ALT Dear Governor Hochul, As a diverse coalition of housing nonprofits, tenant activists, policy organizations, fair housing and immigrant justice organizations, and more, we write to applaud your inclusion of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) legalization in your FY 2023 budget proposal. We also support your proposed $85 million for the creation or rehabilitation of ADUs, and proposed technical assistance program to provide services to municipalities and non-profits. These provisions will benefit homeowners and tenants alike and are a vital part of a strategy to address the housing crisis and reduce racial segregation. Backyard apartments, attic or basement apartments, mother-in-law suites, and ​“casitas” all fall under the umbrella of ADUs, and legalizing them is an important element of a broader strategy to reduce housing costs and enable New Yorkers to stay in their homes. By increasing the supply of housing and providing more affordable options for where people can live, ADUs can provid

ALT ADU legalization will help address our state’s affordable housing crisis, give homeowners a new source of income, and provide more options for multigenerational families. Senior citizens especially stand to benefit from the legalization of ADUs, both because it would create more affordable homes, and second because it would allow more seniors to age in place by giving elderly homeowners the ability to have a live-in caretaker, or more income to pay expenses. Over 800,000 households across New York State are facing housing insecurity and many others can’t find housing in a safe, convenient neighborhood with good access to jobs. The stories behind these statistics are real – teachers who can’t afford to live in the communities where they work, students who are struggling to pay for books or food because of high housing costs, or essential workers in the health care or service industry who live 2 hours from their job. Legalizing ADUs will provide critical new housing options for our work