A new report shows Elmhurst and Corona are becoming less affordable to low-income families and homelessness is on the rise. NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.
For many living in Elmhurst, the homeless shelter at the former Pan American hotel was a site of contention. But for researchers, it was the inspiration for a study on poverty in the area.
"We saw that there was really a rise in homegrown homelessness and destabilization as result of both gentrification and poverty taking place in the neighborhood," said
Jennifer Erb-Downward, the Principal Policy Analyst for the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness.
The Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness or ICPH recently released a study showing housing in Elmhurst and Corona is becoming more unaffordable to low-income families. While the number of residents making more than $100,000 a year has doubled since 2005, many others have been priced out of their homes.
"You see a lot of families struggling. So there were over 5,000 renters who were competing for just 1,500 units in the lowest rental bracket," said Erb-Downward.
Elmhurst resident Lester Lin founded City Mission to help bridge the gap between the people living in the Pan-Am Shelter and the community. He says many of the homeless people he's worked with are victims of the risings rents.
"It's really sad because you do see that they, a majority of them are being priced out. Not just around here but just everywhere in the five boroughs. But in Queens, it's happening rapidly," said Lin.
The ICPH study also finds in parts of Corona, 56 percent of residents are spending more than half their income on rent. Experts say this leads to hidden homelessness, with two or three families living in one apartment instead of in a shelter.
The study shows for each homeless student in a shelter, there were eight students living with more than one family.
"Elmhurst/Corona is the second most overcrowded neighborhood in New York City, with overcrowding rates that's twice that of the city average," said Erb-Downward.
Going forward, the ICPH says it's important for policy makers to take a hard look at the numbers and come up with a plan for the best path forward.