New York communities repurpose vacant properties to combat homelessness

New York counties are increasingly turning to vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties to create affordable housing and move away from a costly reliance on hotels.

A tragic fire at the Knights Inn in Broome County killed six people, including three children, highlighting the safety risks of using motels for emergency shelter. Broome County Executive Jason Garnar noted that the county spent $9.5 million on hotel placements last year, a sharp increase from less than $400,000 in 2018.

Data shows that homelessness in New York surged between 2022 and 2024, with rates in the region including Broome County jumping 66 percent. While hotels provide immediate shelter, they often fail health and safety inspections and lack necessary supportive services like medical care or kitchens. To address this, several local governments are adopting models that repurpose dilapidated buildings into permanent or transitional housing.

In Columbia County, the Galvan Foundation purchased a 24-room motel to provide shelter at lower nightly rates than private competitors. In Wayne County, the government used American Rescue Plan Act funds to renovate a deteriorated rental property, creating 12 units for homeless referrals at a lower weekly cost than hotel stays. Additionally, the Finger Lakes Regional Land Bank acquired tax-delinquent parcels to build five permanent supportive housing units with funding from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.