SYRACUSE, NY. (NCC News) – The city of Syracuse is notorious for having a large population of people living under or around the poverty line. Despite this a lot of the new housing projects being built will be priced well out of range for the majority of the city’s residents.
In order to combat this housing crisis, Syracuse mayor, Ben Walsh, has proposed a new housing trust. This trust will give the city’s government a separate public authority with its own board and mission, and the power to issue bonds, make loans and award grants. A $5 million grant has already been issued the create the grant.
Pat Hogan, chairman of the city’s economic development committee, believes that Mayor Walsh’s proposal is the first step in fighting the city’s housing crisis.
“I think we gotta use every available means to build housing. People live in awful circumstances because they can’t, there’s not enough housing in the city,” he said.
Another pressure facing the city in regards to the crisis is the impending influx of Micron employees to the area.
“We anticipate that there’s going to be a lot of people looking for housing and I think this is not only the city, but the county is aware of it and we have to find a way to build more housing,” Hogan said.
While the proposal is yet to be passed, there is hope that it will be ready to face a city council vote by December 18th.