CONTACT: Joe Loonam, joseph@vocal-ny.org, 347-409-4650

VOCAL-NY PRAISES PASSAGE OF HOTEL CONVERSIONS BILL; THANKS ROBUST COALITION OF HOUSING ADVOCATES, LABOR, AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPERS

NEW YORK —  In response to the New York Legislature passing a bill to reform and expand the HONDA conversion program, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Tracie Adams, VOCAL-NY Homelessness Union Leader in Rochester, NY:

“This legislation is essential to fast-tracking the creation of desperately needed housing across our state,” said Tracie Adams, Leader with VOCAL-NY. “Every day I walk past the Cadillac Hotel in downtown Rochester, which remains totally abandoned, and dream of it becoming high quality, deeply affordable housing units. Housing advocates, non-profit providers, and labor unions all see the suffering our lack of affordable housing  is causing, and we want to thank all our partners for working with us to get this done.” 

BACKGROUND:

Last year, New York State passed the House Our Neighbors with Dignity Act, which created a fund to purchase distressed commercial property and convert it into high quality affordable housing. Initially funded at 100 million dollars, there was an additional 100 million dollars added to the program this year, however, due to some restrictive language in the original bill conversions have not yet started. 

S4937C/A6262B reforms the initial program to allow for more buildings to be eligible, so that the state can fast track the construction of desperately needed affordable housing units. 

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