Opinion: Mamdani's Affordability Agenda Can Serve Older Adults, Too

"When pundits discuss new Mayor Zohran Mamdani's affordability policies, they talk about the benefits to his base of young supporters. They imagine how the call for cheaper groceries and rent freezes will help 20- and 30-somethings navigating early adulthood and parenthood. But Mamdani's core message on housing and food prices applies just as much to older New Yorkers, and his affordability agenda can deliver for them, too. They cared for us, now it's our turn to care for them."

"Nearly 1.5 million older adults call New York City home. Among those over age 70, nearly three in five reported no stable source of retirement income, and a similar share of older tenants are rent-burdened. And when grocery and housing prices rise, that poses a threat to their health and safety. The urgent solution is to expand options for affordable homes and low- and no-cost nutrition."

"A 2024 report pegged the total number of adults 60-plus with pending applications for affordable housing at a head-spinning 520,000. Take Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA), a promising program to fund construction of 100 percent affordable housing for lower-income New Yorkers 62 years or older. Even though the former mayoral administration touted its unprecedented record on affordable housing, this initiative remains badly underresourced, creating just 7,300 new homes since 2014."

New Yorkers prioritized affordability, and older residents stand to benefit from policies to reduce grocery and housing costs. Nearly 1.5 million older adults live in New York City; among those over 70, nearly three in five lack a stable source of retirement income and a similar share of older tenants are rent-burdened. Rising grocery and housing prices threaten older adults' health and safety. A 2024 report found 520,000 adults 60-plus with pending affordable-housing applications. Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) aims to build 100% affordable units for people 62+, but has produced only 7,300 homes since 2014 and just 336 last year. Immediate expansion of housing supply and low- or no-cost nutrition options is necessary.

Read at City Limits