Welcome Home Westchester, Westchester County faith leaders and advocates joined a virtual rally with nearly 100 of their peers from across New York State in support of the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act (FBAHA) on April 23.
Reverend Dr. Kelly Hough-Rogers of Scarsdale Congregational Church, UCC, a Welcome Home Westchester Policy Advisory Committee member, shared that the FBAHA coalition – led by Open New York – has grown to more than 500 members.
“We will continue to fight for our communities and do our part to put faith in housing,” she said.
The legislation would allow faith institutions to more easily build affordable housing on their property, transforming vacant buildings and unused parking lots.
Rashida Tyler, deputy executive director of the New York State Council of Churches, shared, “We have so many congregations that want to build. The need is great – homelessness is ever rising; the housing crisis is ever-increasing. People are asking, ‘What are the churches doing?’ Well, we’re trying to do a lot.”
Westchester County officials and local faith leaders have been vocal about their support for the proposed law, speaking out both in Albany and at a White Plains Faith Walk last year.
The bill’s sponsors, Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Brian Cunningham encouraged advocates to push the bill over the finish line this year.
“New York is becoming so unaffordable,” Assemblymember Cunningham asserted.
Senator Gounardes stated, “We want to make sure [New York] is a place where families can anchor themselves.”
WHW member organizations Community Housing Innovations (CHI), Habitat for Humanity New York City & Westchester, IFCA Housing Network and Westchester County Association also attended the rally in support.
CHI CEO Ron Abad stated, “It’s not just about housing. Remember, when we build housing, we’re building homes. This act exemplifies that.”