Assembly Housing Committee Hearing: SFY 2021-22 Budget in Review
LeadingAge NY plans to submit written testimony to the New York State Assembly Committee on Housing in regard to its hearing held on Wed., Oct. 27th seeking feedback on the implementation of the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021-22 budget for the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) as well as the need for a new five-year State spending plan for affordable housing.
DHCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas noted that rental housing with supportive services, including senior housing, is a priority for the agency and called the concluding five-year plan "transformational" for the State's scope of housing-related work.
A new five-year spending plan that includes funding for supportive housing targeted to each community in need was a focus throughout the event, with many witnesses speaking in favor of increased funding – allocated on a regular basis – to expand on and expedite current development and preservation efforts.
Witnesses also reflected on the difficulties experienced by operators of public housing and other subsidized housing where tenants pay a set portion of their income toward rent in accessing COVID-19 emergency rent relief funds and other resources to help mitigate losses in rental income caused by the pandemic.
The hearing was led by Assembly Housing Committee Chairman Steven Cymbrowitz, joined by Assemblymembers Rosenthal, Epstein, Burdick, Niou, and Walker.
Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8835