A Social Housing Development Authority for New York State

On February 6, 2024, New York State (NYS) Senator Cordell Cleare, a Democrat in the 30th Senate District (including Harlem), introduced Senate Bill 2023-S8494 to establish “the New York State social housing development authority as a public benefit corporation to increase the supply of permanently affordable housing in the state through the acquisition of land and renovation or rehabilitation of existing real property, and through the construction of new, permanently affordable housing.” 

The bill, which was immediately referred to the Senate Finance Committee and remains there as of today, has the potential to democratize housing across the state and to make a significant and long-lasting impact in the areas of housing and economic justice.