Making NYC Affordable: 40 Fresh Ideas

New York City's affordability crisis is real, with many residents struggling to make ends meet. We gathered diverse perspectives, from experts to everyday New Yorkers, to brainstorm big and small ideas that could make the city more affordable. Here are some standout suggestions that could shape city politics this year. Revamp underused spaces for housing, like public library rooftops and old ferry boats. Allow backyard tiny homes for adult children to ease the housing crunch. Build more six-story buildings, as they did in the 1960s, to meet housing demand. Invest in deeply subsidized affordable housing and use modular construction to speed up the process. To make housing more affordable, cap rent at 30% of household income and fund housing vouchers to reduce the shelter population. Lower taxes on rental buildings and provide tax breaks for mom-and-pop landlords. Create a housing program for teachers, who often can't afford to live in the city they serve.

Support child care workers and make child care more accessible. Mandate child care spaces in new buildings and create 24-hour centers for essential workers. Extend the school year to reduce child care costs. Provide a diaper stipend for low-income families and fund universal after-school programs. Maximize public benefits by increasing food stamp benefits and finding new locations for food pantries. Fill vacant jobs that help New Yorkers access affordability programs and fund free, universal health care coverage. Help elderly New Yorkers get benefits they qualify for and make it easier for families to apply for child care benefits. Streamline small business grant applications to help them scale and grow in the city.

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