SPONSORED: Dutchess County's Tri-Town Coalition Proves Affordable Housing Is A Rural Issue, Too
Three Dutchess County towns have formed an equitable housing initiative to meet the need for affordable housing.
When you picture the Hudson Valley’s bucolic, wide open landscapes, it might be difficult to understand how affordable housing could be a pressure of daily life. But for the past year, residents of Amenia, Millerton, and Pine Plains in the northeastern corner of Dutchess County have been working to demonstrate that access to affordable housing is as important for rural communities as it is for urbanites.
Like many rural areas, northern Dutchess County’s housing stock consists largely of single-family homes with high-acre zoning, which has resulted in a dearth of affordable rental housing for local residents. “We hear a lot from farmers in the region that housing is one of the biggest issues for their workforce,” says Elizabeth Celaya, director of strategic initiatives for Poughkeepsie-based affordable housing nonprofit Hudson River Housing. “People want to live in thriving communities with main streets that have lots of mom-and-pop shops. But those employees need an affordable place to live.”
Through a partnership with Hudson River Housing, North East Community Center in Millerton, and Grace Church Millbrook, the three towns formed an equitable housing initiative called the Tri-Town Coalition. The coalition was formed in 2019 after Hudson River Housing collected data that demonstrated the need for 1,300 additional housing units in the area just to lower the current population’s housing costs to 30 percent of their income, the metric of affordability set by the federal government. Each month, town teams composed of the sponsor organizations and local elected officials and residents meet to advocate for economic development and housing that serves current and future residents of all income levels.
As the coronavirus pandemic drives demand from people in New York City looking for homes in rural areas, the work of the Tri-Town Coalition to create additional affordable housing opportunities is increasingly important. Later this summer, Hudson River Housing is planning a panel event that will bring together housing experts and local residents to discuss this and other potential pressures the pandemic is bringing to rural communities.
The Tri-Town Coalition has also just resumed virtual meetings and is open to all local residents. If you’re interested in supporting the coalition’s work, you can reach out to Elizabeth Celaya for more information at ecelaya@hudsonriverhousing.org.
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