Pratt Center for Community Development

Planning, Building, & Educating for Change.

Time for a Gut Rehab: How the Next Governor Can Rebuild New York State's Affordable Housing Legacy

Eighty years ago, New York State was a national pioneer in creating affordable housing -- an effort led by its governor. In 1926, Governor Al Smith signed the Housing Act, which sparked a wave of low-cost development. New York was one of just two states to help produce housing before the New Deal. Republican and Democratic governors -- Harriman, Carey, Rockefeller, Cuomo -- continued and expanded this legacy.

Governor Pataki leaves the helm of New York State with different legacy: a consistent failure to ensure that New Yorkers have access to decent and reasonably priced housing.

As New Yorkers prepare to elect a new governor, the Pratt Center for Community Development has prepared a report that reviews the Pataki administration's housing policy, reviews what other governors are doing around the country, and explores how the next governor of New York can rebuild New York State's affordable housing legacy.

The report highlights the shortcomings of the Pataki Administration in failing to address the critical and growing need of New Yorkers -- in every part of the state -- for affordable housing. The report also lays out targeted recommendations for the next governor to reclaim New York's legacy on affordable housing. These recommendations include:

  • Increase investments in proven housing programs, and create a dedicated housing trust fund;
  • Preserve affordable housing for millions of New Yorkers by strengthening rent laws and protecting at-risk units;
  • Create a "fair share/smart growth" plan for affordable housing that creates opportunity in all of New York's regions;
  • Implement a concrete plan to end homelessness; and
  • Reform the state's housing agencies and authorities

Download the Report:

Time for a Gut Rehab: How the Next Governor Can Rebuild New York State's Affordable Housing Legacy PDF icon

Executive Summary PDF icon

Resources for Action:

Community and tenant groups, religious congregations, business leaders, and labor unions are now coming together across the state to push the next governor to take real leadership in addressing the housing crisis:

  • Center for Community Change is coordinating a network of community and tenant groups around the state organizing for a increased resources, a dedicated housing trust fund, and regional planning to support sustainable neighborhoods. Contact Nina Dastur at [Sorry, display of this email address requires a Javascript-aware browser, in order to deter spam. Please use the general contact page instead.].
  • Housing First! is organizing groups in New York City, in partnership with allies around the state, in hopes of building on its success in persuading New York City to adopt a multi-year, multi-billion dollar commitment to create and preserve affordable housing.
  • Housing Here and Now is focusing on strengthening the rent regulations which protect affordable housing for 3 million New York tenants -- by restoring "home rule" to New York City and addressing key issues of vacancy decontrol.

For more information about this report, contact:

Marnie McGregor
Senior Policy Analyst
(718) 636-3496
[Sorry, display of this email address requires a Javascript-aware browser, in order to deter spam. Please use the general contact page instead.]