Pathways to Social Housing in New York: Part A

Such actions have clear historical precedents. Much of New York State's existing social housing network was created through various forms of direct state intervention, including municipal foreclosure, eminent domain, and provision of assistance for tenant and community building purchases, after long-term agitation by tenant, labor, and community organizations.

In recent years, however, state and local governments have only rarely intervened to create social housing in resident-occupied buildings. When they have taken such actions, these conversions have tended to target the smallest landlords instead of the biggest players, and have not treated tenants as equal partners. Instead, contemporary state and local preservation programs often give away housing to for-profit developers, with fairly short, time-limited restrictions. Despite their rich history, social housing models are largely sidelined and treated as a novelty.

We must reverse this trend. There are several working models of long-term social housing stewardship to build from. Local governments and the State of New York can maintain public ownership of land, while leasing building rights to social housing stewards. Alternatively, governments can transfer land to community and tenant organizations directly. Land banks or new types of state and municipal development agencies can play an active role in these processes. In all cases, a reorientation toward resident decision-making, including strong tenancy rights, financial resources, and long-term access to organizing resources, is necessary for a successful social housing conversion program.

In Part 1 of this report, we outline tools that transfer land to tenants and communities through long-term leasing of public land, municipal foreclosure, and right of first refusal laws; facilitate the conversion of financially distressed properties, including apartment buildings and hotels, into social housing; and establish intermediaries for facilitating social housing conversions.

See here for an introduction to Pathways to Social Housing