ES2 Economic Security Campaign

DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL NEW YORKERS
Empire State Economic Security Campaign

The Challenge
Every New Yorker deserves the opportunity to achieve the American Dream; decent safe affordable housing is integral to that goal. In New York State, however, it is becoming increasingly difficult for poor and working families to find and maintain housing that is in good condition and fits within their budget. From Buffalo to New York City the poor and middle class are paying too much to live in inadequate housing.
Both homeowners and renters are struggling because middle-income and entry-level wages and public assistance shelter grant levels are insufficient to meet the cost of available housing. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, New York State is ranked one of the least affordable states for housing in the nation - a distinction it has held since the middle 1990s. The “housing wage” (the amount a worker would have to earn per hour in order to be able to work 40 hours per week and afford a two-bedroom unit at the State’s Fair Market rent) in New York State is $19.73. This is an increase since last year and beyond the reach of many New Yorkers. In the beginning of October 2006, the New York Times reported that the largest increase in the number of residents whose housing costs are a “burden” (upward of 30% of their income) was reported outside of New York City. The picture is equally glum for those trying to purchase a home. According to CNNMoney the average price of a home in Buffalo is $94,800 and in Albany is $168,600.
New York State has not provided adequate funding for affordable housing preservation or development. The rapid loss of rent regulated and subsidized housing only worsens the crisis. By 2005, 27,810 affordable units had been lost as building owners opted out of expired contracts mostly through the Section 8 and Mitchell Lama programs. Another 27,500 are at risk as their contracts expire through 2015.
ES2 Policy
New York State should do all it can to support poor and working families who are the backbone of our communities and who need a place to call home. Investing in the NYS Housing Trust Fund is a good first step in the right direction. Housing trust funds are established by governments to permanently dedicate a portion of the public revenue to support affordable housing that remains affordable for an extended period of time. The NYS Housing Trust Fund, established to meet the critical need for decent affordable housing, provides support for the construction of new homes, the rehabilitation of existing housing, and homeownership assistance to working families. It has historically received funding between $25 and $35 million a year. This is, however, not enough to meet the needs of New Yorkers.

What the Public Thinks
Most people, regardless of income, think that affordable housing is an important issue. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition 2005 survey, over 50% of respondents support government policies to fund low-income housing and over 75% of those “consistently support” programs to create housing in the face of tax increases and support a housing candidate over a tax cut candidate.

The 2008 - 2009 Session

NYS should commit $13 billion over the next ten years to create and preserve 220,000 units of affordable housing paid for though $9 billion in capital and expense funding and $4 billion through dedication of 75% of the NYS Housing Finance Agency bond insurances.

ES2 supports the Governor’s Housing Opportunity Program providing $400 million to support affordable and supportive housing across the state.

NYS should fully fund its commitment to develop and maintain community based supportive housing under the New York / New York III agreement.
NYS should repeal the Urstadt Law of 1971 which prevents NYC from creating more stringent rent and eviction protections.