The end of the year traditionally offers an opportunity both to take stock of the past 12 months and look ahead at what’s to come.
Thanks to the ongoing
economic and physical challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, 2021 was very
challenging. New York’s affordable housing crisis has deepened and reached
emergency status, with an estimated shortage of
591,000 units across the state.
Neither City nor the State
can accept the status quo in 2022. The outsized challenges we face require
innovative solutions and immediate action. Thankfully, these obstacles also
present new opportunities. With millions of dollars in federal funding coming
into the state for infrastructure and other priorities, and new leadership at
both City Hall and the state Capitol, New York has the chance to take bold
action and make a real difference in thousands of lives.
To do so requires significant
investments in projects and policies that establish housing as a basic human
right for all New Yorkers and helps them obtain critical services they need for
success. With that in mind, the New York State Association for Affordable
Housing (NYSAFAH) engaged in another time-honored end-of-year tradition – the
holiday wish list – of our top five housing priorities we hope the governor and
incoming mayor will consider in 2022.
New 5-Year Statewide
Housing Plan
Funding for the current $2.5
billion 5-Year Housing Plan will be exhausted in March 2022. It has thus far
created approximately 66,500 affordable units and a commitment to 6,000
supportive units, providing safe, reliable housing for some of the state’s most
vulnerable residents.
New York needs to enact a
statutory 5-year housing capital plan, similar to what exists for the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), to ensure a transparent and
predictable pathway to address our mounting housing needs. Additionally, the
2022-23 state budget must include sufficient funds to support the plan.
Governor Kathy Hochul and the
state Legislature must pass a multi-year funding commitment to continue the
pipeline of affordable housing projects, which often take years of planning and
approvals to come to fruition. Developers and lenders require the
predictability of a multi-year plan to move forward with much-needed projects.
Expedite ULURP for
100 Percent Affordable Housing in New York City
The current and expansive
ULURP process can cause lengthy project delays, adding to the already high cost
of affordable housing construction in New York City. To maximize affordable
housing investment, the city must expedite the process for 100 percent
affordable housing projects across the five boroughs. Of course, community
input is critical, but to combat the current homelessness crisis, the creation
of a dedicated “fast lane” for entirely affordable projects would alleviate
costly construction delays and result in more units for those who need them
most.
Upzone High
Opportunity New York City Neighborhoods and Transit Corridors
The recent movement to rezone
SoHo and NoHo to facilitate the construction of additional affordable housing
units is encouraging, but it is not enough. Rezoning can spur increased
production of affordable and supportive units, which, in turn, can help address
the long-standing residential segregation patterns in New York City.
Historically, zoning has decreased density in white, affluent areas while
increasing density in Black and Latino and lower-income communities. The
current zoning regulations are the result of decades of discriminatory housing
policies, preventing residents from accessing critical transit, health care, education
and job opportunities, and other services, and this must change.
Sustainable
Affordable Housing Funding
New York State is leading the
way with the most aggressive clean energy and climate plan in the country – the
2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which requires an economy-wide reduction in greenhouse
gases by 2040. NYSAFAH strongly supports sustainable housing production and promotion
of increased energy efficiency in housing units, both of which will also result
in significant savings for tenants.
The 2022-23 state budget must
include at least $500 million for a new program to finance greater energy
efficiency and green construction in affordable housing projects. This program
will complement the CLCPA’s goals and help New York satisfy the requirement
that it provide at least 35 to 40 percent of the Act’s funds and incentives to
historically disadvantaged communities.
Promote Digital
Equity Through Broadband Access
Low-income residents of
affordable housing developments across the state are disproportionately impacted
by lack of internet access. A recent
report by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found
1 million new York households do not have home broadband services – due to lack
of affordability, lack of infrastructure or both. The pandemic has underscored
the necessity of reliable, fast online access as so many services – from
healthcare to education – are now available virtually. Underserved communities
are falling behind significantly due to the persistence of the digital divide. NYSAFAH
encourages the state to leverage the $100 million it will receive in federal
infrastructure money earmarked for broadband to ensure that all affordable
housing developments – both new and existing – are fully wired for online
access and will be providing a blueprint for making that goal a reality.
Jolie Milstein is
president and CEO of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing
(NYSAFAH).
