February 29, 2008
 

HOUSING GROUPS CALL ON GOVERNOR AND SENATE TO SUPPORT $400 MILLION HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FUND IN FINAL NEGOTIATIONS

ALBANY, NY –  In a dramatic appearance at the State Capitol, members of ARISE and other supporters of the Empire State Housing Alliance today hand-delivered 5,000 signed postcards to the Senate Majority office and called on Senator Bruno and the new governor to support the $400 million Housing Opportunity Fund originally included in the Executive Budget.  Legislative staff have revealed that there are threats to this item, primarily because of lack of Senate support for a new fund beyond existing programs.  Assembly Housing chair Vito Lopez is a strong supporter of the Housing Opportunity Fund.

The Empire State Housing Alliance (ESHA), a newly-established coalition uniting upstate and downstate organizing groups, has been calling on the state to dedicate revenue to produce and preserve affordable housing as a way to revitalize economic development, promote smart-growth—and improve the lives New Yorkers.

“We applaud Governor Spitzer's Housing Opportunity Fund proposal.  The fund is a revolutionary step forward in addressing the affordable housing crisis that impacts every corner of New York State,” said Paige Bellenbaum, Advocacy Director with Habitat for Humanity - New York City.

The Governor’s proposal, to be funded with Mortgage Insurance Fund excess reserves among other revenue, would allocate funds for housing in both upstate and downstate.  The Fund would be governed jointly by the Department of Housing and Community Renewal and SONYMA, and overseen by an Advisory Board to include government and outside representatives.  Other details on the Fund are still being negotiated.

Deborah Dewey, co-chair of the ARISE Regional Task Force, commented:  “People of faith and conscience, such as those in ARISE, are deeply concerned about the problems of housing, homelessness, and community development:  it is a moral scandal that NYS government has taken so long to address serious resources to giving more people decent, affordable, safe, and accessible housing.  We consider the Housing Opportunity Fund a great first step to restoring not only economic prosperity but equity and justice in our state.”

Joan Roby-Davison, Executive Director of the Group 14621 Community Association in northeast Rochester, hailed the infusion of resources for housing and offered recommendations for their use.  "The 14621 neighborhood has many residents struggling to maintain their homes with limited or fixed incomes, and the Housing Opportunity Fund may be a resource for them.  In addition, many of the vacant houses in the neighborhood can be saved, rehabilitated and provide homes for first-time homeowners,” said Roby-Davison. 

She added: “I'm also excited about the possibility of using these resources to address the serious problem of lead paint and lead hazards in homes, in a neighborhood that has the highest number of lead-poisoned children in Monroe County.”

Maxine Murphy, a resident leader with People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH) in Buffalo, said, “I’m happy to hear such a bold plan. What PUSH Buffalo and residents have been saying shines through in the Governor’s proposal: that sustainable, strategic investment in housing is a top priority for the nation’s second poorest city.”

Murphy added: “The Block by Block program announced in November sent a clear message about the way to rebuild Buffalo. And now with a proposal that puts major dollars on the table, we can do more. The Governor is listening to real people in the neighborhood, and we’re ready to work with state and local government to build a community-public partnership that gets things done.”

Advocates called on the Governor to dedicate the excess reserves from the Mortgage Insurance Fund on a permanent basis, to ensure the impact of the Housing Opportunity Fund into the future.

 “The City of Albany has two very difficult problems: a severe lack of affordable housing, and a glut of vacant and very dilapidated buildings.  Massive amounts of funds need to be raised to convert our unused properties into affordable housing for Albany’s families. A true Housing Trust Fund for New York State with new and dedicated revenue sources would be a significant mechanism to solve this problem,” said Roger Markovics, Co-Director of United Tenants of Albany and the Secretary of the Albany Community Land Trust.

ESHA members also urged legislators to focus resources on low-income New Yorkers as Housing Opportunity Fund guidelines are developed.  

Melissa McClinton, a future Habitat-NYC homeowner, urged the state to use Housing Opportunity Fund resources “to those who need it most.” She added: “There are hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who can’t afford to pay for necessities. When housing takes more than half your income, you have to make tough choices, like paying rent or skipping utility bills or food.”

The Empire State Housing Alliance is a newly established coalition that unites upstate and downstate organizing groups in a coordinated effort to call on New York State to devote greater funding to affordable housing and smart-growth solutions.

ARISE (A Regional Initiative Supporting Empowerment) is a coalition of 35 faith communities and community organizations dedicated to revitalizing poor neighborhoods in the Capital District.

Group 14621 Community Association is a grass-roots neighborhood association and Neighborhood Preservation Company serving residents in north-east Rochester.  Founded in 1974, Group 14621 works to engage residents in improving quality of life, including housing development and rehabilitation.

The United Tenants of Albany provides comprehensive housing counseling and homeless prevention services, and engages in community organization efforts to promote and preserve affordable housing.

People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH Buffalo) is a grassroots organization that brings people together to build home grown solutions to neighborhood problems.  PUSH and its members develop action oriented strategies to advance their ideas, empower local residents, and give them a strong voice with local decision makers.  At PUSH Buffalo, people are policymakers, poverty is not an option, and real change starts from the bottom up.

Habitat for Humanity – New York City  transforms lives and our city by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of decent, affordable housing. With the help of an average of 10,000 volunteers every year, Habitat-NYC has built more than 170 affordable homes in the five boroughs of New York City.