Image Credit: HPD
HPD issues the Property Pathways RFEI seeking vacant, or partially vacant multifamily buildings that can be redeveloped into permanent housing for vulnerable New Yorkers. On December 19, 2019, Housing Preservation and Development announced its release of Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for its new Property Pathways initiative. The Property Pathways initiative identifies privately-owned properties throughout the city with at least ten units that can be converted into safe and secure permanent housing to be immediately occupied by formerly homeless and other vulnerable households.
At least fifty percent of the units in the identified buildings will be set aside for homeless households, supportive households, or a mix of both populations referred from City shelters through an HPD-approved process. Projects going through this RFEI must select a service provider to assist formerly homeless households in their transition to affordable permanent housing. The remaining fifty percent of units will be income-restricted and go through HPD’s marketing process.
Further, Property Pathways will help prospective owners acquire vacant properties that they can redevelop into affordable housing through HPD programs like Neighborhood Pillars. Neighborhood Pillars provides low-interest loans and tax exemptions to nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. RFEI respondents must demonstrate a successful history of managing and renovating occupied residential buildings, and show that there is no prior history of tenant harassment.
More information on how to apply to the Property Pathways RFEI is available on the HPD website. The deadline for RFEI submissions is March 20, 2020.
HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll stated, “In order to make real changes for homeless New Yorkers, we must seize every opportunity to create more affordable housing. With our new Property Pathways initiative, we’re letting owners and prospective buyers know that creating long-term solutions for those struggling with homelessness is a top priority, and must continue to be a joint effort.”
Department of Social Services Commissioner Banks stated, “New housing is among the most crucial tools we can deploy as we fight a citywide affordability crisis and address the challenge of homelessness, decades in the making. This announcement will build on our progress at DSS-DHS-HRA helping more than 133,000 New Yorkers secure permanent housing, either exiting shelter or avoiding shelter altogether, through our Social Services programs, including the rental assistance and rehousing programs that this Administration rebuilt from scratch upon taking office. We look forward to connecting more New Yorkers experiencing homelessness with these valuable resources in order to help them get back on their feet.”
By: Laine Vitkevich (Laine is a CityLaw Intern and New York Law School Student, Class of 2020)