State DHCR Issues Housing Needs Study for Downstate Suburbs

ALBANY, NY (09/25/2008)(readMedia)-- The State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has completed and released a regional report on the housing needs of Long Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties. The unprecedented study involved meetings and interviews with dozens of local officials, advocates, developers and other members of the housing community.

The Downstate Suburban Housing Needs Study is the fourth in a series of nine regional reports being prepared by DHCR, which will also issue a Statewide Affordable Housing Needs Study once all regional reports have been completed.

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."

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano said, "We are delighted by the level of interest and cooperation the state is demonstrating in conducting this study, and with its support for addressing local needs such as affordable housing, Main Street and community revitalization improvements."

Diana Weir, executive vice-president of the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) said, "We are so pleased to have worked with DHCR to quantify the extent of the affordable housing crisis on LI. It is so important that the State collaborate with local organizations and governments to find solutions, and we commend DHCR for their outreach to the people who are really experiencing the problem."

VanAmerongen created the Office of Policy Research and Development at DHCR in part to develop a Statewide housing needs study. The office has issued reports on three other regions of the State - the North Country, Finger Lakes and Capital Regions.

The latest report on the Suburbs of New York City indicate the unique problems affecting the housing market in the region, and in particular the impediments to developing affordable rental housing: high taxes, high land and infrastructure costs, as well as NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) which is based on the fear that affordable housing residences will adversely effect home values and neighborhood stability.

In an effort to combat NIMBYism, DHCR launched a public service campaign and website (www.affordablehousingworks.org) to remove the stigma associated with affordable housing. The reality is that affordable housing complexes being built around the state today are not only architecturally attractive, but also have a positive effect on the communities in which they are sited - stabilizing property taxes, enhancing local economies and of course providing young people and senior citizens with housing in their home towns.

To prepare the report on the Suburbs of New York City, DHCR staff traveled throughout Long Island, Westchester and Rockland to meet with local officials and housing professionals from pertinent county and city departments (planning, community development, economic development and housing).

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

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