Small Landlord Program Launches To Protect Affordable Housing In NYC

NEW YORK, NY— A new program aims to help New York City landlords manage rising costs and rental arrears, a growing challenge for small-scale owners of affordable housing.

The program, delivered in partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City and funded by JPMorgan Chase, will support a cohort of up to 20 landlords over 15 months, targeting owners in low-income communities, and prioritizing portfolios of two to eight units with rents at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income.

“Small-scale landlords are facing the same acute challenges as the rest of the rental housing industry: skyrocketing property and insurance costs, slumping rent collection, and mounting financial distress,” Baaba Halm, senior vice president of programs at Enterprise Community Partners, said. “Unlike larger property owners, these landlords have very limited resources for eviction-prevention assistance and unexpected building costs."

The program offers training, peer learning, property assessments, technical assistance and resources to address tenant rental arrears. Organizers also aim to document small landlords’ unmet needs to shape future eviction-prevention strategies.

Tonya Ores, CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, said because the program stabilizes both parties, it will pave the way to building generational wealth.

“Collaborating on this program allows us to preserve homeowners’ biggest asset while helping tenants avoid eviction," Ores said.

The first cohort will convene over the next 15 months, with applications accepted through May 2026.

Interested landlords can contact Michael Minott, senior housing project manager at NHSNYC, by emailing michael_minott@nhsnyc.org or reaching him at 212-519-2534.