Requires community median income be used by certain affordable housing programs in N.Y. City
Summary
This bill would require certain affordable housing programs in cities with a population of one million or more — effectively New York City — to use “community median income” instead of broader area-based income measures when setting income eligibility and rent levels. Community median income is defined as the median income for individual ZIP codes based on the most recent federal census.
The requirement would apply to affordable housing projects that use state funding to cover 33 percent or more of construction costs and are initiated after the bill’s effective date. Programs that use federal funding sources would be exempt. The bill is intended to make affordability calculations more locally tailored by tying them to neighborhood-level income data rather than citywide or regional figures.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would change how certain affordable housing lotteries and rent restrictions are calculated in New York City by directing covered programs to use ZIP-code-based community median income. This would affect state-funded housing developments meeting the 33 percent state-financing threshold, potentially altering who qualifies for affordable units and the rent levels that can be charged. It would not apply to projects relying on federal funding sources, and it would take effect on January 1 following enactment.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Housing, with no recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts provided. Based on the bill’s structure and caption, it appears to be a targeted housing-affordability measure aimed at refining income calculations for local conditions, but there is no direct evidence in the supplied materials of support or opposition from legislators or stakeholders.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether affordable housing eligibility should be based on ZIP-code-level community median income rather than broader income benchmarks, which could make some units more accessible in lower-income neighborhoods but also change project economics and program administration. Another likely point of contention is the bill’s threshold for coverage — state funding covering 33 percent or more of construction costs — and the exemption for federally funded projects, which may create different rules depending on financing structure. Because no debate transcript is included, specific opponents or supporters are not identified in the record provided.
Establishes the "jobs and housing act"; directs the private housing finance agency to develop and administer a jobs and housing pilot program to construct and preserve housing, including workforce housing, that is affordable to low and moderate income persons, and creates jobs for those who build and work in such housing.
Authorizes the county of Ulster to establish an affordable housing fund to provide financial assistance to first-time homebuyers, production of affordable housing, emergency housing, or supportive housing for sale or rent, rehabilitation of existing buildings for conversion to affordable housing, emergency housing, or supportive housing, acquisition of interests in real property in existing housing units, and the provision of housing counseling services.
Establishes an affordable independent senior housing assistance program which shall provide grants within amounts appropriated or otherwise available therefor to affordable independent senior housing properties to establish and operate resident assistance programs.
Prohibits landlords from including incorrect information relating to rent decontrol in certain leases and renewals thereof; imposes a violation punishable by a fine of $1000 for a violation by a landlord; requires the standardization of certain notices pertaining to units subject to the Affordable New York Housing Program.
Establishes income eligibility requirements that a tenant shall have income not to exceed one hundred twenty-five percent of the area median income to be eligible to occupy certain rent-regulated housing accommodations.