Housing plan addresses lack of commitments for affordability, infrastructure and housing protections in mayoral administration’s proposed zoning reform

City Hall, NY – Today, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Members announced City for All, the Council’s inclusive housing plan to holistically address New Yorkers’ wide range of housing challenges with policy actions and investments. The Council’s housing plan is focused on advancing a more affordable, livable, and sustainable city for all New Yorkers, calling for deeper affordability in housing, increased affordable homeownership and housing preservation efforts, investments in community infrastructure, stronger tenant protections, better use of housing vouchers, and increased capacity for housing agencies. The City for All housing plan is the Council’s response to Mayor Adams’ citywide zoning reform proposal, currently under review by the Council, lacking complementary housing investments and policies that confront the housing issues facing New Yorkers and their neighborhoods.

“New Yorkers need more housing, but affordability, homeownership opportunities, housing security and stability, and neighborhood investments are equally important to help working- and middle-class residents in our city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “In order to ensure everyone in our city has safe and stable housing to continue contributing to the strength of our city and its economy, we must go beyond zoning reforms to address all the unrelenting housing pressures that leave New Yorkers struggling to afford finding or staying in homes. Without holistic solutions, our city’s severe housing and affordability crisis will only worsen. I am proud to join with my colleagues and advocates to announce City for All, the Council’s housing plan to meet the full range of housing needs of New Yorkers. Taken together, these actions and investments can help ease the challenges facing New Yorkers, allowing our city to become more affordable, livable, and sustainable. The Council intends to advance City for All to secure the housing justice all New Yorkers deserve.”

Further details on the plan can be found here.

City for All calls for:

Deepen Affordability of Housing Production

• Significantly Increase Funding in HPD Five-Year Capital Plan for Affordable Housing Programs and Deeper Affordability
• Deepen Affordability Targets
• Make Deep Affordability Option 3 of MIH Stand-Alone
• Require Affordability in Large Transit Oriented Developments and Town Center Developments
• Strengthen Support for Faith- and Community-Based Organizations Affordable Housing Development
• Increase Funding and Support to Strengthen Community Land Trusts

Support Affordable Homeownership

• Double funding for HPD HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program
• Expand Funding for HPD HomeFix to provide financing to working- and middle-class homeowners for maintenance and repairs to preserve homeownership
• Increase Affordable Homeownership Production through increased funding
• Increase Funding of Legal Services for Homeowners

Invest in Infrastructure to Support Growth

• Commit Significant Capital Funding for DEP Infrastructure, Open Space and Street Upgrades
• Make increased investments in public transit, including infrastructure, access to reduced fare programs, bus service, etc.

Strengthen Affordable Housing Preservation

• Significantly Increase Capital Funding for NYCHA Section 9 Units
• Increase Funding for HPD Preservation
• Incentivize Return of Vacant Units
• Significantly Increase Funding for Mitchell-Lamas Preservation

Bolster Utilization of Housing Vouchers

• Use Vouchers to Help New Yorkers at Greatest Risk and Fix Bureaucratic Issues
• Establish Voucher Incentives and Set-Asides
• Significantly Increase Funding to Combat Housing Discrimination

Protect Tenants

• Significantly Enhance Right to Counsel Funding
• Restore and Strengthen Anti-Harassment Tenant Protection (AHTP) Program
• Increase Funding for Non-profit Tenant Organizing

Fund Housing Agency Capacity

• Enhance HPD Development Capacity
• Strengthen DOB & HPD Housing Inspections
• Increase Funding for Neighborhood Plans

New York City is currently facing a severe housing crisis, with a citywide housing vacancy rate of 1.4 percent– the lowest percentage since 1968. The lack of housing is greatest for the most affordable homes, and most New York City renters are rent-burdened (paying 30 percent or more of their income on rent). Record homelessness, rising evictions, and widespread housing insecurity are impacting New Yorkers across the city, resulting in less safety and stability for communities.

The Council, under Speaker Adams, has prioritized the advancement of housing solutions, including the approval of major land use projects – Innovation QNS and Hallets North in Queens, Innovative Urban Village in Brooklyn, and the Bronx Metro-North Stations and Bruckner Boulevard rezonings in the Bronx. Speaker Adams has led by example within her own district by approving projects to create affordable housing, including the South Jamaica Gateway Rezoning, 141-05 109th Avenue Rezoning, and the 97-04 Sutphin Boulevard Rezoning, among others.

