September 20, 2024

The NYU Furman Center’s Housing Solutions Lab and Enterprise Community Partners announced the selection of eight small and midsize communities to join the 2024 New York State Peer Network. This eight-month program is designed for housing leaders from jurisdictions across New York State eager to implement, refine, and strengthen tools to meet rental housing and homeownership needs in their communities.

With the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Network will host an in-person convening in Albany, New York, on September 20 to kick off the program, and will include representatives from Albany, Binghamton, Elmira, Ithaca, Kingston, Newburgh, Utica, and Wayne County. 

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Enterprise Community Partners to host the 2024 New York State Peer Network, our sixth peer city cohort and our first focused on a single state: New York,” said Martha Galvez, Executive Director of the NYU Furman Center’s Housing Solutions Lab. “Communities across New York – like communities all across the U.S. – have been grappling with housing affordability and quality challenges for years now. We’re excited to offer an opportunity for housing leaders across New York to share common challenges and promising solutions and build relationships in a consistent legal, political, and policy context.”

Each of the eight communities participating in this year’s Peer Network will bring their own specific housing challenges and priorities. Following the initial Sept. 20 convening, participants will join monthly virtual meetings to exchange ideas, share progress, and receive expert guidance to advance evidence-based policies. The program will not only foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing but also provide support and resources to empower communities as they improve housing opportunities for their residents. 

“As New York State confronts a significant affordable housing crisis, many municipal leaders around the state are saying, ‘What can we do to help?’” said Baaba Halm, Senior Vice President of Programs at Enterprise Community Partners. “We are proud to be working with eight such communities through this program. Through peer networking, information sharing, and support from experts, this cohort will ultimately be better equipped to meet the housing needs of the people they serve.”

Much of New York State is experiencing significant shortages of housing at all levels of the market, which is forcing up rents and home prices and fueling displacement and evictions. At the same time, some communities have seen declining populations and disinvestment, as well as reduced affordable rental stock and severe home repair challenges. 

While many communities have explored strategies to address these challenges at the local level, in recent years, the state has attempted to make progress. Cities are navigating several recently enacted pieces of legislation, which gives places authority to opt into a number of housing policies, including Good Cause eviction protections, a Pro-Housing certification to encourage local jurisdictions to pursue their own housing growth strategies, as well as the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act in 2019. 

Seven of the eight jurisdictions participating in the New York State Peer Network have received Pro-Housing Community certification through New York State. The Pro-Housing Community program is a certification from New York State Homes and Community Renewal that requires a jurisdiction to have approved building permits up to either 1% of existing housing stock (downstate) or 0.33% (upstate) over the past year or 3% (downstate) or 1% (upstate) over the past three years. Pro-Housing Community certification is required for jurisdictions to be eligible for many discretionary funding programs.

City of Binghamton Mayor Jared M. Kraham expressed excitement about the opportunity for City Hall staff to interact with policy experts and municipal leaders from across the state and access technical support and data analysis to address the housing crisis. He also highlighted Binghamton’s work around housing, which is a model for municipalities statewide.

The City of Kingston, following the adoption of a new zoning code in 2023, is committed to improving housing affordability and opportunity, said Mayor Steve Noble, who is looking forward to learning from peers in New York State and advancing evidence-based policies.

Similarly, the City of Newburgh is eager to participate in the Network to address complex housing issues — including strategies related to anti-displacement and inclusionary zoning — while the Wayne Economic Development Corporation sees Network involvement as a chance for communities to access cutting-edge technology, establish partnerships, and explore innovative programs to advance economic growth.

Meanwhile, Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo said he was eager to join forces with peers to develop innovative strategies to increase the city’s housing stock, lessen the financial strain on working families, and promote more diverse and equitable communities.