About a third of New Yorkers are living in segregated counties, while 95% of the Black and African-American residents are living in a county that is highly segregated from white households, according to a report released Friday by Gov. Kathy Hochul's office.
The report reviewing housing segregation, discrimination and substandard conditions in the state provided a new window into the stark racial and income divide in housing in New York and proposed eight ways to address the issue.
The report also comes after state lawmakers rejected Hochul's proposals to expand housing in New York over the next decade through a mix of development plans such as building around commuter rail stations and overriding local zoning decisions for qualified housing projects.
Hochul has said she plans to continue to push for elements of her housing package in the coming weeks.
The governor made the housing push this year, pointing to the lack of inventory driving up costs for renters as well as first-time homebuyers, a situation made all the more complicated by inflation and pandemic.
"The work of undoing historic, systemic, and entrenched segregated living patterns and eliminating discrimination in housing will always be a priority of my administration," Hochul said. "The findings in this report show that confronting these inequalities will require an aggressive multi-faceted approach. I look forward to working with our partners at the federal, state, and local levels to take the bold actions necessary to foster more diverse communities and create and preserve affordable housing for more New Yorkers."
New York's housing picture remains an unequal one: Two-thirds of households own their homes, while only a third of Black and African-American households are also homeowners; 25% of Hispanic and Latino households own their homes.
Women and children and more likely to have higher rates of poverty; households with a member who has a disability are more likely to be classified as low income, the report found.
The report, developed by New York State Homes and Community Renewal's Fair and Equitable Housing Office and Office of Research and Strategic Analysis, also included recommendations, such increase housing access for people with disabilities, create more affordable housing with community support and increase access for fair housing education and enforcement.
"Affirmatively furthering fair housing also means tearing down arbitrary barriers to housing that are experienced disproportionately by communities of color, immigrants, victims of domestic violence, and other protected and vulnerable New Yorkers," New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said. "Under Gov. Hochul's leadership, we will continue to analyze and combat systemic inequities and housing discrimination that prevent too many New Yorkers from building wealth, accessing opportunities, and living in safe, affordable homes in the communities they choose."