Housing challenges are real and persistent, and the same struggles are faced in every corner of New York. That makes it all the more important for local governments to step up with real solutions rather than excuses. As Westchester county executive, I work directly on this issue every day. In Westchester, we are not stuck and are moving forward with bold initiatives. We are actively building, preserving and planning housing, and we are seeing results.
Increasing housing in well-developed areas like the Hudson Valley is not easy. It requires coordination, resources and sustained political will. At a time when affordability is out of reach for too many, local governments must take action and demonstrate leadership. Westchester has bold, innovative programs that are first in New York State and the nation.
We created or preserved 4,647 units of affordable housing units in 2024, up from 1,828 in 2020. These units were either completed and occupied, under construction, or had secured land use approvals and financing to begin construction.
One of our most effective tools is the Westchester County Housing Flex Fund. The Flex Fund, launched in January 2024, is using $90 million of federal ARPA funds to provide gap financing to affordable housing projects that are ready to build. The funds will be used to build 1,300 additional units of housing at 65% AMI or below across 15 developments in eight municipalities. Nine of these developments have already broken ground. These are not plans or proposals; these are real homes getting built.
Many communities want to approve housing but lack the sewer, water, or transportation systems to support it. Our Housing Implementation Fund provides localities with critical funding to make those improvements possible, unlocking development in areas that otherwise would be out of reach.
The cost of land is often a major barrier to getting housing developments started. To provide support we launched the New Homes Land Acquisition Program, which helps municipalities and nonprofit and for-profit developers acquire land for future housing. By stepping in with early support, we’ve helped more proposals gain traction. Over the last seven years, Westchester has appropriated $200 million in capital funds, the largest investment in the county’s history.
Westchester’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is also playing an important role. Through tax-exempt financing, PILOT agreements, and other financial benefits, we’re helping create favorable conditions needed to support the construction of affordable and workforce housing. These incentives give local developers a path forward when margins are otherwise too thin. Since 2018, the IDA has approved 26 projects for the addition of 339 affordable housing units.
Housing isn’t always about building new, but also maintaining what is already developed. That’s where our Landlord Tenant Assistance Program (LTAP) comes in. Through LTAP, we’ve provided grants to public housing authorities and small property owners to make capital improvements that keep buildings safe and livable. Housing creation must go hand in hand with preservation. The LTAP program provided $7 million to four municipal housing authorities.
To enable residents to search and apply for affordable housing, Westchester County launched an updated HomeSeeker platform on May 8, which has already had 2,500 registrations. This interactive, web-based portal helps connect individuals and families with affordable housing opportunities as well as credit counseling and other assistance. It’s a practical resource for families trying to stay in or return to Westchester. The site is designed to be easy to use and offers a level of transparency that was missing in the past.
These programs are all part of a broader, intentional strategy to respond to our county’s evolving needs. Every day, I work with municipal leaders, developers, advocates and residents to make sure these programs are effective.
Of course, there’s more to do. Housing remains a challenge across New York, and progress is often uneven. But if we want to build momentum, we need to learn from programs that are working. Westchester’s model works. It’s helping to create and preserve housing. It’s giving communities new tools and more flexibility. And it’s doing so in a way that balances growth with local values.
We welcome partnership from the state and collaboration with neighboring counties, but Westchester is not standing still, we are moving forward, and we’re proud to be a county that others can look to for innovation and impact.
Housing is never easy, but it is achievable when government steps in with smart programs, long-term thinking and real collaboration. That’s what we’re doing in Westchester, and we’re not done yet.
Jenkins is Westchester county executive.
