Albany County Legislature Introduces New Local Law Establishing Affordable Housing as a Governmental and Public Purpose

A new local law, introduced during the Albany County Legislature's July 14 Meeting, will directly address the growing affordable housing crisis in Albany County.

Read the law here (starting on page 126).

The legislation is led and sponsored by Deputy Chairwoman Wanda Willingham and Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham.

The law joins the legislature's $1 million commitment to address housing in the 2025 county budget, the creation of the county's First-Time Homebuyer Navigator program, and the new homeowner tax exemption for building Accessory Dwelling Units as part of the Legislature's overall Housing Agenda. The law also lays the groundwork for:

• The development of a revolving loan fund to connect developers with financial, advisory, or educational assistance for the development of Affordable Housing.
• The creation of a Committee, housed within the Advance Albany County Alliance, empowered to address Affordable Housing that will also oversee the revolving loan fund.
• The issuance of grants, loans, and support services tailored to expanding Affordable Housing.
• The creation of financial, educational, and advisory services for developers of Affordable Housing.
• The structure of dedicated source of ongoing funding to support these initiatives.

The law was referred to the Legislature's Law Committee for review during its July 30 meeting.

Albany County Legislature Deputy Chairwoman Wanda Willingham said: "Affordable Housing has been a pain point for so many in Albany County for decades, especially for people in our historically overlooked and underserved communities. I have personally seen how stable housing saves lives, prevents crime, and builds public pride. That is why affordable housing is my passion. That is why I have continued to lead the way in addressing it for the past two decades. From when I brought the facts about the housing crisis to the attention of the Minority Health and Equity Taskforce to our team creating the Housing Agenda over the last year and now introducing this new local law, I am proud of how we have adapted and evolved our approach to addressing this enormous issue. There is much more to do, as there always seems to be, but I am thrilled that we are officially codifying how critical the need for affordable housing in Albany County is. This clears a path forward for us to do more and expand our impact even further."

Albany County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham said: "I am so proud of the work we have done to create more housing and especially more affordable housing in Albany County. We didn't just talk about it either, we have been actively engaged in moving us forward since our first day in office. Stable and affordable housing improves the quality of life in Albany County on every possible metric. Crime and violence go down when people have homes. Economic development goes up when people have homes. Civic pride skyrockets when people have homes. We remain committed to doing everything in our power to shape Albany County into a place where everyone can not only find a place to live, but be able to thrive emotionally, socially, and economically as well."

Albany County Democratic Majority Leader Dennis Feeney said: "Establishing Affordable Housing as a Public Purpose is just another example of what is possible with forward-thinking Democratic leadership in County government. There are numerous barriers to secure new investment and construction of housing to meet growing demand, and this law will be the first step in breaking through those barriers and addressing this crucial issue. This Local Law will establish Affordable Housing as a Public Purpose, providing a pathway for County Government to spearhead efforts to increase housing availability and encourage renewed investment in housing development throughout the County. As Democratic Majority Leader, I am very proud of all the efforts taken to address this pressing need and know it is just the beginning in combating the housing crisis in Albany County."

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said: "Too many of our residents are struggling to find a safe, stable place to call home. This local law opens the door for creative partnerships and policies that will help us incentivize private investment in our neighborhoods, build affordable housing, and meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents. I want to thank my colleagues in the Albany County Legislature for their partnership on this important issue."