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Toward A Housing Imperative And Other Reflections On Balanced Growth And Development, John R. Nolon

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

In a series of recent cases, the New York courts have commented on the legislative acts of the state and local governments which have restricted or expanded the access to housing for limited income households or minorities. From these holdings, we can glimpse the outlines of a housing imperative: an emerging right running generally to low and moderate income households and minorities not to be excluded from living in any given community. As important, there also emerges the understanding that our legislators are empowered to act decisively to solve New York's much-lamented housing problem.