Open New York, an affordable housing advocacy group, is requesting the support of faith leaders for new legislation that would empower faith-based organizations to build affordable housing on their land. The Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act (S7791/A8386) is currently in committee and being considered for inclusion in the 2024-25 State Budget.
Bishop Provenzano says,
"All across our diocese, our neighbors struggle to find affordable housing. This bill would enable us to face the crisis head on. As a faith leader, I urge you to join me in adding your name to this petition and encourage our representatives to build a better future for all New Yorkers."
All clergy, religious brothers and sisters, cantors, lay congregational leaders such as lectors, outreach volunteers, justice committee members, religious educators, etc. should sign. You can read the letter here (or below).
As of March 12th, this bill is now in the New York State 2024 budget process that is supposed to conclude on April 1st. We have only two weeks to make our case for this bill. While there is statewide support for the bill, ONLY TWO Long Island State legislators have signed on to it. We will be contacting Long Island members of the State Assembly and Senate in the coming two weeks to ask for their support. We want to give them our faith leaders' letter as we do so.
You can also help by contacting TODAY your State Assembly Member and State Senator, Governor Kathy Hochul, Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate leader Andrea Steward Cousins:
- Here is a suggested message: "I support the Faith Based Affordable Housing Act - S7791/A8386 which will allow faith based institutions to construct affordable housing on their properties 'as of right' because this bill will bypass obstructionist local zoning procedures that have been used to delay and defeat critically-needed affordable housing on Long Island and elsewhere in new York State."
- To identify your State Assembly Member and his/her contact information visit: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/
- To identify your State Senator and his her contact information visit: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator
- To contact Governor Kathy Hochul visit: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form and call https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
- To contact Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie call his district office at 1-718-654-6539 and email him at Speaker@nyassembly.gov
- To contact Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins call her district office at (914) 423-4031and email her at scousins@nysenate.gov
Open Letter to State Leaders: Pass the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act
Dear Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie:
As members of the faith community, including faith-leaders and representatives from faith-based organizations, we write to thank you for your consideration of the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act (S7791/A8386), and urge you to include the proposal in the FY 2024-2025 State Budget.
Our coalition represents New Yorkers across the state, from many religions and walks of life. Despite our differences, we have all experienced the impact of New York’s housing crisis in our own lives, as well as the lives of our families, congregations, and communities. We have seen families struggling to find affordable homes, young adults unable to return to the communities they grew up in, and seniors unable to remain in the communities in which they have raised their children.
The Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act (FBAHA) will empower houses of worship in town and urban centers to build contextual, affordable housing on the land they already own, most of which is currently zoned for commercial use. The proposal would also create a new, comprehensive training for religious institutions focused on real estate and affordable housing, ensuring our congregations are prepared to take on these projects. This moment of crisis requires decisive and rapid action, and FBAHA will immediately create considerable new opportunities on faith-based lands for housing. Our support for FBAHA stems from a shared vision for a New York where everyone has access to safe, decent, and affordable housing and where our faith institutions continue to play a critical role in providing services to the community – including through building affordable housing on our land.
As faith leaders, we are ready to step up, collaborate, and drive community-focused housing projects that benefit all. However, we need your support to bring the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act to fruition. We thank the Senate for recognizing the proposal in its FY 2024-2025 One-House Budget, and urge you to include the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act in the final budget agreement. Together we can create a New York that is welcoming to all. Thank you for your time, consideration, and commitment to the well-being of all New Yorkers.
With hope and faith,
Signatories including The Rt. Rev. Bishop Lawrence Provenzano