WHEREAS:

Public and affordable housing provides homes for the working people, the poor, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and families who depend on welfare; and

WHEREAS:

As a result of the removal of one-for-one replacement requirements in 1998, public housing has lost 20% of its units, resulting in a massive shortage of public housing in the country; and

WHEREAS:

The lack of affordable housing places undue stress on local economies, affecting working people as they are faced with high cost rent and/or mortgages; and

WHEREAS:

Although vouchers make up the largest percentage of affordable housing programs in the country, people using vouchers are more racially and economically segregated than people in traditional public housing; and

WHEREAS:

Lack of affordable housing impacts severely on seniors on fixed incomes, veterans and people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS:

Today’s housing policies are not working for the poor or working families, who are forced to pay more for housing than they can afford. Despite the housing crisis, the government spends far more on tax breaks for wealthier homeowners than it does on affordable housing programs; and

WHEREAS:

As a society we need to create policies that will provide all working people, children and seniors with a safe and stable environment to live in and retire with dignity.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will lobby the White House and Congress to present and support proposals to generate federal funding to invest in preserving and rehabilitating existing public housing, to

create strong, sustainable and inclusive communities for all, and to produce new units of both public and affordable housing for working people, the poor and low income families; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will develop campaigns to educate workers and the general public on the importance of supporting and providing proper funding for public and affordable housing in the country.

SUBMITTED BY: Juan Fernandez, President and Delegate

Egbert Isaacs, Delegate

Sheera S. Glass, Delegate

Thomas Orawiec, Delegate

Juliet White, Delegate

AFSCME Local 154, District Council 37

New York