Vacant Rental Program - VRP

Congratulations to 2025 VRP Award Grantees! A list of organizations and local governments receiving VRP funding this year can be found by clicking here.

Additional funding for VRP is now available for nonprofit organizations and local governments through an open funding round! Approximately $24 million is available through January 30, 2026 (extended deadline) or until available funds are exhausted. For additional information scroll down or click here.

How to Participate as a Property Owner

Awards have been made to not-for-profits and municipalities that will serve as local administrators and make funding available to eligible participants in the area they serve. Interested property owners should review the list below to determine if your area is served by a local administrator and contact the appropriate provider for information on how to apply. 

Overview

The Vacant Rental Program (“VRP”) is a grant program funded by the State of New York and administered by the Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s (HTFC) Office of Community Renewal (OCR), to support repairs and rehabilitation of vacant rental units and other vacant spaces to increase the supply of critically needed apartments for low- and moderate-income renters outside of New York City. The program aims to help owners of rental properties bring vacant units and spaces in small-scale properties back into productive use to create safe, quality, and affordable long-term rental units.

Eligible Applicants

Organizations incorporated under the New York State Not-For-Profit Corporation Law that have been providing relevant services to the community for at least one year prior to application. Partnerships between municipalities and not-for-profit organizations are encouraged to bolster administrative capacity. HCR may accept applications from municipalities with justification related to experience and administrative capacity.

Eligible Areas

All areas of the State outside of New York City are eligible.

Eligible Participants

An eligible participant must meet the following criteria:

• Ownership: must be the legal owner of one of the following:
  • 1-5 unit residential property
  • Mixed-use building with up to five (5) housing units
  • Other buildings that will be converted to one of the above
• Compliance Period: A 10-year Regulatory Period will be required during which the owner must be willing to execute an agreement and rental covenant on assisted units that will subject units to rent limits and other requirements.

Eligible Activities

Funding may be used to improve and rehabilitate vacant housing units and other vacant spaces, including commercial spaces, that are currently uninhabitable or unmarketable into safe, quality, and affordable rental units. These repairs and improvements may include health and safety improvements, correction of code violations and/or updating spaces to meet residential standards, accessibility modifications, environmental remediation, and other repairs determined by the local program administrator as necessary to rehabilitate vacant units. 

Applications are now being accepted for the Vacant Rental Program through an Open Fund Round through Friday, January 30, 2026 – Deadline Extended, or until available funds are exhausted.

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) (Deadline Extended)

Request for Application (RFA) for the Vacant Rental Program (Deadline Extended)

Vacant Rental Program Administrative Plan

Vacant Rental Program Manual

2025 Vacant Rental Program Application Workbook

2025 Vacant Rental Program Application Instructions

2025 NYS Vacant Rental Program (VRP) Application Training

NYS Vacant Rental Program - Grant Application Training

Webinar Slides