Affordable housing has been and will continue to remain one of the Assembly's primary concerns. To this end the Assembly has consistently supported many different programs and initiatives designed to provide affordable housing. One of the most important of these initiatives is Mitchell-Lama housing. This program has produced tens of thousands of affordable housing units across New York State. In recent years the number of Mitchell-Lama units has begun to dwindle. This is due to a number of different factors including: corporations paying off the remainder of their low interest loans; lawsuits filed to remove buildings from the Mitchell Lama program; and a lack of new units being developed under the existing program. This hearing will explore possible solutions to the challenges the Mitchell-Lama program is facing.

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee and Subcommittee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to the Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

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1. What measures can the Legislature take to preserve Mitchell-Lama housing? What are the main reasons landlords are choosing to leave the Mitchell-Lama program? What incentives would persuade landlords to remain?

2. What strategies can the State and its municipalities adopt in order to promote the addition of new units to the Mitchell Lama program?

3. Should efforts to preserve Mitchell-Lama housing be focused on maintaining existing units or attracting new developers to the program?

4. How can the State help residents to become better informed of the rules and regulations governing Mitchell-Lama buildings and the buy-out process? How can the rules and regulations be updated or improved?

5. How can the Legislature help protect tenants in Mitchell-Lama rental and co-op buildings that leave the program?

6. Are specific areas of New York facing a shortage of Mitchell-Lama housing? If so has this been caused by recent departures from the program?

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Mitchell-Lama housing are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, e-mail or fax it to: