FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2023
Mayor Noble Announces Landlord Ambassador Program Launched in Partnership with RUPCO
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce City of Kingston is supporting the Landlord Ambassador Program, facilitated by RUPCO, utilizing the City’s ARPA funding, which launched today.
With funding from Ulster County and the City of Kingston, RUPCO is administering $1.885 million in funds through the Affordable Rental Upgrade Program (ARUP) to provide financial assistance to landlords to improve the conditions of rental units in exchange for keeping rents stabilized for low-income tenants. The City of Kingston allocated $350,000 in ARPA funding to support this program, which will be awarded specifically to Kingston-based rental units. The funding allocated to ARUP for this program is part of the $4.6 million the City of Kingston has earmarked for housing action projects.
“We are pleased to help fund this important effort to provide safe and comfortable housing for all and to ensure that we continue to support the creation of new affordable housing in our community,” said Mayor Noble. “We have successfully worked with RUPCO on a previous round of this program, and I want to thank RUPCO for continuing to facilitate this vital program. I look forward to seeing this funding directly improve more local apartment units for Kingston tenants.”
The program is open to landlords who own eight or fewer legal residential rental units. Funding may be used for repairs that address code violations, items that can lead to code violations, health and safety issues, heating, electrical, plumbing, structural issues, roofing, windows, siding, carpentry, accessibility, and energy efficiency upgrades. Beautification and cosmetic repairs are not eligible expenses. In exchange, the landlord must agree to rent the units to households at or below specified income levels and keep the monthly rental amounts stabilized at an affordable rate for a period of 5-7 years, based on the funding level.
Maximum grant awards per eligible unit:
• $25,000 per unit for units that house tenants with household gross income at or below *60% of the area
median income limit for Ulster County as calculated by HUD based on Household size (maximum $50,000
per building).
• $15,000 per unit for units that house tenants with household gross incomes between *60% and 80% of the
area median income limit for Ulster County as calculated by HUD based on household size (maximum
$30,000 per building).
“We are profoundly grateful for the remarkable partnership we’ve established to support local landlords in the City of Kingston and Ulster County, owning eight units or less and dedicated to serving families making 80% AMI or less. Together, we’re making essential repairs to their units and helping stabilize rents, fostering a stronger, more vibrant community for all. This collaboration embodies our unwavering commitment to affordable housing and the prosperity of our community,” said Faith Moore, Senior Vice President of Operations and Strategy at RUPCO.
The application deadline is December 1, 2023. More details at https://rupco.org/arup/.