Affordable Housing Settlement Ends In Westchester

WHITE PLAINS, NY — After 12 years, Westchester County has put its affordable housing settlement in the rear-view mirror.

County Executive George Latimer said notification was recently received from U.S. District Judge Denise Cote that the county was in substantial compliance with the consent decree, and a federal housing monitor was no longer needed.

“We did not do this alone," he said, "and we have to thank our non-profit housing organizations, the local municipalities and the many developers for all that they did to help get us here."

Latimer said it took 12 years to get to this point, with much of it happening before he became county executive.

“But, I think we have proven time and again that fair and affordable housing is something that we believe in," he said. "We consistently put significant money aside, we conducted a housing needs study, and we understand fully how great that need is."

Latimer said more than 11,000 units are needed to satisfy the demand for young families and seniors on fixed incomes, and the county wants to see these projects come to fruition all across Westchester.

“We know that we have a long way to go, but I want to thank the Department of Justice for recognizing our commitment to this cause," he said. "We made every effort to satisfy the terms of the case, and I am thrilled that we are able to put it behind us.”