By Ahmed Tigani
While there is no single definition of social housing, every single day, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) lives its principles. At its core, social housing is about ensuring everyone — including our most vulnerable neighbors — has access to quality, affordable housing. It emphasizes fairness, inclusion, long-term affordability, and often, community or resident stewardship. These values are at the heart of this agency’s work.
Recently, HPD joined the New York City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings for a hearing on social housing. It was a welcome opportunity to reflect on the work ahead and underscore how deeply rooted these values are in our mission. We understand that housing equity and fair housing go hand-in-hand. That’s why HPD continues to address the barriers that limit housing choice — whether by financing buildings that serve a wide range of incomes, advancing new projects with new and established community land trust or by prioritizing affordable development in neighborhoods that have historically lacked it. The urgency of this work is undeniable. According to the 2023 Housing and Vacancy Survey, New York City’s vacancy rate stands at just 1.41% — and it’s even lower for the most affordable homes. Meanwhile, there’s nearly a $1,500 gap between the median rent and the median asking rent. For many working families, that means if they need to move — even for positive reasons — they face a steep and often unaffordable jump in monthly housing costs.
These numbers underscore why we must act quickly and decisively to preserve and create housing that New Yorkers can afford. The values behind social housing are embedded in broader City initiatives — like Housing Our Neighbors, Where We Live NYC, Get Stuff Built, and City of Yes — and HPD, informed by those values, is laser-focused on building and preserving deeply affordable, inclusive homes.
In 2024, HPD supported nearly 28,000 affordable housing starts: more than 14,000 new construction units and over 13,000 preserved homes. We deliver this impact through a mix of financing tools, tax credits, and extended regulatory agreements that lock in affordability over the long term. Programs like ELLA (Extremely Low- and Low-Income Affordability), SARA (Senior Affordable Rental Apartments), and the recently re-launched Neighborhood Pillars allow us to create and preserve housing for the New Yorkers who need it most.
And we know that who owns and stewards our housing matters. That’s why HPD prioritizes mission-driven partners — including nonprofits and minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) — in our work. On City-owned land, we require these groups to make up at least 25% of the development team. We also invest in their growth by addressing the operational and financial barriers they face. These organizations are deeply rooted in the communities they serve and are essential partners in advancing long-term affordability.
We’re also expanding shared equity models that support community stewardship — including Community Land Trusts (CLTs), limited equity co-ops, and HDFCs. HPD has financed or is in the pipeline to finance more than 1,200 units on CLT-owned land. In Edgemere, for example, we partnered with the local CLT to support community-led ownership and sustainable land use. These models remove housing from speculative markets and create lasting affordability that strengthens neighborhoods for the long haul.
At HPD, we know this work is complex. But we also know it’s possible — and necessary. The housing crisis demands that we work together across sectors to deliver real solutions. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we bring urgency, transparency, and a deep commitment to equity. And we welcome collaboration with any partner — public, private, or nonprofit — who shares that vision.
Social housing is not just a concept. It’s a call to action: to invest in people, prioritize fairness, and build a city where every New Yorker has a place to call home.
Ahmed Tigani is the Acting Commissioner of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
