Adirondack Housing Needs Assessment to Focus on Challenges for Full Time Residents

ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. – A better understanding of today’s Adirondack housing market is the aim of an upcoming parkwide Housing Needs Assessment to be led by the Housing Assistance Program of Essex County, HAPEC announced today.

Full-time residents of the Adirondacks face long commutes, limited housing options and rising prices. Accurate data about housing and market trends will help HAPEC and its partners plan future projects to bring Adirondack housing, economies, and transportation into better balance.

A $10,000 grant from NeighborWorks America will kickstart HAPEC’s planned Adirondack Wide Housing Needs Assessment by funding a preliminary analysis of current housing costs, availability and demand in the Adirondacks. HAPEC hopes this funding will encourage other partners to invest in an expanded study of housing needs in all 102 towns and villages in the Park.

“I want to thank our partners at NeighborWorks for stepping up to the plate and supporting our work at the local level,” said HAPEC Executive Director Bruce Misarski. “This funding will help us get a better picture of what is occurring in our rapidly changing housing market.”

HAPEC’s Housing Needs Assessment will document current housing demands, the existing mix of housing types and current market conditions throughout the park. The study will gather and analyze as much relevant data as possible and will include surveys and interviews with residents, business owners and officials. HAPEC will document and summarize the results, present its findings, and make recommendations on how to improve housing stock to better support local residents and communities.

The biggest challenge to completing the study is the sheer size of the region and the large number of communities involved. Therefore, HAPEC hopes to identify partner organizations to assist with the design of the study, collection of data and public outreach.

For more information, contact HAPEC at (518) 873-6888.