Mayor Bill de Blasio was reported to invest $3 billion as an effort to help the homeless, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. De Blasio is set to create additional units of housing with the social-service support. This initiative, called Supportive Housing, plans to create 15,000 affordable housing units. Aside from the housing units, the initiative will also receive additional services like medical care and counselling, as long as they are eligible. Those who would want to avail of the supportive housing have to pay 30 percent of their income. Close to 15,000 units was built in a similar way in the last 20 years.
According to Curbed, the development of this project will take some time. The project might take around 15 years to complete, as well. The funding of this project committed by de Blasio will provide tax incentives to developers that will include affordable units in the upcoming developments. Developers will receive $1 billion worth of subsidies.
The New York Post reported that there are people who are voting against the project. Fifty nine community boards were placed around the city and at least 22 have voted against it. These boards are placed in Queens and the Bronx. The tally of the thumbs-down votes are as follows: 12 out of 14 in Queens, and 8 out of 12 in the Bronx.
The president of Queens Borough, Melinda Katz, opposed de Blasio's plan. She said, "there are concerns that the proposed new mandatory inclusionary [plan] may replace existing affordable housing with housing deemed affordable that is not within reach to the current residents."
These votes only reflect the sentiments of the people, therefore the continuation of the project cannot be affected. The City Council, however, can use the turn-out of the votes as a possible reason to stop the project when they vote in February. The use of the community boards may also force the council to change the plan provided by Mayor de Blasio.
