Program will convene and support New York City landlords of small affordable residential buildings
March 25, 2026, New York, NY – Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) announced today the launch of the Small Landlord Capacity Building Program, a new program to assist New York City small landlords (who own 2-20 rental units) in addressing the increasing challenges associated with owning and operating affordable housing amid rising costs and rental arrears. Enterprise will partner with Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City to deliver the program, which will support a cohort of up to 20 landlords of small-scale rental portfolios to convene over the course of 15 months. The Small Landlord Capacity Building Program is made possible through the support of JPMorganChase.
The Small Landlord Capacity Building Program will seek to engage small-scale landlords in low-income and underserved communities in New York City, especially those with tenants at risk of eviction. Landlords of affordable properties have seen enormous financial pressures since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with sharply rising operating expenses, particularly insurance costs, and declining rent collection. For small-scale landlords, the distress caused by rental arrears often has an outsized financial impact, since even one non-paying unit can comprise a significant portion of the landlord’s total portfolio.
“The Small Landlord Capacity Building Program is much needed,” said Baaba Halm, senior vice president of programs at Enterprise Community Partners. “We know that 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. But unlike larger property owners, owners of small residential buildings have very limited resources available for eviction-prevention assistance and unexpected building maintenance cost increases. We hope that this program will fill this gap in supporting small property owners, one of our city’s most vital sources of affordable housing.”
To qualify as a Small Landlord for the program, landlords must own 2-20 units of affordable rental housing in New York City (NYC) and/or reside in a homeowner-occupied building with rental units. Preference will be given to landlords with a portfolio of 2-8 units. The program specifically seeks landlords of housing with rents affordable to tenants at or below approximately 80% of AMI (Area Median Income). The program is also targeted at landlords without connections to industry networks and trade associations.
The Small Landlord Capacity Building Program will provide valuable offerings for its participants, including:
- Trainings and peer learning opportunities on best practices for operating small-scale affordable housing portfolios.
- Physical needs assessments for each owner’s property.
- Technical assistance from affordable housing experts, customized for the individual owner’s needs.
- Resources for and guidance in addressing tenant rental arrears.
- Knowledge sharing and information gathering to help the program’s organizers and peers understand the eviction prevention needs of small-scale landlords, with recommendations to be shared more broadly and used to inform future programs.
By working with the cohort members, Enterprise ultimately hopes to learn more about, document, and address unmet challenges specific to small-scale landlords operating affordable housing, with the goal of creating future eviction prevention strategies and recommendations for this group’s unique needs.
“Small landlords are key stakeholders of New York City’s affordable housing stock. Collaborating with Enterprise Community Partners on this program will allow NHSNYC to support the preservation of these homeowners’ biggest asset—their property—while also helping their tenants avoid eviction,” said Tonya Ores, CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc. “Because it will stabilize both parties, the program will strengthen communities and pave the way to building generational wealth.”
“Small landlords are essential to New York City’s housing. Helping them navigate rising costs promotes housing security and keeps neighborhoods affordable,” said Will Oehler, Northeast Area Manager, Commercial Term Lending, J.P. Morgan Commercial Real Estate. “We’re proud to support Enterprise Community Partners and Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City on the launch of this program that is equipping small landlords with practical tools and resources that help keep New York housing affordable.”
The Program will include 20 participants in its first cohort, which will convene over the next 15 months. The cohort’s selection will take place through May 2026. Interested landlords should contact Michael Minott, Senior Housing Project Manager, at Neighborhood Housing Services of NYC, Inc, 212-519-2534.
About Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $92.0 billion and created 1.1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands – all to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging. Join us at enterprisecommunity.org | X: @EnterpriseNow
About Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc.
Neighborhood Housing Services of NYC (NHSNYC) is a citywide, community-based, HUD-certified housing nonprofit that has been serving New Yorkers since 1982. Through lending, financial literacy, and housing counseling services, NHSNYC empowers residents to purchase and preserve affordable housing opportunities. Our ultimate goal is to support the realization of the best quality of life possible for each New Yorker, starting with a stable home.
