The State of New York announced the launching of the third phase of its $20 billion plan to end homelessness. It is the largest housing program in the history of the state.
Over the past decade, the homeless population in the State of New York rose 43%. At present, there are more than 89,000 people experiencing homelessness in the state. That number is expected to exceed 100,000 by 2020, according to Upstate/Downstate Alliance.
In response to the growing calls for meaningful action to resolve homelessness, Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched a comprehensive housing program plan last year. The objective is to create and preserve affordable and supportive housing units statewide over the next five years.
The plan commits $10 billion to build and preserve more than 110,000 affordable housing units across the state. That includes the approximately 12,000 units created through the “Affordable New York” program previously known as 421-a.
Another $10 billion is committed for the construction/operation of 6,000 supportive housing units, support housing programs and rental subsidies.
