Broome County Residents Name Affordable Housing Their Top Concern

When I moved to Binghamton 15 years ago, I learned almost immediately how difficult it could be to find a decent apartment that I could actually afford.

I searched and searched, and just when I was ready to give up hope, I got lucky and found a place. Unfortunately, so many others have not been as fortunate. People throughout Broome County have struggled and continue to struggle to find housing that fits their budget.

Now, local residents have identified housing stability and affordability as the community’s top concern in Broome County’s 2025–2030 Community Health Assessment.

Poverty, anxiety, and stress were the next leading concerns identified in the assessment.

Affordable Housing Is a Health Issue in Broome County

Housing might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “community health,” but where you live can affect nearly every part of your well-being.

Having a safe and stable home can reduce stress, support better physical and mental health, and help people feel connected to their community. Worrying about rent, moving frequently, or living in unsafe conditions can take an enormous toll.

When housing costs take up most of a household’s income, families are often forced to choose between rent, groceries, prescriptions, utilities, and other basic needs. Those difficult choices can quickly become health issues.

Housing Tops Broome County’s Community Health Priorities

Broome County completes its Community Health Assessment every five years as part of New York State’s Prevention Agenda.

The process brings together residents, healthcare providers, community organizations and local governments. Participants review health data, share their experiences and identify the issues having the greatest effect on people living in Broome County.

Those findings are then used to create the Community Health Improvement Plan, which will guide coordinated planning, investments and local initiatives from 2025 through 2030.

The fact that housing ranked above every other concern says a great deal about what local families are facing.

Hooper Road Apartments Add Affordable Housing in Broome County

One recent step toward addressing the need is the completion of Hooper Road Apartments in the Town of Union.

The development includes 80 apartments for adults age 62 and older with incomes of up to 60% of the Area Median Income. Of those apartments, 40 are reserved for supportive housing.

That allows qualifying seniors to live independently while also receiving services on-site.

For older adults living on fixed incomes, developments like this can provide more than an apartment. They can offer stability, support, and access to services that help seniors continue living independently.

Broome County Still Needs More Affordable Housing

Hooper Road Apartments represent meaningful progress, but county leaders acknowledge that the development is only one part of a broader strategy to address local housing needs.

Continued investment and cooperation among local governments, healthcare organizations, and community partners will be necessary to increase access to safe, quality, and affordable housing throughout Broome County.

Fifteen years after my own stressful apartment search, people across Broome County are still trying to find homes they can afford. Some eventually get lucky, as I did. Others continue searching as the demand for quality, affordable housing grows.

The latest Community Health Assessment makes one thing clear: affordable housing is not a side issue in Broome County. Residents identified it as the community’s most pressing concern, and addressing it will be an important part of local health planning over the next five years.

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Residents can review Broome County’s complete 2025–2030 Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan through the county’s website.