Which Housing Measures Made NY's State Budget, And What Else Happened This Week

The state budget agreement raises eligibility for senior and disabled rent freezes by increasing the income limit for rent-stabilized tenants. New Yorkers with incomes up to $75,000 can qualify for SCRIE and DRIE, and the state must notify eligible tenants about the programs. The agreement also reforms environmental review processes to reduce delays and costs for housing and infrastructure projects. Faster review applies to housing projects under 250 units citywide and up to 500 units in medium- and high-density areas of New York City. The budget does not provide additional funding for housing vouchers, leaving that housing support area unchanged.

"The budget agreement increases the eligible income for senior and disabled rent stabilized tenants to get their rent frozen in exchange for a landlord tax abatement. New Yorkers with incomes up to $75,000 could now be eligible for the rent freeze programs, called SCRIE and DRIE, which have struggled to get people enrolled. The agreement will also require the state to notify eligible tenants about the initiatives."

"Gov. Kathy Hochul will "let them build," passing comprehensive reform to environmental review processes that some policymakers say make it prohibitively expensive and time consuming to build housing and other infrastructure, like climate resiliency projects. The measures allow faster environmental review, which can sometimes take years and cost millions of dollars, for housing projects under 250 units citywide and up to 500 units in medium- and high-density parts of New York City."

"Housing and infrastructure projects can take as much as 56 percent longer in New York State to get from concept to groundbreaking compared to peer states," said Gov. Hochul in a statement. "The Budget includes landmark reforms to slash through the red tape and government bureaucracy that has stymied desperately needed housing.""

Read at City Limits