In Ticonderoga, New York, a small Adirondack town still bearing the economic scars of losing its largest employer more than 50 years ago, some residents are living in manufactured homes built before the federal government set its first safety standards for the structures. The town is now moving to replace them.
The program targets manufactured homes that predate the 1976 HUD Code, the first federal safety standard for factory-built housing. Units from that era, and even many built in the two decades after, are now 40 to 50 years old or older. They tend to be poorly insulated, structurally compromised, and equipped with electrical and plumbing systems that can pose serious hazards. In a region where winters are severe and heating costs are high, the energy inefficiency alone strains household budgets.
The economics of the situation leave residents stuck. In Ticonderoga and Essex County, median household incomes run well below the state average, a legacy of the 1971 closure of the International Paper mill that once anchored the local economy. Traditional mortgages are often unavailable for manufactured homes, particularly those on leased land, so owners of failing units rarely have a path to replacement without outside help.
New York State has funded exactly this type of work through its Office of Community Renewal, using Community Development Block Grant dollars and state Housing Trust Fund money to cover the gap that private financing won't touch. The Ticonderoga program, posted to the New York State Contract Reporter in early May 2026, follows that model. The specific number of homes targeted and the total budget are not publicly available without logging into the state's procurement system, so the full scope remains unclear.
The effort also aligns with New York's climate commitments under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Older manufactured homes rank among the least energy-efficient housing types in the country, and replacing them with modern units that meet current energy codes reduces emissions while cutting utility costs for low-income households.
Ticonderoga sits in Essex County at the southern end of Lake Champlain, inside the Adirondack Park, where development regulations add complexity to any construction project. The region has documented a worsening housing shortage affecting year-round residents and the workforce that supports its tourism economy, making rehabilitation of existing stock especially important where new construction is constrained.
A contractor will be selected through the public bidding process, with the Town of Ticonderoga or Essex County likely administering the program, potentially alongside a nonprofit housing partner. How many families ultimately get new homes will depend on the funding available and how many applications qualify.
