What's happening
This bill allows New York City to partner with labor unions to finance affordable housing exclusively for city employees meeting certain income criteria.
Why it matters
Creates a pathway for city employee housing initiatives. By allowing New York City to partner directly with labor unions representing municipal workers, this bill opens new opportunities to develop affordable housing options tailored specifically for city employees.
Targets middle-income affordability needs. The income cap (125% of area median income) ensures that housing is reserved for city employees who may not qualify for traditional low-income housing but still face affordability challenges, addressing a key gap in the housing market.
Maintains ongoing eligibility requirements. The bill requires that leases or rental agreements be discontinued if city employment or income criteria are no longer met, ensuring that limited affordable units are continually reserved for eligible city workers rather than becoming general market housing over time.
Potentially strengthens labor union influence. By enabling unions to participate as financing partners, the legislation could give labor groups greater say in housing policy and development priorities, shaping the types of projects and amenities that best serve their members.
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Unions Build Affordable Housing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Unions Build Affordable Housing
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2194
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to labor union financed housing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The private housing finance law is amended by adding a new section 1154 to read as follows:
§ 1154. Partnership with labor unions. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the city of New York may enter into a cooperative partnership with any collective bargaining unit that represents employees of such city to finance the construction of affordable housing for the members of such collective bargaining unit.
2. Any financing for the construction of affordable housing pursuant to this section shall consist of units that are exclusively occupied by employees of the city of New York. For purposes of this subdivision, a unit shall be deemed occupied by an employee of the city if at least one person residing in such unit is an employee of the city, such employee actually resides in the unit for more than fifty percent of the year, and the combined income of all members residing in the unit is less than one hundred twenty-five percent of the area median income.
3. A lease or rental agreement of any unit created pursuant to this section shall not be extended or renewed to any person if the criteria established in subdivision two of this section are no longer satisfied.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02146-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to labor union financed housing
Purpose
To provide for the creation of workforce housing for those working families unable to afford unsubsidized housing because of lack of sufficient income, and unable to qualify for affordable housing because their income exceeds New York City's adjusted median income (AMI).
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the private housing finance law by adding a new section 1154 that provides New York City with the ability to finance workforce housing.
Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
The newly elected Mayor of the City of New York has committed to the creation of 200,000 units of affordable housing to meet the needs of 46% of its population which can be currently be defined as living in poverty. This bill seeks to expand the financing available to meet those goals at a time when Federal subsidies have been reduced, higher income households at 130% and higher are competing for available safe and sanitary quality housing, wages are stagnant for unskilled, semi-skilled and entry level professionals and a contingent workforce appears to be the employment paradigm for millenials.
The City is at a risk of losing an essential municipal workforce, despite the residency requirements, as well as the service providers for the private sector due to the lack of affordable housing. Many of the individuals who have been marginalized with regard to affordable housing are members of collective bargaining unions. Permitting the collective bargaining organizations to become partners with municipal State and private sector partners to finance and develop affordable housing targeted, in part to their membership and other workers in the private sector would be both a union membership and public benefit.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.