Cuomo launches $20 billion homelessness and housing plan

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation on Thursday, sending $2.5 billion to the construction and preservation of affordable housing, celebrating it as the start to his $20 billion plan to combat homelessness.

In its initial phase, the $2.5 billion in capital funding will be used for supportive housing, new construction of affordable housing, money for the New York City Housing Authority, senior housing and other initiatives.

Supportive housing, part of this year's Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, is designed to draw from the resources of multiple state agencies to provide support services to residents. Services offered could include employment and training opportunities, parenting education, counseling, primary health care, substance use disorder treatment and mental health care and child care.

In addition, a $7.5 billion Action Plan is aimed at "combatting homelessness" and supporting shelter programs, $125 million will be invested in new housing for seniors, and $75 million for middle-income, cooperative state housing.

"This legislation is a major step forward for New York as we strengthen our efforts to combat homelessness and expand access to quality, affordable housing for our most vulnerable men, women and children," Gov. Cuomo said in a public statement. "By making significant investments in rehabilitating, preserving and constructing safe and affordable housing, we will open doors for low-income residents and support hard-working New Yorkers in every region of the state."

Gov. Cuomo's $20 billion five-year-plan commits $10 billion to 110,000 affordable housing units, and another $10 billion to 6,000 new supportive housing beds, supporting housing programs and homeless shelters, and rental subsidies.

"The cost of living in New York has left many of our most vulnerable residents homeless or in jeopardy of homelessness and this legislation will help us stem the tide and make meaningful change in our communities," Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said in the statement.

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