Mamdani turns to state official to lead NYC's housing agency

New York City's Housing Crisis Takes a Turn as State Official Steps In

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is shaking up the city's housing agency by naming Dina Levy, the senior vice president of single family and community development at New York's Division of Homes and Community Renewal, as its new commissioner. The move comes as the five boroughs face a historic shortage of affordable housing, with nearly 90% of apartments priced below $2,400 a month already rented out.

Levy brings a wealth of experience to the role, having overseen the state's mortgage agency, managed grants and programs, and helped shepherd a low-cost manufactured homes program. Her background in the attorney general's office and for the nonprofit Urban Homesteading Assistance Board will undoubtedly be valuable assets in tackling the city's housing crisis.

The agency, which controls over $2 billion in budget and finances new income-restricted housing developments, administers a federal rental assistance program, and funds the preservation of existing affordable units, has been criticized by Mayor Eric Adams' predecessor for its delays and bureaucracy. However, with Levy at the helm, it remains to be seen whether significant changes will materialize.

Mamdani's decision is also being seen as a strategic move to address the city's housing shortage. Last year, HPD financed over 13,000 new affordable units, but the rate of construction was insufficient to meet demand or Adams' goal of 500,000 new homes over the next decade. Mamdani has promised to build 200,000 more affordable apartments in the coming years.

The appointment has been met with praise from housing advocates and experts, who hail Levy's experience and track record on issues such as preserving low-income housing. While it remains early days for the new commissioner, one thing is clear: the city's housing crisis will require a concerted effort to address its root causes.

idk why ppl are so hyped about this new commissioner thing... i mean dont get me wrong dina levy sounds legit and all but hasnt we seen like 5 or 6 new commissioners in the past year already? and they all promise change but nothing really happens it just feels like more of the same old bureaucracy to me... maybe im just too pessimistic about things

I'm so relieved that someone with Dina Levy's expertise is finally taking the reins at NYC's Housing Agency! The numbers are just staggering - 90% of apartments priced below $2,400 a month already rented out? It's like they're not even trying to address the crisis. I've been following this issue for years and it's clear that we need more than just empty promises from our politicians. We need actual solutions and a commitment to building affordable housing. Let's hope Commissioner Levy can make some real changes happen

omg i'm so hyped about this news !!! finally some change in the NYC housing scene! dina levy sounds like a total game changer with her experience and all that jazz she's got the skills to tackle the city's affordable housing shortage head on and with mayor mamdani backing her up, i think we can expect some real progress i'm keeping my fingers crossed for those 200k new affordable apartments

I'm kinda thinking that with Dina Levy at the helm, things might start to move faster on affordable housing in NYC... she's got some serious experience under her belt and seems like someone who knows what they're doing . But, honestly, 90% of apartments priced below $2,400 a month are already rented out? That's crazy! I feel for people trying to find a place to live in the city . Maybe Levy can bring some much-needed momentum to this crisis...

I'm kinda glad Mamdani finally stepped in to shake things up at that housing agency ! The stats on affordable housing are just crazy - 90% of apartments already rented out? That's like, a total housing emergency! And to think they're still stuck in bureaucracy mode... Levy sounds like the perfect fixer though . It'll be interesting to see if she can turn that agency around and get some real progress on those affordable units. The city needs it ASAP .

I'm loving this new move by Mayor Mamdani ! Bringing in Dina Levy to shake things up at the housing agency is just what we need. Her experience and track record are everything, I'm so hyped for her to tackle that crisis head-on . We've been waiting for ages for some real change, and it's about time someone stepped in with a solid plan . Fingers crossed she can get those numbers up and make affordable housing a reality for everyone .

I think this move by Mayor Mamdani is a good start, but we need more than just a new face at the helm to tackle NYC's housing crisis . We've been hearing promises of affordable housing for years, and it seems like that's still a pipe dream . What we really need are concrete changes, like increasing funding for community land trusts or reforming rent regulations . Levy's experience is definitely a plus, but I'm not holding my breath until we see real progress .

idk how long this is gonna take but i think we need more than just another face at the helm . what we really need is a fundamental shift in how our whole system approaches affordability - rent control, progressive taxation, and making sure developers contribute more to community funds... all that jazz

This is so cool! Like, I'm all about Dina Levy being the new head of NYC's housing agency. She sounds like a total rockstar when it comes to affordable housing. The fact that she's got experience from the state's mortgage agency and the attorney general's office is huge. I mean, you need someone who knows how to get things done in this field.