In December 2022, Speaker Adams released her Housing Agenda to Confront the City’s Crisis, outlining comprehensive actions for the City to tackle the housing shortage, deepen affordability, preserve housing, and restore support for City agencies, and in November 2023, the Council enacted Speaker Adams’ Fair Housing Framework Act, which will require the City to establish targeted housing production goals for each community district. Through City for All, the Council is putting forward a holistic housing plan to support working- and middle-class families by investing in solutions that meet their needs.

“New Yorkers across the city are grappling with the impacts of the housing and affordability crisis, which is making it difficult for working-class families to remain in their neighborhoods,” said Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala. “Zoning reform alone cannot meet the full needs of our residents. New Yorkers need a comprehensive set of investments and policies to deliver the housing security we deserve. The City For All housing plan presents holistic solutions that will create a more affordable, livable, and sustainable city, with a focus on deepening affordability, bolstering tenant protections, improving access to housing vouchers, investing in community infrastructure, and more. Most importantly, City for All prioritizes investments for all NYCHA residents. Too often, the unacceptable deteriorating living conditions of Section 9 NYCHA tenants have not been enough of a priority, and this plan is a critical shift in the right direction toward supporting all residents. I thank Speaker Adams for her leadership and all of my colleagues for their partnership in developing a concrete plan to support all New Yorkers.”

“It is unacceptable that working- and middle-class families are being pushed out of the city they call home due to housing instability and rising costs,” said Majority Leader Amanda Farías. “New Yorkers have been calling for a comprehensive housing action plan that truly addresses their needs, and the Council is answering that call. City for All is built on the priorities we have heard from communities across the city, including expanding affordable housing, strengthening tenant protections, and providing real support for those facing housing insecurity. This plan is about keeping New Yorkers in New York City, making our communities stronger, and building a strong and sustainable future for our city.”

“New York City’s housing crisis affects everyone,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “With a vacancy rate of just 1.4%, rents are skyrocketing, and everyday New Yorkers are struggling. The plan the Council is announcing today is tackling the crisis from all sides, making critical investments in all areas of the housing market to address the challenges our city is facing.”

“Housing underproduction is driving up cost of living, and we must consider supply incentives and strategies, zoning changes, and community ownership opportunities to address this crisis. Overall, the City of Yes Housing Opportunity offers a thoughtful approach to reforming our zoning regulations to produce more housing, but there is so much more to do to address the housing crisis than what City of Yes can achieve,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “Under the leadership of Speaker Adams, City Council is working to advance policies that can complement this plan, focused on the production of affordable housing, preservation of existing affordable housing, opportunities for rezonings, community ownership, enhanced tenant protections, and greater access to housing vouchers and support.”

“It is no secret that New York City is in the midst of one of the most pressing housing crisis ever experienced in our great city,” said Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Chair of the Committee on Land Use. “On a daily basis, constituents seek my office’s help in obtaining safer and more affordable housing. While City of Yes is a long overdue start in unlocking new housing opportunities, my community will continue to be severely rent-burdened if any new housing created doesn’t truly reflect the neighborhoods in which they are built in. I am proud to join Speaker Adrienne Adams and my colleagues in rolling out City for All, a plan that comprehensively highlights actions that will generate the change so many New Yorkers need and demand. As Chair of the Committee on Land Use, I look forward to working with Speaker Adams and my colleagues in negotiating a plan that will create a more equitable city.”

“It is essential that New York City’s housing policies meet the diverse needs of all our residents, and I’m proud that the Council has committed to a comprehensive plan, which represents a major step forward in addressing New York City’s most pressing housing challenges,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley, Chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. “During last week’s hearings, we heard from New Yorkers on all sides, and their concerns shaped this approach. Focusing on true opportunities for affordable homeownership, investing in critical infrastructure like sewage systems to support sustainable growth, and ensuring deep affordability are crucial steps. This plan embodies our commitment to supporting New Yorkers at every stage—whether that’s preserving existing homes, protecting tenants, or making vouchers more accessible and effective. By addressing every aspect of housing, we are laying the foundation for a stronger, more equitable city for all New Yorkers.”

“The moment we are living in – a dire affordability crisis, tenants on the brink of eviction, New Yorkers unable to stay in the neighborhoods they call home, low-income and middle class New Yorkers leaving the city – demands bold action,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings. “Today, I am proud to stand with Speaker Adams and my colleagues in putting forth a housing action plan for the City of New York. While the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity includes important zoning reforms that are long overdue, zoning on its own simply cannot meet the scope of this crisis. We must go further than ‘a little more housing in every neighborhood’; we have an obligation to leave the status quo behind and deliver comprehensive solutions that center our city’s most vulnerable. Deep affordability, robust tenant protections, expanded voucher access for those facing homelessness, expanded homeownership opportunities, neighborhood infrastructure investments: these are the critical additional steps we must take. I am proud to have co-led a coalition of Council Members and advocates from across our city who understand this reality and, collectively, are calling today for transformative change.”

