Freda Eisenberg says Sullivan County is not alone in facing a housing crisis, but there is a unique challenge in the municipality.

“We have families who are comfortable who are having to rent or buy lower-quality homes than they otherwise would be able to afford because the inventory that is out there does not meet their level," said Eisenberg, the county planning commissioner.

A recent study found housing stock for both Sullivan’s high- and low-income earners is not as abundant as the county had hoped. It creates a crunch for middle-income earners, who can be caught in a market where middle class single-family homes are in short supply and prices on them marked high.

With building costs also up, Eisenberg said any housing development aimed for folks making $75,000 or less needs financial assistance.

“Housing for the majority of people in the county needing subsidization," she said. "There’s also a gap in the high-end market. There’s also opportunities for the creation of market-rate, upper-end housing.”

Part of Sullivan County's solution will be from initiatives created through Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $390 million plan to create more housing statewide.

“To be able to subsidize projects that have a mix of incomes, that creates for a more vibrant and stable community," Eisenberg said.

According to Census data, Sullivan County’s population grew during the pandemic by nearly 2% from 2020 to 2021. The median household income grew nearly 12% from 2018 to 2021.

Eisenberg said many of the county’s new arrivals are recent city transplants seeking bigger homes and who are able to work remotely or hybrid. With the new additions, there’s a long road ahead for the county to create the various types of housing it needs.

Among the first steps forward is starting a housing fund to incentivize developers to build more homes.

“Working with municipalities to allow multi-family housing where it’s appropriate, near places of work, water and sewer, transportation,” Eisenberg said.