500 affordable housing units
The City of St. Louis Offers Grant Funding for Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns
The devastating tornado that struck St. Louis on May 16 left many families without safe and stable housing. In response, the City’s Office of Recovery and Community Development Administration (CDA) has announced a new Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns program. This program aims to quickly repair vacant rental units and make them available to families displaced by the tornado.
The Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns grant funding, totaling $2.5 million from Rams Settlement funds, will cover minor repairs, maintenance, and updates to vacant rental housing. CDA will provide financial assistance of up to an average of $10,000 per unit, with the requirement that all units be occupied by tornado-impacted families by December 31, 2025.
Applications Now Open for Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns
The application process for the Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns program is now open. Interested parties can apply through CDA’s Salesforce grants portal. The deadline for applications is October 31, 2025, at 4 PM, or until all available funding is obligated. However, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed and rated on a rolling basis.
Public Hearing and Workshop to Provide Information on Program
To provide more information about the Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns program, CDA will be hosting a public hearing and informational workshop on October 7, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. This workshop will be an opportunity for interested parties to learn more about the program and ask any questions they may have.
Eligible applicants for the program include nonprofit developers, Community Development Corporations, and public entities that own rental property portfolios. For-profit landlords are not eligible at this time. Properties must be located in the City of St. Louis and leased exclusively to households displaced by the tornado, in coordination with case management agencies.
CDA Executive Director Nahuel Fefer explains the importance of this program, stating, “Many of our community development partners are caught in a vicious cycle: empty units mean less income, deferred maintenance, and more vacancies. Last year, we piloted the Vacant Unit Turns program to inject the capital needed to break this cycle. In the wake of the tornado, the need is greater than ever, so we’re scaling the program with Rams funds in order to house displaced families while stabilizing distressed portfolios.”
As the City’s housing and community development agency, CDA manages these opportunities to ensure that public dollars are used to create affordable housing, support recovery, and strengthen neighborhoods. Since 2020, CDA has supported the development of over 500 affordable housing units.
To learn more about the Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns program and access the NOFA PDF, additional resources, and the application portal link, visit the CDA website at [insert website link here].
Don’t miss this opportunity to help families in need and contribute to the recovery of our community. Apply for the Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns program today!
