In this region, families have been left behind by a housing market that has skyrocketed out of reach, leaving many struggling to keep up. Adam Bosch, CEO of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, expressed concern for working households now living in hotels on public assistance. These families are made up of essential workers such as grocery store employees, nurses’ assistants, child care workers, restaurant staff, all earning between $16 to $20 an hour. Typically, they would have been able to afford modest rents in the area, but those options have now disappeared.
The housing crisis is exacerbated by short-term rentals, with approximately 13% of the region’s 400,000 homes not being occupied full-time. This includes around 6,000 properties regularly booked as short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, a 20% increase since before the pandemic. This shift has strained the housing supply, making it increasingly difficult for families like Krajewski’s to find stable and affordable housing.
Krajewski and her family were forced to vacate their three-bedroom apartment after a rent increase from $1,000 to $1,400 a month. With skyrocketing home prices in Ulster County, owning a home is simply out of reach for many households. The median household income in the county falls short of what is needed to afford the average home price of $563,000 with a 20% down payment.
Unable to secure another rental, Krajewski and her family found themselves without a place to call home, facing eviction and homelessness. After several temporary living arrangements, they now reside in a motel along with over 150 other homeless adults and children in similar situations. The motel, once a tourist hotspot, has now become a makeshift community for families struggling to find stable housing.
The heartbreaking reality of families like Krajewski’s is a stark reminder of the urgent need for affordable housing solutions in the region. The current housing crisis is pushing working families to the brink, highlighting the importance of sustainable and inclusive housing policies. It’s imperative that communities come together to address the growing housing inequality and provide support for those most vulnerable in our society.
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