New York State has launched a new initiative to encourage municipalities to increase the supply of manufactured homes. The “Move in NY” program, announced on Monday, is backed by $50 million in state funding as part of the 2026 budget plan.
The program allows up to 15 communities to apply for state financing if they commit to building at least 10 manufactured homes on land without zoning restrictions. These homes are intended for middle and low-income residents. The state aims to deliver 200 manufactured and modular homes within the next year, with construction open for bids from any company.
“This is the answer to how we can get the supply quickly,” said Governor Kathy Hochul, referring to both the program and the efficiency of manufactured housing.
Manufactured housing is often considered during periods of economic strain because it can be more affordable and faster to build than traditional homes. However, challenges such as financing obstacles and persistent stereotypes about trailer parks have limited widespread adoption.
To address these issues, New York plans to require that manufactured homes be built on land sold with each unit. The state will also follow federal housing design guidelines so that buyers may qualify for traditional mortgages. Instead of penalizing municipalities that do not participate, New York will offer incentives like zero-point loans and partial grants.
Despite these efforts, meeting the goal of 200 new homes would only make a small impact compared to the estimated need for 800,000 units statewide by decade’s end, according to analysis from the Regional Plan Association (https://rpa.org/).
