Housing / Neighborhoods Take Action

Paradoxically, Buffalo has both a crisis of abandoned housing and a severe homelessness problem. Top housing priorities should be preventing abandonment, preserving and rehabilitating existing units, and weatherizing housing to reduce energy costs and pollution simultaneously. Any new housing should be sustainable – strategically located to strengthen existing communities and ecologically friendly to reduce energy costs and pollution. As new development raises rents and property taxes in parts of the city, anti-displacement strategies become crucial in protecting vulnerable residents.

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July 17, 2023

PPG's Comments on Proposed Airbnb Tax in Erie County

On July 13, 2023, the Erie County Legislature held a public hearing on the proposed Occupancy Tax Modernization Act. PPG staff were not able to attend this hearing, but Director of Community Research, Sarah Wooton, submitted the following comments to the Erie County legislature.

July 6, 2023

Cornell High Road ’22 Fellow Wins Award and Funding for Western New York Law Center

Noah Berg won the Cornell University College of Human Ecology’s Community-Engaged Reflection Award for his work as a 2022 High Road Fellow with the Western New York Law Center (WNYLC).

May 17, 2023

Community Groups Call for Three Priorities in the City of Buffalo Budget

Partnership for the Public Good and its partner organizations gathered at Buffalo City Hall to call for three priorities to be included in the City of Buffalo 2023-2024 budget currently being negotiated. Video of the press conference is available here.

March 25, 2023

Buffalo News: "The Editorial Board: Buffalo needs some practical solutions to an affordable housing crisis that grows desperate"

News Editorial Board | March 25, 2023 Enough with the studies and the reports. It’s time for action. Buffalo has an affordable housing crisis that’s been building since well before the pandemic and is now at near-catastrophic proportions. Between late 2019 and late 2022, the median …

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McCarley Gardens: Kelly Camacho and Dennice Barr on The Public GoodMay 16, 2023, 10:30-11 am

Dejia James

In February 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $57 million commitment to upgrading McCarley Gardens, an affordable housing development just south of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. However, renovations did not go as expected for residents. Residents shared various concerns, including poor …

McCarley Gardens: Kelly Camacho and Dennice Barr on The Public GoodMay 16, 2023, 10:30-11 am

Dejia James

In February 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $57 million commitment to upgrading McCarley Gardens, an affordable housing development just south of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. However, renovations did not go as expected for residents. Residents shared various concerns, including poor …

Surplus Funds: Keisha Williams and Kate Lockhart on The Public GoodMarch 14, 2023, 10:30-11 am

Sarah Wooton

What happens when profits from a foreclosed property exceed what is owed on that property? In the past, the prior homeowner would get the remaining money, or surplus funds, returned to them. But this year, the City of Buffalo removed this policy and is keeping over $3.5 million in surplus funds …

Surplus Funds: Keisha Williams and Kate Lockhart on The Public GoodMarch 14, 2023, 10:30-11 am

Sarah Wooton

What happens when profits from a foreclosed property exceed what is owed on that property? In the past, the prior homeowner would get the remaining money, or surplus funds, returned to them. But this year, the City of Buffalo removed this policy and is keeping over $3.5 million in surplus funds …

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