Officials in Ontario County are celebrating $2 million in state funding that will be used to repair vacant apartments.

The funding is part of $40 million awarded to nonprofits and local governments across New York state through the Vacant Rental Improvement Program. 

According to Gov. Kathy Hochul's office, the funding aims to restore vacant units and uninhabitable buildings into affordable housing for low and moderate-income tenants in communities.

Officials say Ontario County has seen extremely low vacancies in rental housing, an aging housing stock and a lack of available rental options. The funding will be allocated to help vacant apartments that require large renovations. This includes code violation repairs and accessibility upgrades. Officials say units will be affordable to households that earn up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with those earning 60% of AMI seeing additional support.

“This funding empowers us to address vacancy while creating safe, quality housing for residents,” Ontario County’s Director of Economic Development Ryan Davis said in a statement. “Vacant properties aren’t just empty homes — they’re untapped opportunities to strengthen our community and support families in need.”

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and with the Vacant Rental Improvement Program, we’re breathing new life into dormant properties by turning them into high-quality homes for those in need,” Hochul said in a statement. “We must use every tool in our toolbox to address the housing crisis in New York, including preserving and improving the assets we have. These investments will revitalize neighborhoods, provide much-needed affordable housing and help ensure long-term housing stability for New Yorkers.”

The county says the process to begin qualifying housing units and contracting with property owners is expected to begin by January.