“The plan that Speaker Adams is putting forward offers a comprehensive view of the city’s housing needs,” said Council Member Shaun Abreu. “To improve housing security and deepen affordability, we must prioritize investments in infrastructure that drives growth and enables affordable homeownership. Preserving our affordable housing stock and ensuring vouchers work effectively are essential to protecting tenants and their rights. We need to revitalize neglected buildings, transforming them into affordable housing solutions. We need to fulfill the promise of Right to Counsel and ensure tenant protections are upheld. With sufficient funding for Housing Preservation and Development, we can combat income-based discrimination and build a fairer, more inclusive housing landscape for all New Yorkers. These are all realistic goals that we can accomplish with the right leadership.”

“Home ownership and affordable housing of all forms is a high need across the city, and something I consistently hear from constituents in the neighborhoods that make up Brooklyn’s 42nd Council District which I represent,” said Council Member Chris Banks. “Speaker Adams’ multi-faceted approach to addressing the housing concerns faced across the city by so many is a welcome step that will continue to help address our housing accessibility and affordability crisis.  Implementing this plan which supports affordable homeownership options, infrastructure investments surrounding areas with new housing construction, along with the availability of wrap around support services that will protect the rights of tenants while also helping to ensure New Yorkers can take advantage of new housing opportunities is a very welcome step for our city.”

“I want to thank Speaker Adrienne Adams and Housing Committee Chair Pierina Sanchez for their leadership on one of the defining issues of our time,” said Council Member Erik Bottcher. “New Yorkers are counting on their City Council to address this crisis that is forcing them to leave their city because they can’t find anywhere to live. This Council is stepping up to the plate and putting forward a comprehensive vision for alleviating the housing crisis.”

“Congratulations to Speaker Adams and Land Use staff for ensuring that the City of Yes proposal is accompanied by a plan that includes tenant protection, vouchers in dense, higher income areas and oversight over the preservation of existing affordable apartments,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “Building and preserving affordable housing to meet the needs of New Yorkers is a challenge that thus far has not been met. This plan goes a long way toward meeting the challenge.”

“Our city’s housing crisis demands bold solutions. Zoning reform and adding housing supply is crucial, but not enough,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán. “That’s why I’m proud to support Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’s plan to make critical investments in affordability, especially for the lowest-income New Yorkers. Together we can expand voucher access, reverse the Mayor’s irresponsible damage done to CITY FHEPS, and commit to using every tool available to fix our city’s housing crisis and make NYC affordable for New Yorkers.”

“With roughly 90% of our constituent services cases reflecting a deep concern for housing stability, my district faces the housing crisis daily,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “The Council is addressing housing needs realistically and holistically, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to identify solutions that create a livable city for all.”

“The benefits of homeownership are countless: economic stability, housing stability, help families build generational wealth, and so much more,” said Council Member Oswald Feliz.

“We must prioritize the creation of affordable homeownership opportunities in the neediest communities. I applaud Speaker Adams for making this issue a top priority.”

“I applaud Speaker Adrienne Adams for launching the Council’s Housing Action Plan to comprehensively address New York City’s worsening housing crisis,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “Our city stands at a pivotal moment, with record-low vacancy rates, widespread rent burdens, and an affordability crisis severely impacting working and middle-class families. This plan is an urgent step forward, committed to deep affordability and tenant protections to address the needs of those most affected. I look forward to collaborating with the Speaker, my colleagues, and the Administration to advance these critical priorities and ensure every New Yorker has access to affordable housing.”

“Our city’s housing crisis is one of supply and affordability. While increasing supply by permitting greater density will help lower rents, building alone won’t protect our most vulnerable New Yorkers, especially longtime Black and brown residents in gentrifying neighborhoods,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “Under this plan, Speaker Adams and this Council are ensuring the people who built our city’s diverse and vibrant communities can continue to live in them. By deepening affordability requirements in new housing production and supporting affordable homeownership, many low-income local residents in neighborhoods like Prospect Heights and Crown Heights – where Black households earn $48,000 a year and white households make $133,000 a year – will be able to afford new rents or buy their first home and build generational wealth. And greater resources for tenant organizing, legal services, and preservation efforts will keep longtime residents in their existing homes. I applaud the Speaker’s leadership on this vital issue and look forward to working with my colleagues in government to make New York more affordable for all.”

