Purser Discusses Syracuse’s Housing Market, High Rent Costs in Syracuse.com Article

May 24, 2023

Syracuse.com

Gretchen Purser

Sociology Department

Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry

Advocacy and Activism

Housing

New York State

Syracuse.com

Gretchen Purser

Data shows that nearly 31% of Syracuse renters spend half their household income on rent or more, a percentage that ranks Syracuse the 33rd worst nationwide among 331 cities with at least 100,000 people. The numbers illustrate just how serious Syracuse’s rent crunch is and how hard it’s hitting residents.

“Certainly, there’s not enough affordable housing,” says Gretchen Purser, associate professor of sociology. “You have a situation of high poverty and a really kind of outrageous rental market in Syracuse.”

Syracuse isn’t unique, Purser adds. The entire state and nation is in the midst of a housing crisis. And it’s not just that there aren’t enough units. Much of what exists is in poor condition, Purser says.

Read more in the Syracuse.com article, “Rent costs are hitting Syracuse residents hard: Here’s how bad it is.”