Housing
Beyond building more housing, how will the next mayor of New York City create a more balanced, comprehensive and equitable housing plan that addresses the range of challenges that housing creates?
Housing has many challenges in New York City, from homelessness to crumbling public housing, racial segregation, and private market disinvestment. This paper recommends a housing strategy that furthers seven key aims.
By Ingrid Gould Ellen
How can New York City work with and support smaller owners of multi-family rental properties, who are important providers of affordable housing?
While the recent political and philosophical debate will continue about whether real estate and housing should be owned by the private sector or by non-profits and community-owned entities, the focus must be on the financial precariousness of all MFRPs in New York City, regardless of its owner. This paper considers the “carrot” and “stick” tools to incentivize good owners and punish bad owners and make further recommendations to stabilize this housing stock.
By Jerry Salama
How will the next mayor of New York City both preserve the benefits of homeownership for current homeowners while expanding access to the same benefits in ways that are racially equitable?
The progressive case for preserving homeownership faces a few challenges right out of the gate. A key challenge for the next mayor will be how to preserve the benefits of homeownership for existing homeowners, and how to expand access to those benefits in ways that are racially equitable.
By Sophie House
How can New York City reshape its housing policies to reflect the balance of homeowners and renters?
This paper argues that homeowners in New York City are both over protected (via zoning) and under supported by City housing programs and policies (via capital investment programs and housing counseling support). A policy realignment between ownership and rental housing would provide opportunity, security and stability for low-income, minority, working-class and elderly homeowners and would-be homeowners.
By Sarah Gerecke
How can New York create more supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, and revamp the City's adult shelter system?
Homelessness has been an intractable, growing problem in New York City. The most cost-effective solution for homelessness in New York is to develop permanent housing rather than shelters. The next mayor should take advantage of the post-pandemic real estate market by acquiring and converting hotels and other distressed properties to create 22,000 low-income housing units in the next eight years.
By Eric Rosenbaum
How can New York City's zoning laws incentivize affordable housing development?
The United States suffers from a severe housing shortage and New York City is the epicenter of this crisis. Recent efforts to change zoning regulations under the de Blasio administration have not produced the desired number of affordable housing units. This paper proposes three recommendations for the new mayor to win the fight for housing.
By Roderick M. Hills, Jr. and David N. Schleicher