The Brian Lehrer Show Supportive Housing Sitting Empty
Sep 16, 2025
David Brand, a housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses new City Council legislation aimed at addressing the alarming vacancy rate of 5,000 supportive housing units in New York City. He highlights the challenges facing vulnerable populations, including lengthy waiting lists and bureaucratic hurdles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of supportive housing in preventing homelessness recidivism and navigates the complexities of current housing-first policies amidst shifting political ideologies. Brand makes a compelling case for transparency in tackling these pressing issues.
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What Supportive Housing Actually Is
- Supportive housing combines apartments with on-site social services for people with mental illness, HIV, or other special needs.
- The city has about 40,000 supportive units but roughly 12-13% (about 5,000) are vacant right now.
Why Thousands Of Units Sit Empty
- Of the roughly 5,000 vacant units, about 900 have tenants connected and ~2,000 are offline for major repairs.
- Vacancy causes include move-in delays and units held out of service for renovations.
Supportive Housing Reduces Return To Homelessness
- Supportive housing shows low homelessness recidivism and helps residents stabilize with counseling and case management.
- Its effectiveness is limited by insufficient supply of supportive and affordable housing overall.