In an appearance on the Local Matters Westchester podcast, County Executive Ken Jenkins stated that Westchester’s need for affordable housing continues to increase.
Westchester’s Housing Needs Assessment, which provided an overview of the need for the creation and preservation of affordable housing, was conducted in 2019. The assessment concluded that 11,703 new affordable housing units were needed at the time to meet the county’s then demand.
In his April 5, 2026 podcast appearance, Jenkins said that assessment is undergoing an update and provided a more staggering figure.
Despite progress in some Westchester municipalities to address the housing shortage, “We still need about 16,000 units of affordable housing,” he stated.
Jenkins said seniors who are looking to retire in place and young adults are struggling to find affordable homes in Westchester.
“They don’t have enough entry level opportunities,” he said. “The reality is, we have more kids that are graduating and want to be here close to the communities they grew up in.”
His statements follow the announcement of recent U.S. Census Bureau data that identified Westchester as the fastest-growing county in New York, reaching its highest population between 2024 and 2025.