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Debate on the definition of low-income housing in New York City
0:55:51
·
127 sec
Council Member Áviles and HPD officials engage in a debate about the definition of low-income housing in New York City. The discussion centers around whether 80% AMI should be considered low-income, given the city's high cost of living.
- HPD uses federal AMI standards, which consider 80% AMI ($110,000 for a family of three) as low-income
- Council member argues that 40% AMI is more representative of low-income in many communities
- HPD officials highlight recent program changes to target lower AMI levels, including options for 40% AMI in some programs
- Discussion of HPD's subsidized housing production, with 68.6% of new construction affordable for up to 50% AMI
Alexa Áviles
0:55:51
You consider 80% AMI low income?
0:55:53
I mean in New York City.
Ahmed Tigani
0:55:55
Yeah, well in New York City for, if it's a family of three, it's a hundred and $10,000 a year, so if you talk about two wage earners who are making 50 or $55,000 a year together raising a child in New York City, yes that family is
Alexa Áviles
0:56:10
having difficulty No, definitely a strap that I'm just surprised by 100,000 not the average AMI in our community.
0:56:19
In fact
Ahmed Tigani
0:56:20
And yes, and I'll just
Alexa Áviles
0:56:20
40 is where we're hovering, anything above that is unaffordable housing.
Ahmed Tigani
0:56:25
Yeah.
0:56:25
I would say two things.
0:56:26
One, the standards set by the federal government, right?
0:56:30
We are using with federal AMI standards.
0:56:33
And then the other thing, which I'll just point out, I know people know, but I'm not sure if the full public knows.
0:56:38
There have been changes to many of the programs, especially in the last couple of years to go further and target that.
0:56:43
So, the changes in City of Yes to allow for option three of 40% of AMI.
0:56:47
And even in four sixty seven ms, which is the commercial to residential conversion program, there is a specific layer for 40% of AMI.
0:56:58
So I think there's certainly a recognition that in our programs we have to be more targeted, but we cannot forget that we have, and I know that you don't, that there are multiple levels of low income households that we need to help with our housing.
Lucy Joffe
0:57:11
And if I may just add also, think what Commissioner Togany referenced between the full range of our programs between particularly the full as of right and also our subsidized programs.
0:57:24
When you look at our subsidized housing production, which is really where HPD can prioritize where we put our money programmatically, we see 68.6% in the last calendar year of subsidized new construction affordable for up to 50% AMI.
0:57:41
So yes, like while we have larger numbers that are 80% AMI or below, really when you do look at that subsidized production, we are directing our resources to those lowest income New Yorkers.
Alexa Áviles
0:57:57
Got it, thank you chair.