PHILMONT — The village has been awarded $50,000 to assess housing needs and address policy framework through Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $23 million dollar Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to officials, “The project will involve collecting and analyzing data which will help the village identify priorities and effective, litigation-proof policies to protect and provide high-quality, affordable and workforce housing. They will work with the analyst to address the most pressing needs of low-income residents and develop a concrete action plan for meeting those needs.”
Village Trustee Debra Gitterman said she is happy to be on the receiving end of the grant.
“The village of Philmont wants to develop slowly, without displacing community members,” Gitterman said. “We’re grateful to HUD for this opportunity to conduct a much-needed housing study, identify housing gaps and opportunities and develop a policy framework to guide future housing development to achieve that goal. Already, we’re getting reports of significant rent increases leading to potential displacement.”
Gitterman sees the grant as the first step in providing affordable housing for Philmont residents.
“This grant money will help identify priorities and effective, litigation-proof policies to protect and provide high-quality, affordable and workforce housing,” Gitterman said.
Housing in Philmont is important, as are the advantages of having fair housing for all, regardless of income status.
“The need in Columbia County for additional affordable housing and resources for preserving and improving existing housing for both renters and homeowners is well demonstrated in the 2022 Columbia County Housing Brief,” Gitterman said. “Housing is a particularly pressing concern in Philmont where a number of multi-family homes and rental properties were lost to fires in recent years seven in the last three years, eliminating housing for 13 families and approximately 38 people and where farmers and business owners struggle to keep workers who are being priced out by rising housing costs. As we know, with rising housing costs and individuals and families spending more than 30% of their income on housing, not only is there less money to pay for essentials like food, transportation, and childcare, but financial pressure results in daily stressors that impair the physical and emotional health of individuals and families over time and limit the ability to save for emergencies, long-term goals such as education, and the future, leaving families, particularly those in households with low and moderate-incomes, at risk. As usual, the children in our communities suffer the most.”
Village officials will issue a Request for Proposal for the housing needs assessment. The submission deadline for the RFP is Jan. 19. At the conclusion of the study, a consultant will present the main findings and summary of the report to the village board and residents.