The Community Controlled Affordable Housing (CCAH) Program

The Community Controlled Affordable Housing (CCAH) Program, administered by the Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) under New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), supports grassroots initiatives to build long-term affordable housing governed by the communities they serve. This funding opportunity is part of an ongoing effort by the State of New York to empower residents and nonprofit organizations working toward equitable housing models. The program is rooted in the principles of community ownership, resident governance, and sustained affordability. CCAH Round 3 offers grant funding to nonprofit organizations, including those with fiscal sponsors, for three categories of support: up to $25,000 for planning efforts, up to $75,000 for pre-development projects, and up to $150,000 for site acquisition. These grants are intended to foster resident-led housing solutions such as mutual housing models, cooperatives, community land trusts, tenant-owned mobile home parks, and other shared-governance housing models. All applicants must demonstrate meaningful support from the resident communities intended to benefit from the proposed project, including letters of support. Eligible expenses vary by grant type but include personnel and indirect costs for planning grants, and legal, architectural, and environmental services for pre-development or acquisition grants. Additionally, up to ten percent of the grant amount may be used for program delivery costs. Each application must include a completed online form, budget, and documentation of resident support, submitted as a single PDF to the program’s dedicated email address. The review process will assess proposals based on need, community support, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness, with a total of 100 points available across four scoring categories. HTFC reserves the right to request supplemental information and to prioritize new applicants over current grantees. Award notifications will fall into one of three categories: incomplete, non-award, or preliminary award. Final funding decisions are subject to HTFC Board approval. The application deadline is Friday, November 21, 2025, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Awards are anticipated in early 2026, with contracts expected to last for two years and a possible extension. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that projects can begin soon after funding and be completed within the grant term. All activities are subject to applicable environmental reviews and program terms. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to the provided program email.

Strong resident support is critical; letters must show shared vision; budget must be cost-effective and realistic; preference may be given to new applicants; avoid submitting incomplete proposals