Community Housing Development Fund
The Community Housing Development Fund (CHDF), formerly referred to as 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 units of affordable housing for low and moderate income households. The program was established in 2009 and is currently operating 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 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 24 CHDF grant cycle closed April 4, 2024, but you may still view the Round 24 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)(PDF, 263KB) for details on program eligibility, award process, and application process.
Grant applications must be submitted online through Common Grant Application. You can sign up for an account to apply for a grant. More information about how to use the Common Grant Application can be found in this Applicant Tutorial.
Members of the Tompkins County staff are on hand to answer questions concerning the program and to add those interested in future rounds to notification emails. 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, 125KB)
Housing Affordability and Supportive Infrastructure Grant Program
The Tompkins County Housing Affordability and Supportive Infrastructure Grant Program provides grants for municipalities to undertake activities, such as grant writing, zoning revisions, planning studies, and research, that address housing affordability and supply issues. More information about the program can be found on the Community Planning page.