Michele Frazier, running for NYS Senate in District 51, met with us to discuss the housing shortage in our district. Because it is not a one-solution fits all issue, Michele has a multi-solution and innovative approach to this most important issue. The housing shortage is real, and solving it will require more than one idea or one type of development — it demands a thoughtful, flexible strategy that reflects who we are and what our towns need to thrive.
Housing That Reflects Our Communities
A strong rural community depends on the people who keep it running: teachers, nurses, construction workers, small business employees, and young families eager to build a future here. Seniors deserve homes that allow them to age in place safely and comfortably. Addressing the housing shortage means creating options for all of them — workforce housing, starter homes, accessible onestory residences, and smallscale developments that fit the character of our towns. It’s about ensuring that the people who make our communities vibrant can afford to live in them.
Zoning: A Powerful Tool Hiding in Plain Sight
Zoning may not be glamorous, but Michele sees it as one of the most powerful levers we have. Right now, local governments often lack the data needed to make smart decisions about where different types of housing should go. Surveys are expensive, and rural municipalities are stretched thin.
A statewide “Housing Czar” could change that — providing reliable, uptodate information so towns can make costeffective, datadriven choices while fully retaining home rule. Communities would still decide what gets built and where; they would simply have the information they need to do it well.
Revisiting outdated zoning rules — like fiveacre minimums or restrictions on multiunit housing — would give towns the flexibility to meet real needs without sacrificing their identity.
Incentives That Actually Work for Rural Areas
Large developers already receive incentives, but their projects rarely fit rural landscapes. What our district needs are grants and supports designed for smallerscale builders who can create housing that strengthens, rather than overwhelms, our communities.
This approach respects rural character while addressing the housing shortage in a way that makes sense for us.
Reviving Proven Programs
Some solutions have already shown their value. A previously successful program provided qualified homebuyers with up to $20,000 for down payments and another $20,000 for repairs — a gamechanger for residents who could afford monthly payments but struggled to save upfront costs. Grants were fully forgiven after ten years, encouraging longterm stability and investment in the community.
Bringing back programs like this would immediately expand access to homeownership.
Yes, We Can Fund This
The question of funding often stops conversations before they begin. But as Michele explains it the truth is simple: New York has the resources. The real challenge is choosing to invest in ways that strengthen communities, support working families, and ensure that rural residents aren’t left behind.
Housing is not just an economic issue — it’s a qualityoflife issue. It determines whether families stay, whether seniors can remain in their homes, and whether our towns can grow sustainably.