“With this announcement, we’re taking a critical step forward in addressing the urgent housing challenges that affect every corner of our city,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “This comprehensive housing plan represents our shared commitment to building an inclusive New York where affordable options are not just available but accessible to all. By deepening affordability, protecting tenants, and ensuring our neighborhoods have the infrastructure to sustain growth, we are laying the foundation for a more secure and just future. Housing is a basic right, and today’s plan shows that we are serious about making that right a reality for every New Yorker.”

“Where you live affects the rest of your life in New York City. It determines your health, your education, and even your income,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. “Yet, too many of our families are fighting to find affordable, dignified homes and to stay in them. We’re in the midst of a housing crisis and we’re overdue for action. I thank Speaker Adams for her bold leadership and am proud to be a part of a City Council that recognize the severity of this issue, its impact, and the need for change. This comprehensive plan recognizes the variety of ways that NYC families are struggling to stay in their homes, and provides true solutions to make sure we can all thrive.”

“New York City faces a dire housing shortage which City of Yes seeks to solve,” said Council Member Chi Osse. “The Council’s response insists upon more thorough investments in affordability and access to ensure that large-scale changes to city housing policy are to the benefit of all.”

“The City of Yes proposal rightly recognizes that we need to create more housing in every neighborhood,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler, “but I’m grateful to Speaker Adams for her bold leadership to ensure this plan ultimately includes transformational investments in building and preserving affordable housing and strengthening tenant protections.”

“Every New Yorker deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home, which is also essential for positive health outcomes,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman. “This comprehensive housing plan is a critical step forward in addressing our city’s most pressing housing challenges. By deepening affordability, supporting pathways to homeownership, protecting tenants, and investing in essential infrastructure, we’re creating a future where every resident can thrive in a community they love.”

“With this Housing Plan, we are taking decisive action to make New York City a place where everyone can thrive,” said Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams. “By deepening affordability, supporting pathways to homeownership, and strengthening tenant protections, we are ensuring that housing serves all New Yorkers—not just a privileged few. This plan also prioritizes critical investments in infrastructure and city agency capacity, so we can truly support our communities as they grow.”

“ANHD commends the Speaker and the Council for their commitment to a holistic approach to addressing New York City’s housing crisis, including investments in deep affordability, preservation, eviction prevention, and the full range of programs outlined in this package,” said Emily Goldstein, Director of Organizing and Advocacy, Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development. “A holistic approach must also include taking every opportunity to maximize affordability in our zoning incentives. ANHD will continue to work with our members, allies, and elected officials to ensure that we are using every tool and lever at our disposal to end homelessness and guarantee all New Yorkers access to safe, secure and affordable homes.”

“We commend the City Council and Speaker Adams for their bold commitment to tackle New York City’s longstanding housing crisis with this visionary agenda. By championing affordable homeownership, supporting community land trusts, and prioritizing resiliency and preservation, the Council is advancing policies that lay the groundwork for a more equitable and accessible city,” says Christie Peale, CEO and Executive Director of the Center for NYC Neighborhoods. “Our organization and partners have long advocated for these measures to put affordable homeownership within reach for more low- and middle-income New Yorkers, and are thrilled to see them recognized as parts of this transformative housing plan. We hope the Council will continue their push for a comprehensive agenda that enables all New Yorkers to thrive.”

“Tackling the city’s family homelessness crisis requires a broad set of solutions, including more funding for eviction prevention and aftercare services, streamlining rental assistance programs so families can exit shelter faster, and fully funding the city agencies responsible for affordable housing production and benefits access,” said Citizens Committee for Children, Enterprise Community Partners and New Destiny Housing on behalf of the Family Homelessness Coalition. “We applaud Speaker Adams and the City Council for presenting a comprehensive plan and encourage all stakeholders to work toward an agreement for the benefit of New York’s families.”

“The Council’s City for All housing plan is a multifaceted investment in a future New York that is affordable to all, and a necessary addition to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” said David R. Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS). “By prioritizing the capital needs of our aging social housing stock, the plan will ensure our public housing and Mitchell-Lama developments continue to serve as a bulwark of affordability for years to come. By increasing funding for anti-eviction tools, like Right to Counsel, and expanding the reach of the city’s rental assistance program, the plan guarantees that more vulnerable New Yorkers will stay housed. And by increasing funding for development programs that guarantee deep and permanent affordability, the plan will launch a generational expansion of new social housing in New York City.”

