Affiliates Support Housing Efforts in State

Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the state have played a crucial role in impacting public policy recently at a series of Division of the Budget Hearings. For two years now, Habitat–NYS has been an active member of a coalition called the Empire State Housing Alliance. This coalition of upstate and downstate organizing groups, has been calling on New York State to devote greater funding to affordable housing and smart-growth solutions, one in particular is the creation of a true New York State Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

A true Affordable Housing Trust Fund, unlike the one we currently have at the state level, is a dedicated revenue stream that is not subject to annual appropriations. Commonly administered by state HFA's, trust funds provide extremely flexible funds to non-profits in the form of grants, and for-profits in the form of loans. Eligible activities include new construction, rehab, acquisition, preservation, and more. Most Trust Funds, as is the Fund that NYS is advocating for, target low income populations, and provide affordable housing opportunities for either 99 years or in perpetuity.

Last year, and this coming year, Habitat for Humanity NYS's legislative priority has been the creation of the Trust Fund, and things are looking good. After a series of conversations with Priscilla Amlmadovar, HFA's Commissioner, we have learned that the creation of the Trust Fund (what she calls an Investment Fund, and we have adopted the term) is a priority for her, and she has made an appeal to the Division of Budget to add and additional $100 million to this year's tight budget. The funding would come from excess reserve requirements from SONYMA's Mortgage Insurance Fund.

In an effort to support the Commissioner's request for a Housing Investment Fund, Habitat affiliates across the state have shown up to testify at a series of DOB budget hearings, in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, New York City and Long Island. Mussette Castle, Vice Chair of the Flower City Habitat was quoted in Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle, "She (Mussette) asked for the budget to include $100 million for a "true" affordable housing trust fund. She said that across the state, what remains constant is the severity of housing problems and the need to address them."

Testimony delivered at the hearings is available here:

If you are interested in getting more involved in Habitat for Humanity New York State's Housing Investment Fund Campaign, please call Paige Bellenbaum, Director of Advocacy at Habitat – NYC:

Paige Bellenbaum, LCSW
Director of Advocacy
Habitat for Humanity - New York City
111 John St., 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10038
Phone: (212) 991-4000 x312
Fax: (212) 991-3990
E-mail: pbellenbaum@habitatnyc.org

Learn more about Habitat - NYC's advocacy efforts - visit www.habitatnyc.org/advocate.html