New York, NY – January 13, 2026 – This is the year of affordability for the State of New York. Last year, lawmakers took a number of commendable steps to address our state’s affordable housing crisis, including the passage of the new Housing Access Voucher Program. As details emerge from this week’s State of the State address, the Governor has made it clear that the work is not finished, announcing several proposals to encourage housing supply and combat the affordability crisis.

Enterprise applauds Governor Hochul for recognizing sensible SEQR reform in her ‘Let Them Build’ agenda to accelerate the delivery of the affordable homes that New Yorkers so desperately need. Too often, SEQR creates lengthy, costly, and sometimes insurmountable barriers to affordable housing projects. Cutting this unnecessary red tape will clear the way for more affordable and sustainable housing.

We are also pleased to see efforts to prioritize the insurance crisis, as skyrocketing insurance costs remain a critical threat to the viability of affordable housing. Our recent report shows that since 2017, insurance costs have risen an average of 110%. We are encouraged by the Governor’s proposed initiatives to combat this, particularly around enhancing data transparency, expanding discounts for affordable housing providers, and convening stakeholders to bring down property insurance costs.

However, our affordable housing crisis will require more action on all fronts. We urge leaders in Albany to deepen investment in the preservation of affordable housing. Owners and operators are struggling more than ever, as expenses continue to rise across the board. More projects are taking in less revenue than they are paying out, placing them in deep financial distress.

In addition, we can expand the ‘Let Them Build’ agenda and seize the opportunity that faith-based land could provide for affordable housing. Data from the New York University Furman Center shows that there are 8,181 properties totaling more than 17,000 acres of land owned by faith-based organizations in the state, outside of New York City. 

We also call on state leaders to meaningfully address housing instability by ensuring that anyone with a voucher can successfully secure housing. In New York, voucher utilization and success rates hover at or below 50%. We urge funding for housing navigation and related supports to improve voucher utilization.

This is a moment to be bold. We look forward to working with state leaders this session to tackle our housing crisis and deliver on the promise of affordability.

About Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $80.9 billion and created over 1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands – all to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging. Join us at enterprisecommunity.org