State DHCR Issues Housing Needs Study for Central New York Region

ALBANY, NY (02/18/2009)(readMedia)-- The State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has released a report on the housing needs of Central New York, which includes Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego Counties. The unprecedented study was largely derived from five focus group meetings held in the Region which were attended by local officials, advocates, housing developers and social service providers who are involved in affordable housing and community development.

The Central New York Housing Needs Study is one of nine regional reports prepared by DHCR, which is now focused on compiling the information into a Statewide Affordable Housing Needs Study - the first ever prepared by the agency.

Governor David A. Paterson has said the DHCR initiative "represents a new level of outreach to and coordination with local officials who best understand the needs of their communities. These reports will provide us with a powerful tool to help determine how New York State's housing and community development programs can best be targeted to meet the needs of our residents."

DHCR Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen said a regional approach was taken because "although the entire State is facing a shortage of affordable housing, the causes, effects and solutions are very different from region to region. These studies will help us to truly understand the housing needs of communities across the State."

VanAmerongen said DHCR is "reaching out and gathering first-hand information from local leaders and housing professionals about their priorities and their needs as they see them. That kind of outreach has never been attempted before."

Thomas Falicchio, executive director of the Cayuga County Homesite Development Corp., praised the comprehensive and regional approach DHCR took in the study. "DHCR worked closely with our agency and sought the input of local governmental and community leaders. This partnership increases the ability of our agency to administer the correct housing programs to meet the needs of Cayuga County and Auburn, New York. It will make our efforts more cost-efficient and effective," he said.

UNIQUE CONDITIONS, STREGTHS AND NEEDS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK

The Central New York Affordable Housing Needs Study Regional Report identifies a number of unique and varied affordable housing and community development issues and needs in different parts of the Region. For example, Cortland County has experienced a shortage of housing for low- and moderate- income individuals and families, due to competition from SUNY Cortland's 7,500 students, half of whom live off-campus.

In Oswego County, foreclosure rates have climbed due in part to an increase in sub-prime mortgages. Some of the more rural portions of the Region present their own unique problems, including old and substandard housing stock.

In the City of Syracuse, there is an emphasis on rebuilding and renovating the City's downtown area. Several focus group meeting participants believe there should be a focus on encouraging mixed income and mixed use development in the downtown area. Funding from DHCR's Main Street Program, as well as the Empire State Development Corporation's Restore NY Program, are being used to assist in the City's downtown revitalizations efforts. In addition, similar to other large upstate cities, abandoned and vacant buildings are a growing concern for local officials and not-for-profit organizations. DHCR last year implemented a new Subprime Foreclosure Prevention program and has funded not-for-profit housing agencies throughout Central New York to help homeowners facing foreclosure to keep their homes.

DHCR will use the information gathered during the focus group meetings and contained in the Report to target resources to the Region and improve the efficiency of DHCR programs which serve the Central New York Region. The needs identified include:

• Rehabilitation and modernization funds for improvements and repairs for both owner-occupied and rental properties;
• Very low- income housing to provide affordable rental opportunities for those being priced out of the rental market or living in substandard housing;
• Economic development opportunities, including employment opportunities with living wages, and
• Emergency and transitional housing: emergency shelters, transitional housing and supportive services for the homeless population, including those suffering from mental illness or physical disabilities and youth aging out of foster care.

Participants also listed a number of strengths and assets which may help to attract investment in the Central New York region. These strengths include:

• Centrally located in the State, with access to many major markets;
• Generally affordable and stable housing market;
• Local colleges and universities;
• Picturesque natural beauty and small town quality of life.

In addition to local officials from county and city departments (planning, community development, economic development and housing) in the Region, DHCR also met with representatives from Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Companies and other not-for-profit organizations, social service organizations which have affordable housing as a stated mission of their organization and affordable housing developers from the private sector with regional experience.

DHCR staff also gathered information by making site visits and tours throughout the region with local officials. The regional report also includes U.S. Census and American Community Survey data intended to identify demographic and housing related trends.

All the regional studies are available on the DHCR website -- www.nysdhcr.gov -- under "key documents."

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