“Brooklyn’s housing crisis is undeniable: soaring rents, limited options, and an urgent need for affordable housing are impacting families in every neighborhood. The City of Yes proposal is a critical first step, unlocking potential for housing solutions that respect our communities’ character while addressing immediate needs. We strongly endorse the City Council’s comprehensive housing plan as it embraces this vision, with commitments to deepen investments in affordable housing, rental assistance, and vital protections against displacement,” said Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director of Fifth Avenue Committee. “Together, with this plan, we can ensure that every neighborhood is part of a truly comprehensive housing solution that says ‘yes’ to affordable homes, sustainable growth, and keeping our communities together.”

“Far too many New Yorkers experience the trauma of homelessness and housing instability,” said Kristin Miller, Executive Director of Homeless Services United.  “We applaud Speaker Adams and the entire Council for envisioning this holistic housing strategy which tackles the barriers to housing throughout our city, from inefficiencies and discrimination with rental assistance vouchers that help people move out of shelter and into permanent housing, to prioritizing the creation of more deeply affordable housing paired with additional Capital Funding to create and preserve affordable units. Through this comprehensive housing plan, as well as proposed zoning reforms, New York City can become a more affordable place so that all New Yorkers can continue to call it their home.”

“Housing Works commends the Speaker and City Council for their work developing holistic solutions to the city’s housing crisis,” said Seth Pollack, Director of Community Mobilization at Housing Works. “Housing Works serves many of the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including people living with HIV/AIDS, people who are homeless or unstably housed, people impacted by the criminal legal system, and recently arrived immigrants. Investing in deeper affordability in new construction and making vouchers work is essential for people in these vulnerable groups, and for achieving Housing Works’ mission of ending the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS.”

“It is essential for the City to provide robust and permanent funding for the Anti-Harassment Tenant Protection (AHTP) program,” said the LEAP Coalition’s AHTP Providers. “AHTP supports individuals and groups of tenants leveraging their collective power to combat harassment and displacement. This program is dynamic in design and provides tenants access to a variety of legal resources to protect their homes and ensure they live in safe, affordable and dignified housing. AHTP needs to be a part of any and all comprehensive housing plans for NYC.”

“New York City is in dire need of housing, especially units that are truly affordable to the communities we represent, but zoning alone isn’t the panacea for New Yorkers to achieve housing stability,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney-In-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “Any housing plan demands a holistic approach, including improved access to vouchers, protections for tenants to remain safely in their homes, and tools for New Yorkers to hold negligent landlords accountable who let their buildings deteriorate. The Legal Aid Society thanks Speaker Adams and the City Council for putting forth this common sense City for All housing plan that will truly benefit the communities we represent.”

“New York City is in the midst of one of the worst housing crises in its history,” said Shervon M. Small, Executive Director of Legal Services NYC, one of largest providers of housing legal services in the City. “Vulnerable families need solutions now—solutions that not only create more affordable housing, but include real protections that keep families in the homes they already live in. We applaud the NYC Council for including the full restoration of funding for the City’s Anti-Harassment and Tenant Protection program, a proven safeguard that keeps low-income families safe, out of eviction court, and in affordable housing. And we look forward to working with the Council to expand this funding to fully protect every community in NYC and to bolstering other innovative housing programs, like the City’s Right to Counsel program, so that every New York City resident remains safely housed.”

“Speaker Adams and Chair Sanchez are right that we need additional resources to combat the housing crisis. Their comprehensive plan is a strong complement to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, which will add housing supply for New Yorkers at all income levels. City of Yes must be passed in its entirety,” said Rachel Fee, Executive Director of the New York Housing Conference. “To tackle this crisis head on, zoning reforms are critical but their impact can be enhanced by increasing housing capital, funding for tenant protection services and improved infrastructure. We are grateful for Speaker Adams’ and Chair Sanchez’s leadership on this issue, and we look forward to working with them to pass City of Yes, along with additional programs to strengthen it.”

“The plan announced today by Speaker Adrienne Adams represents a critical step in addressing New York City’s housing crisis,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York. “Confronting the depth of our housing challenges demands an all-of-the-above strategy. We are excited to see a comprehensive approach, pairing necessary zoning reforms with a complementary set of investments in affordability, fair housing, and tenant protections to meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers. By leading the way on a complete package to address our housing crisis, the Council is helping to ensure that New Yorkers today and New Yorkers of tomorrow can afford to call our city home.”

“UHAB knows from 50 years of experience that expanding homeownership for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers is a critical step toward interrupting the cycle of displacement in an increasingly unaffordable housing market,” said Margy Brown, Executive Director of UHAB. “We applaud the Speaker Adams’ and the Council’s advocacy for a comprehensive housing plan alongside zoning reform, with an emphasis on affordable homeownership creation and preservation of existing affordable housing.”

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