NEWBURGH HOUSING REPORT – FINAL DOCUMENTS
The Leviticus Fund has released its Newburgh Housing Report that offers data-driven housing policy recommendations, goals and action steps to address the city’s unmet housing needs.
Two working papers provide the framework for the report, which is based on a year-long study and analysis of Newburgh’s demographic patterns, resident-owned and rental housing conditions, and economic trends. The report benefitted from strong community-level participation from the city’s administration and Newburgh’s Planning Department, coupled with active engagement of residents and community-stakeholders through Zoom discussions, dual language surveys, and one-on-one phone calls.
Working Paper I: Housing Needs Assessment captures and synthesizes all of the quantitative and qualitative data related to the city’s demographic composition, housing conditions and economic trends and is organized in a way to support its usage in strategic planning or competitive funding applications pursued by the city and local nonprofits.
Working Paper II: Housing Policy Framework focuses on the policy themes of Equity, Livability and Vitality. The report identifies these three themes as “interlocking housing needs” and critical building blocks for the city to draft any new housing policies. Within these policy themes, the report provides in-depth recommendations for preventing housing discrimination, racial segregation, and displacement, reducing housing costs, as well as preserving and expanding the city’s affordable housing supply.
Documents
Working Paper I: Housing Needs Assessment
Working Paper II: Housing Policy Framework
Newburgh Housing Report-City Council Update 10.22.20
The project team presented an update on the Newburgh Housing Report to the Newburgh City Council on October 22nd. The presentation included a preview of the range of housing goals and strategies under consideration. More refined goals, strategies, and specific actions are currently in development.
Draft Newburgh Community Profile
A key element of the Newburgh Housing Needs Assessment is analysis of Newburgh’s demographic composition, housing market, and economic conditions. The initial findings from this analysis are presented in the Draft Newburgh Community Profile.
Record of Community Listening Sessions
In September 2020, the project team hosted a series of four community listening sessions aimed at collecting input from residents on their housing needs. This feedback has been documented in the Record of Community Listening Sessions.
YONKERS HOUSING REPORT
Following 18 months of collaborative work with a wide range of community-based stakeholders, The Leviticus Fund released its Yonkers Housing Report in October of 2019. The report offers eight housing best practices that are tailored to the unique opportunities and challenges that the City of Yonkers is facing in the midst of its urban redevelopment.
After years of declining population and disinvestment, Yonkers and other cities throughout the United States are experiencing new waves of people, businesses, and urban development. Restoring urban vitality is wonderful, but also raises vexing public policy questions about housing affordability and inclusion. Cities everywhere are challenged with attracting new investment while expanding housing and employment opportunities for its lowest-income households. Yonkers is a microcosm of these broader trends. And given its proximity to New York City, one of the most expensive housing markets in the world, it is an opportune time to analyze housing policy in Yonkers.
We offer special words of thanks to the JPMorgan Chase Foundation for providing charitable support for this housing policy study, and to the land use and economic consulting firm of Kevin Dwarka LLC, that led the report’s technical process.
It is our hope that the report will be a touchstone to help achieve, over time, more equitable and inclusive housing choices for individuals and families of all incomes living in Yonkers.
Documents
To read the report’s Executive Summary, click here.
To read the full report, click here.
