New bill would revive single-room occupancy apartments in NYC
11 days ago
- #NYC
- #SROs
- #affordable-housing
- New York City Council member Erik Bottcher introduces legislation to revive single-room occupancy units (SROs).
- SROs, as small as 100 square feet, were once common but declined due to stigma linking them to poverty and crime.
- SROs feature shared kitchens and bathrooms, offering affordable housing for singles, newcomers, and those transitioning from homelessness.
- The bill includes safety standards to prevent past issues, such as limiting shared facilities to three units and requiring sprinklers.
- Legislation targets unregulated 'co-living' providers and makes it easier to convert office buildings into SROs.
- Support for SROs reflects NYC's housing shortage, with single-person households rising nearly 9% from 2018-2023.
- Governor Hochul allocated $50 million to rehabilitate 500 existing SROs, and Mayor Adams supports SROs in his housing plan.