With thousands of homes in foreclosure and new construction nearly at a standstill, it”™s no surprise there”™s a shortage of affordable housing in the region.
Thus, a study due to be released by the Dyson Foundation is going to confirm what many already know: It”™s tough to find a decent, affordable place to live in the Hudson Valley.
At a Jan. 21 meeting with planners and community leaders at the Orange County Citizens Foundation, county planning Commissioner Dave Church spoke of the need to inject money into creating affordable housing for the region”™s work force. With median family incomes between $45,000 and $65,000 a year in the five-county area, most families cannot afford to buy a home, although there are assistance programs available.
And while the towns of Monroe and Montgomery allow accessory apartments, most of the municipalities in the region are strictly geared toward the single-family housing market.
“I believe it”™s because most of the people who sit on these local boards are homeowners themselves,” said Lou Heimbach, president of Sterling Forest L.L.C. and former county executive. “They are afraid ”˜those people”™ will be coming to live in their neighborhoods. The fact is, most of the people looking for decent housing are working right here in our hospitals, nursing homes and other industries where the salaries are not astronomical but they are certainly quality people and they don”™t fall into the ”˜those people”™ category.”
Charles Finnerty, the chairman of Monroe”™s planning board for more than 25 years, said the town has had an accessory apartment provision in place for years, but not many people are taking advantage of it. “It is a way to provide housing and also for families to (generate money to) pay their taxes, which aren”™t going anywhere but up.”
The housing report, funded by the Dyson Foundation, is expected to be released this month.
The Orange County Citizens Foundation is also updating its “Quality of Life” report. Comments may be emailed to nancy@occf-ny.org.
That study is being done in conjunction with SUNY New Paltz and should be ready by September 2008.
