GUEST VIEWPOINT: Housing is Economic Development: Why the Hudson Valley Must Act Now and How Search for Change is Showing the Way

The Hudson Valley stands at a crossroads. Our region’s economic momentum—driven by advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, life sciences, tourism and education—is strong. Yet one fundamental challenge threatens to undermine that progress: the growing shortage of safe, affordable and attainable housing.

Employers across the region consistently report that housing availability is now one of the top barriers to recruiting and retaining talent. Young professionals, working families, healthcare workers, teachers, first responders and service employees are increasingly priced out of the communities they serve. Seniors and vulnerable populations face even steeper obstacles, often forced into housing instability or long commutes that strain quality of life and economic participation.

In Westchester County alone, more than 1,600 people experience homelessness each night, nearly two-thirds of whom are families with children. That sobering reality reflects deeper structural issues—limited housing supply, restrictive zoning, rising construction costs and decades of underinvestment in supportive housing. The ripple effects touch every sector of our economy, from workforce development and business attraction to public health and education.

But amid these challenges, organizations like Search for Change are proving that smart, mission-driven strategies can deliver real solutions.

Founded more than 45 years ago, Search for Change is dedicated to improving the quality of life and increasing the self-sufficiency of individuals facing emotional, social, and economic barriers. Their housing-centered approach is grounded in a simple truth: stable housing is the foundation upon which employment, education, health, and community engagement are built. Their work focuses on teaching individuals the skills needed to choose, obtain and maintain desirable housing while providing direct residential support through group homes, supported apartments and short-term transitional housing.

One of the organization’s most impactful initiatives is its Respite Program, which provides short-term supportive housing for individuals experiencing acute housing and mental health crises. By offering a structured, supervised environment, the program diverts individuals from emergency rooms and inpatient psychiatric care—reducing strain on hospitals, lowering public costs and accelerating recovery. Participants receive comprehensive support, including counseling, life-skills development and case management, allowing them to stabilize and transition successfully into permanent housing. This model not only improves outcomes for individuals, but also demonstrates how targeted housing interventions can produce measurable savings across healthcare and social service systems.

Search for Change also operates licensed residential facilities and supported apartment programs throughout Westchester and Putnam Counties, serving individuals who might otherwise struggle to live independently. These programs do more than provide shelter—they deliver stability, dignity, and opportunity. Residents gain access to employment services, vocational training, and community integration supports that enable them to rebuild their lives, rejoin the workforce, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The organization’s success has made Search for Change a critical partner in Westchester’s broader affordable housing ecosystem. In communities such as Mamaroneck, the organization has advanced affordable housing developments that provide deeply affordable units for low-income residents, including individuals transitioning from homelessness or institutional care. These projects stabilize neighborhoods, reduce strain on emergency systems and create pathways to long-term economic participation. Each successful housing placement represents not just a life transformed, but also a workforce strengthened and a community made more resilient.

What makes Search for Change especially noteworthy is their holistic approach. Housing is not treated as an endpoint, but as the starting point. By integrating housing with employment readiness, life-skills training, and social services, they create comprehensive pathways to independence and stability. This model aligns directly with the goals of economic development: a stable workforce, stronger communities, and sustainable growth.

For the Hudson Valley, the implications are clear. Solving our housing crisis is not merely a social imperative—it is an economic necessity. Companies considering expansion or relocation evaluate housing availability as closely as they assess taxes, infrastructure and workforce readiness. If employees cannot afford to live near their jobs, our competitiveness erodes. Without adequate housing, even the most aggressive workforce development strategies fall short.

That is why HVEDC advocates for a comprehensive regional housing strategy—one that includes zoning reform, incentives for mixed-income development, adaptive reuse of underutilized commercial properties, expanded transit-oriented development and strong public-private partnerships. Nonprofit organizations like Search for Change must be central to this effort, bringing proven models, community trust and operational expertise to the table.

The Hudson Valley has always been a place of innovation and resilience. By scaling solutions that work, investing in supportive housing, and aligning economic development with human development, we can ensure that our growth benefits everyone. When housing policy and economic strategy move in tandem, communities thrive, businesses grow, and opportunity expands.

Search for Change is showing us what is possible. Now it is up to all of us—government, business, philanthropy, and community leaders—to match their commitment and urgency. Housing is not just about shelter. It is about opportunity, equity, workforce strength and the future of our region.

To learn more about Search for Change, visit their website at www.searchforchange.org, where you can explore their programs, success stories, and opportunities to support their vital work in strengthening communities across the Hudson Valley.

About the author: Mike Oates is President and CEO of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC).