The debate continues among elected officials and advocacy groups in Central New York and across the state about how to address ongoing concerns about housing, especially affordable housing. A new report by Democratic state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli finds almost three million New Yorkers face housing costs that absorb more than 30 percent of their household income — and 20 percent are spending more than half of their income on housing. DiNapoli says that puts New York near the top of the scale
"We're not building housing at the same rate as so many other states, so supply has been constricted," DiNapoli said. "But I think one of the key messages in our report also is to recognize that the federal government has to play a larger role. The state cannot do it on its own, certain localities can't do it on [their] own. And what you've seen over a number of years is that the federal government has pulled back from many of the housing programs, certainly in terms of direct support."
DiNapoli says the housing crisis is felt most acutely in the mid-Hudson Valley and Long Island, plus urban centers around the state.