Throughout Rochester housing stock is low, whether a homebuyer or renter, there is simply not enough supply to keep up with demand. I applaud the Governor’s commitment to building more affordable housing, but this is simply one step towards progress. In Upstate NY we need full implementation and expansion of the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act (HONDA). HONDA will allow us to house our homeless populations, in the face of shelter bed shortages and increased encampments. Distressed properties like the Cadillac Hotel can serve as an ideal HONDA project in the region. We must also pass the Housing Access Voucher Program to help transition our neighbors in shelters or unsafe living situations, into stable housing.
Meanwhile, rents continue to rise. We need Good Cause eviction protections to provide stability and security to our market. This serves as a protection for tenants and landlords alike, codifying important criteria as part of the eviction process, shielding tenants from dramatic price hikes and maintaining a landlords ability to evict for lease violations, nuisance behavior, or illicit activity. While I support this change at the state level, I will work to ensure that Rochester has the legal ability to enact these protections at the local level.