One of the basic human necessities is housing. Having a permanent home with all the basic amenities contributes to one’s well-being; it provides not only mental but also physical satisfaction. New York City is undergoing an affordability crisis; this housing affordability crisis is affecting every community and almost every New Yorker. There are families in the city who are unable to afford their homes, despite having two full time jobs.

The city and the state decided to gut the rent laws in 1994 and ever since the landlords all over the city have been able to push out their rent stabilized tenants and charge market rate rent if the apartment is vacant. The New York City council implemented a bill known as vacancy decontrol. Once this bill was approved it allowed landlords to charge market rate rent which improved neighborhoods but it also caused the stable residents who had been living in those houses for years together to move out. Vacancy decontrol is the starting point of the affordability crisis in New York City. The shift in power to the landlord caused a large number of people to lose their homes.


Rent stabilization would protect two thirds of the city’s population. After the implementation of vacancy decontrol people have been forced to move out and find another alternative to live in. Due to this people are living in crowded and unsanitary conditions, they don’t have resources to improve these conditions and their existing situation makes it worse for them to find the possibility of improving their livelihood. In such circumstances, it is important for the government, or the people in healthy living conditions, to do their part to help those in need. That’s exactly how communities are formed and there is an urgency for this help.
The section of the population that is forced to live in shelters is not demanding state of the art kitchen appliances, marble top counters and French windows. They need a space which has basic amenities; housing which is cost effective and affordable. It should cater to the absolute necessities for healthy living. Affordable housing programs today exist all over the world. Governments all over are making efforts every day to bring about change in the housing stock and provide for more housing. Not having to worry about where they will be sleeping at night, helps people focus on other important factors such as food, shelter, jobs etc.

Despite all of these advantages’ home ownership is not an easy task in NYC. A report released by the NYC Furman Center tells us that a large portion of the housing stock available in NYC is not affordable. The average income that every household has does not align to the amount of funds required to acquire housing. Households that earn $55,000 per annum only have access to about 9% of the home sales. (Center, 2016) These statistics are extremely disheartening to the prospective homeowner. Instead of encouraging homeowners, it discourages them. There is an immediate need to grow the percentage of home ownership and provide more housing which is affordable for them to purchase it.
This capstone aims to provide a residential community which is integrated with supportive housing units. The market rate units will be cost effective and will be available for both home ownership as well as rental homes. A financing vehicle will be implemented which will encourage the tenant towards home ownership while making it easier and more affordable for them. Housing affordability, housing stock, and supportive housing are the three main drivers for this community. Communal living will allow harmonious growth in the neighborhood. It aims to create an amicable balanced neighborhood, that will tackle the problems of the housing stock in New York City.