![Senator Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/4_3_small/public/01-20-21_ryan-hs_0011.jpg?itok=vlKXNU5F)
![Incentivizing Construction of Affordable Homes in Buffalo What It Is: A pilot program that will create 2,000 new affordable one- and two-family homes in Buffalo over a five-year period. How It Works: Uses funds previously appropriated to the Department of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) to 1) subsidize the cost of building houses on vacant lots in neighborhoods across the City of Buffalo and 2) subsidize the sale of those houses to low-to-moderate income households with steady incomes. How It Helps: Uses funds previously appropriated to the Department of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) to 1) subsidize the cost of building houses on vacant lots in neighborhoods across the City of Buffalo and 2) subsidize the sale of those houses to low-to-moderate income households with steady incomes. What It Costs: Requires no new funding. Est. Cost: $160 million of previously appropriated funds per year over 5 years Why It Works: New York’s existing housing programs are typically built around New York City’s housing needs; they often utilize tax abatements and incentivize the creation of large apartment buildings. Cities like Buffalo need a plan that adds to the tax base instead of subtracting from it. The State already spends millions on affordable housing each year – roughly $450,000 for each apartment built. Investing that money in affordable one- and two- family homes would provide a much bigger bang for our buck and help families build generational wealth.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/good-neighborhoods-infill.png)
Chairman of Committee on Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business
( D ) 61st Senate District
February 20, 2024
This comprehensive, community-focused plan addresses the shortage of high-quality, affordable housing in Buffalo. By increasing the number and improving the condition of affordable housing units in the city, the plan will address the various barriers to keeping people housed in Buffalo.
In an effort to make affordable housing more readily available to homebuyers and renters across Buffalo, the plan features four components that combine to address many of the underlying problems that have led to a lack of access to affordable housing in Buffalo and similar cities throughout New York.
Click here to read an article written by Debadrita Sur of The Buffalo News.
Click here for a video and web story by Kelly Dudzik of WGRZ in Buffalo.
Click here for a video and web story by Michael Schwartz of WKBW in Buffalo.
Click here to listen to Senator Ryan's interview with Joe Beamer of Hardline on WBEN in Buffalo.
Click here for a full transcript and a link to an audio recording of Senator Ryan's interview with David Lombardo of The Capitol Pressroom.
Click here to read an article written by Max Faery of WBEN.
Click here to read an article by Spectrum News.
Click here to watch Senator Ryan's interview with Dave Greber and Jordan Norkus of WIVB.
Click here to read commentary submitted to the Albany Times Union by housing expert Alan Mallach.
Click here for a full transcript and a link to a video recording of Senator Ryan's interview with Susan Arbetter of Capital Tonight.
Senator Ryan solicited input and advice from national experts, local community leaders, and a wide range of stakeholders while devising this vision for improving access to safe and affordable housing in Buffalo and across New York.
As he continues to work to make this vision a reality, gathering feedback from the community is critical to ensuring that the interests of all New Yorkers affected by the plan are taken into account.