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Assembly and Senate stress housing priorities: NYCHA, Mitchell‑Lama, $250M housing access voucher proposal
Summary
Lawmakers emphasized funding for NYCHA repairs, Mitchell‑Lama preservation, and a proposed $250 million Housing Access Voucher Program aimed at people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; the Assembly said it would cap Mitchell‑Lama property taxes at no more than 5% of annual shelter rent outside New York City as a local option.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle highlighted housing as a central budget priority during the opening three‑way talks, naming NYCHA repairs, Mitchell‑Lama preservation and a new voucher program among the top items.
"There is no discussion of changing rent regulation rules around rent stabilization or rent control in this budget," Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, said. Rosenthal said the Assembly included significant funding for NYCHA and Mitchell‑Lama repairs and emphasized preservation of those programs.
Rosenthal said both the Assembly and the Senate proposed $250,000,000 for a Housing Access Voucher Program, modeled on Section 8, to provide vouchers for people who are homeless or on the brink of homelessness. She also described a provision in the Assembly proposal that would reduce property taxes for Mitchell‑Lama developments to no more than 5% of the annual shelter rent, with an outside‑the‑City local option.
Senate members, including Ranking Member Jack Martens, urged tighter means testing for affordable units so that units meant for lower‑income households are not occupied by higher‑income tenants, particularly in downstate markets.
Senators also described other proposed allocations including block‑by‑block infill programs for Upstate housing, funding for land banks, and suggestions to reclassify or categorize a portion of city funding for housing projects. Lawmakers said details will be negotiated with the executive.
