AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Yudelka is a fervent advocate of affordable housing in the Bronx, especially when New York City is facing a growing affordable housing crisis. With a projected population of over 9 million by 2030, we need to support housing opportunities for every New Yorker.
Senior Population
Currently, there is a significantly smaller supply of affordable elderly housing than there is a demand and 26% of our senior population in the Bronx is living below poverty level. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain and preserve the senior housing available in the district as well as to encourage new construction to mitigate the demand for senior housing.
-Preservation of existing Section 202 Developments through the use of 4% Federal Low Income Housing tax Credits to upgrade and provide necessary services to the elderly residents in the 4 Section 202 developments in the district.
-Create opportunities for developers to start construction of new Section 202 Developments in the district.
-Provide on-site social services that help our elderly residents retain their independence.
-Advocate to prioritize senior housing in NYC and NYS Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs). Currently NYC and NYS Qualified Allocation Plans for low-income housing tax credits do not identify senior housing projects for special priority points in the competitive criteria process.
-Encourage developers to consider HUD (Housing Urban Development) to allow more mix-use Section 202 development.
-Encourage Section 202 developments to utilize “green technologies” in rehabilitation and new construction, to reduce operating expenses so more money is available for services.
General Population
- Increase funding for new voucher releases for Section 8 programs.
- Advocate with housing agencies and Public Housing Authority to expand Section 8 to homeownership initiatives.
- Bring more Community Development Corporations (CDC) to invest in the district. CDC’s have a history of being committed to affordable and quality housing.
- Ensure that domestic violence residences receiving Section 8 are protected.
- Create more incentives programs to develop multi-family homeownership opportunities.
- Devote more capital resources to cooperative and condominium projects in the district. Encourage developers and property owners to consider a multi-family homeownership model if proven viable.
- Bring financial support for green developments throughout the district. Green developments can be a major step in addressing serious health issues plaguing our community.