Regional Administrator Holly Leicht Moderates Panel on Bronx Affordable Housing Options

Regional Administrator Holly Leicht moderates Bronx affordable housing panel.

Successfully applying for affordable housing can be difficult anywhere, but perhaps nowhere in the country is finding an affordable place to live as challenging as New York City. In addition to the extreme mismatch between supply and demand - there are nearly 850 applicants for each available newly constructed unit - the confusing patchwork of city, state, and federal housing assistance programs can frustrate even the most diligent and knowledgeable applicant.

More typically, the low and moderate-income families in need of affordable housing are overwhelmed by the odds and difficulty of the process. Many submit applications for a single program and development, even though new units are constantly coming online and existing units turning over regularly. In response to this problem, the New York Regional Office has made demystifying the affordable housing process a priority. And Regional Administrator Holly Leicht recently highlighted those efforts at an event in the Bronx sponsored by Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Titled "Successfully Applying for Affordable Housing", the event brought together a panel with members from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the New York City Housing Development Corporation, affordable housing developers including Bronx Pro and Phipps Houses, and the Fordham-Bedford Housing Corporation. Other community groups provided information resource tables at the evening event, which drew over 200 people to the Bronx Museum of Art.

Panelists discussed multiple aspects of the application process, advising applicants on documentation and credit requirements, and encouraging them to broaden their search throughout the full range of available programs and neighborhoods that would meet their housing needs. The event also highlighted HUD's resources for apartment seekers, including hud.gov/newyork/renting and the HUD Resource Locator available for smart phones that provides federally-assisted housing options based on a user's location. At the conclusion of an extensive Q&A Session, RA Leicht delivered the takeaway message: There are many options out there in a city of 8.5 million and an even bigger metro-area that is often accessible by transit. People in need of housing should not give up or lose hope.

A packed house of Bronxites listen to Regional Administrator Holly Leicht, City Officials, and Housing Developers at an affordable housing event in the Bronx.

###