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Apartment Buildings For TeachersLow-Cost Housing For Educators in New York City
High turnover rates cost schools millions of dollars each year. New York City is willing to build affordable housing to see if this will aid in retention of teachers.
Subsidized Housing for TeachersDue to the high cost of living in New York City, it is difficult to recruit teachers. The salaries do not compensate for the high housing costs. In the past, NYC has offered to pay housing subsidies up to $14,600 to attract teachers with certification in math, science and special education. This does not seem to be enough. New York wants to do more. The BronxThe city wants to stop the turnover by offering quality housing. The Melrose section of the Bronx has been selected as the beginning site of the complex. In two years, New York City hopes to have 234 apartments for teachers. The units will carry a monthly rent of $806 for a studio apartment up to $1,412 for a three-bedroom apartment. [Elissa Gootman, nytimes.com, October 5, 2007] Obstacles to Subsidized HousingThe challenge is finding affordable land in the city for building and funding. The apartments will be assigned on a lottery basis. In order to qualify, a family of four must not have an income of more than 110% of the area median which is $76,000. Starting teacher salaries in the city are $42,512. While this income range allows for comfortable housing in other parts of the United States, it will not do so in New York City. [Elissa Gootman, nytimes.com, October 5, 2007] Teacher Housing PreferencesTeachers state that one the reasons they leave is because of long commutes. They also complain that they do not live where they work. They want to live where their students live, shop where their students shop and have their children grow up in a neighborhood setting where they work. These apartments would allow for that to happen. Teacher aids and teachers in parochial and charter schools would also qualify for the apartment lottery if incomes fall within guidelines. The FundingThe two apartment buildings are financed by $28 million in bonds from the city’s Teachers’ Retirement System. The New York City Housing Development Corporation is providing an additional $20 million in the form of a loan. William C. Thompson, Jr., city comptroller, said that the city has to get a handle on the teacher turnover. [Elissa Gootman, nytimes.com, October 5, 2007] Other AvenuesThompson thinks if this arrangement works well, it may be expanded to employees in the Police Department, Fire Department and other city employees. Because of the shortage of affordable housing, the city expects to be overwhelmed with applicants for the 234 apartments. Related articles: Teachers Are Quitting, NEA: Today's Teacher Issues, Female vs. Male Teachers Read previous articles on Educational Issues. Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
The copyright of the article Apartment Buildings For Teachers in Educational Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish Apartment Buildings For Teachers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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