NYC’s housing crisis: City of Yes aims to close the gap between households and housing supply

New York City’s housing crisis has reached a tipping point. Between 2021 and 2023, the city gained 275,000 new households, but only 60,000 housing units were built during that period. Decades of restrictive zoning laws and slow housing production have worsened the issue, leaving many New Yorkers grappling with unaffordable rents and overcrowded living conditions.

This crisis has hit immigrant communities especially hard, including Haitian New Yorkers. In neighborhoods like East Flatbush and Canarsie, which have significant Haitian populations, the housing challenges are pronounced. In 2022, the real median gross rent in East Flatbush was $1,520, reflecting a 13.4% increase since 2006 (Furman Center). In Canarsie, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is approximately $1,403, while a two-bedroom averages $2,628 (Zumper). These rising rents have led to financial strain and overcrowded living conditions for many Haitian families.

The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, a comprehensive zoning reform package, is positioned as a solution to this crisis. Advocates emphasize its importance in addressing the housing shortfall while fostering a more equitable city. If passed, the initiative aims to create 109,000 new housing units over 15 years, enough to house 275,000 residents.

“With vacancy rates at just 1.4% and median rents in Manhattan surpassing $5,000 per month, creating more housing is the only way we emerge from this crisis,” Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said.

The Haitian community could particularly benefit from the proposed measures. Many Haitian families, who often share apartments due to affordability concerns, would see relief if housing supply increases. For immigrants sending remittances to Haiti—a key economic lifeline for relatives abroad—affordable housing is essential to maintaining financial stability.

The City of Yes proposals target long-standing zoning restrictions that have hindered development. Measures include legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), incentivizing commercial-to-residential conversions, and easing construction rules near transit hubs. These changes could expand affordable housing options across all neighborhoods, including those historically resistant to new development.

“Every neighborhood has a role to play in solving this crisis,” said Howard Slatkin, Executive Director of the Citizens Housing and Planning Council. “Low-density districts, which have added housing even more slowly than Detroit, cannot be exempt.”

Advocates also emphasize that boosting housing supply could slow rent growth. Cities like Minneapolis and New Rochelle, which implemented similar zoning reforms, saw rents stabilize or decline after expanding their housing stock. For Haitian New Yorkers, who often face overcrowded living conditions, such reforms could alleviate financial pressures and improve living standards.

Currently, over 145,000 people experience homelessness annually in New York City, with families spending nearly a year in shelters on average (Coalition for the Homeless). Many in immigrant communities, including Haitians, report difficulty accessing stable housing despite holding vouchers due to tight market conditions and landlord discrimination. The City of Yes reforms, by increasing affordable housing, aim to reduce reliance on shelters and open up opportunities for marginalized groups.

Despite broad support, some community groups oppose the proposals, citing concerns about neighborhood character. However, advocates argue that the stakes are too high to delay action.

“We are in a generational housing crisis,” Rachel Fee, Executive Director of the New York Housing Conference, said. “City of Yes will enable us to build more housing and ensure every neighborhood contributes to a fairer, more inclusive New York.”

As City Council hearings continue, the Haitian community and other immigrant groups remain hopeful that these reforms will pave the way for a more affordable and equitable housing future in New York City.

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