data as it becomes available via the decennial census or other data collection events. The overarching goals around which our last Comprehensive Plan (2003) was built were preserving traditional qualities, strengthening assets, and protecting resources. It is the belief of this Task Force that the recommendations set forth herein will help Croton-onHudson build a stronger community while addressing the crisis of affordability in Westchester County and Croton-on-Hudson. Many of the neighborhoods which best define the unique beauty and character of our Village, including the residential neighborhoods of Harmon and the mixed-use developments of the Upper Village highlight a way forward for Croton that allows for the organic growth of our community while preserving the traditional qualities that make the Village such a beloved place for all of our residents. The 2003 report stated that “The Village should build on its successes by continuing to maintain and improve on the existing economic diversity of housing stock. The Village, in partnership with the Croton Housing Network, has identified and employed a variety of opportunities to advance the creation of this affordable housing in the Village. These have included: new construction, Village-contributed land, developer-contributed land, homes built by developers, use of derelict Village property, and developer-included units. These strategies, along with the possibilities for acquisition of existing buildings for conversion to affordable units should be identified and explored. The population and income groups whose needs are not currently being met should be identified through the evaluation of currently available information and the independent acquisition of data by the Village. Creative study of the existing situation will aid in understanding the need for affordable housing in the future and in identifying opportunities for expansion of the affordable housing stock. Studies should be designed to identify the economic groups now living in the Village as well as their living conditions. This should include an inventory of existing rental stock, both legal and illegal under current rules, with a determination of the rents being charged and the income of the occupants. Analysis of this data will prove invaluable in the Report of the Croton Housing Taskforce Page 4 ongoing effort to identify and meet affordable housing needs. Future planning for affordable housing in the Village should include exploration of opportunities to create choices allowing senior citizens to “age in place” and remain in the community as well as for new families to enter the community.” These recommendations still require action by the Board of Trustees. The specific recommendations set forth below offer a number of strategies the Board of Trustees should consider as they seek to accomplish the goals set forth in the 2003 Comprehensive Plan and the 2017 Update to the 2003 Comprehensive Plan. Report of the Croton Housing Taskforce Page 5 II. Data As part of the Westchester Housing Needs Assessment (see Appendix {__]), snapshots of housing data for each municipality were prepared by Westchester County and the Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress using data from numerous sources, including HUD, the decennial census, American Community Survey (ACS) estimates and multiple listing service (MLS) listings. The snapshot sets forth the specific parameters of the housing affordability crisis in our Village. The snapshot stated that there were 842 (28%) renteroccupied units and 2,187 (72%) owner-occupied units. The last available data on home sales was from 2018 and the report was prepared before the pandemic so any additional increase in home prices and the effects thereof were not included in the snapshot. The County Assessment identified 25 Owner Households and 0 Rental Households as Substandard. The definition of Substandard used is from HUD and means that the housing lacks complete plumbing or kitchen facilities. It also identified 10 Owner Households and 10 Renter Households as Severely Overcrowded. As defined by HUD severely overcrowded means that there are more than 1.5 persons per room in the household. As defined by HUD, severely cost burdened means that more than 50% of income is used to pay for rent. The number of households that were identified as severely cost burdened were 200 Renter Households and 345 Owner Households, for a total of 545 severely cost burdened households in Croton. 47.5% of renters live in housing that is either unaffordable or severely cost burdened. One other point that becomes clear in the data, is that there is a growing gap between the median income of an owner-occupied household versus a renter-occupied household. Based on 2017 ACS data, the Westchester County Housing Needs Assessment identified the median income of a renter-occupied housing unit in Croton-on-Hudson as $52,439 whereas the median income of owner-occupied units is $149,223. The gap is not surprising given that the Needs Assessment also calculated the minimum income needed for the median home in Croton-on-Hudson as $218,000 (single-family, condo or co-op; again, based on 2017 ACS Data). All of