ALBANY, NY – In a major push to address the housing crisis on Long Island, Empire State Development (ESD) has launched the Long Island Forward Housing Program (LIFHP), a $10 million initiative designed to accelerate multifamily housing production and revitalize underutilized properties in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The program offers municipalities no-cost technical support to identify and prepare sites for new housing development, especially near downtowns and transit hubs.
Rather than providing direct funding to municipalities, the state will fund professional services such as engineering consultations, environmental assessments, traffic impact studies, and financial feasibility analyses. This support is meant to help towns and villages overcome common development hurdles, from navigating environmental regulations to marketing viable sites to private developers.
The LIFHP stems from a proposal submitted by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council through the state’s Regional Council Challenge Competition. Eligible applicants include municipalities with zoning authority in both counties. Applications are prioritized based on factors such as proximity to Long Island Rail Road stations, adaptive reuse of blighted sites, and designation as a “Pro-Housing Community.”
Local leaders have voiced strong support for the initiative. From East Hampton to Mineola, town supervisors and mayors see the program as an opportunity to keep families, workers, and seniors living on Long Island by creating more accessible and affordable housing options.
The LIFHP aligns with Governor Kathy Hochul’s broader housing agenda, which includes a five-year, $25 billion statewide plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes. That plan, combined with recent budget commitments to build on state-owned land and fund developments with supportive services, represents one of the most ambitious housing strategies in New York’s history.
Interested municipalities must submit a letter of intent to ESD and may be invited to apply through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) portal. For more information, local officials can contact the ESD Long Island Regional Office at 631-435-0717 or via email at [email protected].
