This year, Governor Cuomo separated his Executive Budget proposal from his State of the State announcement yesterday which includes 30 initiatives this year. NY State is beginning the new year facing a $6 billion budget gap. While there are no housing-related proposals among his 30 initiatives, he spoke passionately about NY’s homeless problem and his ongoing professional commitment including his tenure as HUD Secretary. He stated that we don’t have to “reinvent the wheel” and that we need resources and competency. He affirmed a commitment of the largest amount of money in the State’s history to address homelessness and build affordable housing. In the coming year, the Governor plans to diversify the State’s affordable housing initiatives, expanding the State’s efforts to manufactured home parks, addressing the urban blight in the state’s upstate cities, and helping families continue to move to neighborhoods of opportunity. 2020 represents the 4th funding year of the State’s 5-year housing commitment. However, progress is unclear as HCR’s annual report to the Legislature, marking production against promised units and appropriated funds, is not released publicly. Stay tuned for our analysis of the Executive Budget when it is released…