WHEREAS:

Billions of dollars in federal funding for public housing have been drastically cut over the last 10 years, and public housing authorities across the country have been forced to operate under significant capital and operating deficits. Such deficits resulted in cuts to maintenance and disrepair of infrastructure, shortage of housing units, closing of some public housing developments, closing of public housing after-school programs and community centers, and widespread layoffs of housing workers; and

WHEREAS:
For millions of Americans public housing is the only affordable housing available to them. This is true for seniors, the disabled and many working families; and

WHEREAS:
Deterioration and closure of public housing is not only detrimental to its residents and working families, it also causes severe economic loss and decline to businesses and surrounding communities.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME, in conjunction with community-based organizations, will lobby President Barack Obama and Congress for significantly increased funding for the maintenance, weatherization and repair of existing public housing and construction by union members of new developments in order to recover the many losses of public housing units; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will support projects that are funded by both federal government to renovate,  modernize and weatherize public housing and build new public housing developments to be managed, serviced and maintained by public employees; and
 
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will support federal and state legislation to set aside 20 percent of all units in all urban redevelopment zones as affordable housing for working families.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: 
Juan Fernandez, President and Delegate
Egbert Isaacs, Vice President and Delegate
Sheera Glass, Secretary and Delegate
Thomas Orawiec, Treasurer and Delegate
Morris Johnson, Delegate
Alan Mendelson, Executive Board Member
Diana Thillet, Executive Board Member
AFSCME Local 154, Council 37
New York