But at the same time... 90% of apartments are already rented out? That's wild. And it sounds like there's been some major delays and bureaucracy issues with the agency before. So, is Levy really going to be able to shake things up and make a real difference?

I'm also kinda curious about what's going on with the city's goal of building 500,000 new affordable apartments over the next decade. That's a huge number, but I guess it's better than nothing, right?

idk about this... new commish seems like good news but i'm still not convinced. affordable housing in nyc is just too complicated and politicized. what's gonna change now? Mamdani says 200k more apartments but that's a tiny drop in the bucket considering the current shortage. Levy's got experience, but can she really make a dent in the system's slow pace? it feels like just another band-aid on a much bigger problem

I'm keepin' an eye on this new commissioner, Dina Levy . She seems like she knows her stuff, comin' from the attorney general's office and all that. I hope she can shake things up at HPD and get some real change happenin' in the city. The fact that they're movin' 13,000 new affordable units last year is a good start, but we need way more than that to tackle this crisis .

I'm also lovin' the fact that Mayor Mamdani is makin' a move like this. He's tryin' to address the issue head-on, not just tappin' on the surface. And with 200,000 new apartments planned over the next few years, maybe we'll start see some real progress .

The thing is, it's gonna take a lot more than one person to fix this mess. We need a whole city effort, and everyone's gotta be willin' to get on board . Still, I'm hopeful with Levy at the helm, we might just start seein' some positive changes in the not-too-distant future .

Just had a thought - what if we, as individuals, can actually make a difference in the housing crisis? Instead of relying on gov't solutions, we can start by getting creative with our space ! Have you guys tried any DIY projects like upcycling old furniture or turning that extra room into a home office? It's not gonna solve the problem overnight, but every little bit counts . And, let's be real, with the prices soaring, who wouldn't wanna get crafty and save some cash ?

I'm hoping Dina Levy's appointment means more than just a few cosmetic changes - we need some real reform here. The fact that 90% of apartments in NYC are already rented out is insane, and the delays at the HPD have been a major issue for too long. It's not just about throwing money at the problem (although more funding wouldn't hurt), it's about actually making policy changes to address the root causes of this crisis.

We need to start thinking about community land trusts, cooperative housing models, and other innovative solutions that prioritize affordability over profit. The idea of 200,000 new affordable apartments is ambitious, but it needs to be accompanied by a comprehensive plan to tackle gentrification, increasing the supply of affordable housing, and ensuring that developers are held accountable for their actions.

This appointment is a good start, but we need to hold our leaders accountable for making real progress on this issue.

omg i'm literally so hyped about this news!!! Dina Levy is like, a total rockstar in the housing world and i know she's gonna bring some serious game to the NYC Housing Agency . like, 90% of apartments are already rented out? that's crazy! but with her expertise on mortgage agencies and grants, i'm sure they're gonna make some real changes happen . Eric Adams was saying all this stuff about building 500k new homes, but i'm not holding my breath... but with Levy on board, i got faith that we'll see some actual progress . fingers crossed she's gonna shake things up and make NYC affordable for everyone

im not sure about this appointment being a game changer... levy sounds like a solid choice but it feels like just another face in a system that's been broken for ages . we need systemic changes, not just people coming in and trying to fix the symptoms of the problem. it's like throwing a bandaid on a bullet wound . what about addressing the root causes of gentrification, inequality, and disinvestment? are those still being tackled or is this just another attempt at patching things up with more money ?

OMG, like, can't believe what's happening in NYC ! This new move by Mayor Mamdani could be game changing for their housing crisis situation... Fingers crossed that Dina Levy can bring some actual change and not just more of the same old slow stuff . Like, it's so frustrating when you see all these people struggling to find affordable places to live. Hope she brings in some fresh ideas and gets this city building 200k new apartments ASAP !

omg i cant even believe whats happening in nyc rn theyre finally doing somethin about the housing crisis like weve been talkin about 4 years now lol what if dina levy can actually get somethin done tho she sounds super knowledgeable and experienced so fingers crossed for her and hopefully for all the ppl who need affordable housing

omg i no how bad nycs housing crisis is its like ppl cant even get affordable apartments no matter wat they make. so glad the new commissioner is in charge hope she can do somethin about it tho. 200k new affordable apartments in 5 yrs sounds like a good start but we gotta see if it happens. and btw, who else is tired of seeing rent prices go up and up anyway, i guess this is a step in the right direction... fingers crossed!

I'm thinking we need more community-led initiatives to tackle this crisis... like, what if we partnered with local orgs to create affordable housing in underutilized areas? It wouldn't be as flashy as just building new units, but it could make a real difference