 Needs Assessment identifies current housing needs as well as projected housing demand through 2025. The project also looked into development costs for new housing and included an online survey of Tompkins County residents, students, and in-commuters. Results of the Needs Assessment informed the update of the 2017 Tompkins County Housing Strategy.

Revised Reports Now Available:
Since the September 6, 2016 meeting, the Danter Company has made some revisions. Below you will find updated versions of the various special reports and analyses.

• Executive Summary(PDF, 119KB)
• Single Family Demand Analysis(PDF, 151KB)
• Condominium Demand Analysis(PDF, 165KB)
• Apartment Demand Analysis(PDF, 606KB)
• Purpose-Built Student Housing Potential(PDF, 230KB)
• Senior Housing with Services Demand Analysis(PDF, 2MB)
• In-Commuter Demand Analysis(PDF, 716KB)
• Housing Demand by Income(PDF, 240KB)
• Low Income Housing Tax Credit Workbook(PDF, 52KB)
• Survey of Special Needs Providers(PDF, 674KB)
• Key Indicators of Residential Change(PDF, 157KB)
• Geographic Preferences of Residents and In-commuters(PDF, 636KB)
• Summary of Survey of Real Estate Professionals, Planners, Public Officials, and Major Employers(PDF, 227KB)
• Survey of Small Apartment Properties (less than 24 units)(PDF, 405KB)
• Survey of Large Apartment Properties (24 units or more)(PDF, 2MB)
• Online Housing Survey Results(PDF, 2MB)
• List of Interviewees(PDF, 172KB)

NYS Pro-Housing Community Program

What is the Pro-Housing Communities Program?

The Pro-Housing Communities (PHC) Program is a certification program managed by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) for local governments that are taking action to support housing growth to address the housing shortage throughout the State. PHC certification is a requirement for many NYS funding programs and opens access to new funds just for certified Pro-Housing Communities. Towns, Cities, and Villages are eligible to apply.

Applying takes two steps:

1. Send a letter of intent from an authorized official to the program email at prohousing@hcr.ny.gov
2. Complete a template to document and verify local zoning codes and information detailing local housing permit approvals over the past five years

Achieving certification requires either demonstrating that housing permits have increased by 0.33% in the past year, or 1% over the past three years. Or, if housing growth has not been seen, the municipality can achieve certification by passing a Pro-Housing Resolution (following a template provided by HCR).

Notice:  Certified localities must resubmit their housing permit data and any updates to their zoning on an annual basis by the end of March 31 of the next year. Municipalities certified in 2024 or 2025 must complete these updates by June 15, 2026 to maintain PHC certification.

Visit New York State’s Pro-Housing Community website here for more information, including submission requirements, templates, and grant opportunities.

Local Impact of Pro-Housing Communities

Localities must be PHC certified to apply to funding programs including the NY Forward Program, New York Main Street Program, Regional Council Capital Fund, Market New York, and New York Main Street. Most recently, the Town of Ithaca was awarded nearly $250,000 through the Technical Assistance to Grow Pro Housing Communities (TAG-PHC) grant for planning work in 2025!

Our Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) has been clear that increased participation in this program is a major priority which influences funding decisions for municipalities and the County, and they’d love us to be the second county in the state to have every municipality certified.

The Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability is here to help!

We are available to assist municipalities in understanding how the program works, support applications for PHC and related grant opportunities, as well as provide guidance on zoning maps and housing assessment requirements. Our staff has direct experience applying and recertifying in the Pro-Housing Community program.

Towns and Villages interested in learning more about this program and becoming a Pro-Housing Community are encouraged to contact the Housing and Community Development team at Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability by email or by calling our office at 607-274-5560.

• The Condominium Question: Evaluating the Lack of Condominiums in Ithaca, NY - Full Report(PDF, 126KB)
• The Condominium Question: Evaluating the Lack of Condominiums in Ithaca, NY - Issue Brief(PDF, 72KB)
• Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties
• Incremental Development Alliance
• Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services
• Tompkins County Office for the Aging