Bronz Addresses Affordable Housing Issues At Statewide Senior Action Council Convention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 17, 2007
Contact: Barbara Dodds, Legislative Aide, Tel: (914) 995-4429, BarbaraD@westchesterlegislators.com
Affordable housing is an issue of ongoing importance for the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Housing, Planning and Government Operations Committee. Committee chair Lois Bronz (D-Greenburgh) said the committee works closely with the New York Statewide Senior Action Council, such as seeking updated information about actions taken by the Legislature and the governor’s office on the issue.
At the Action Council’s annual convention in Albany last week, Bronz participated in a panel discussion, providing information on what Westchester County government is doing to provide affordable housing for seniors.
Bronz was joined at the convention by county Legislators William Burton (D-Ossining), Vito Pinto (D-I-WF, Eastchester) and Bernice Spreckman (R-Yonkers), who are also committee members.
The Senior Action Council conducted the “Housing for Seniors” discussion because seniors are being driven out of their homes and are often victims of predatory lending. The purpose of the panel’s talk was to inform convention--goers about the innovative housing initiatives being offered to seniors in New York State.
“I was specifically asked to join the panel to reflect what we’re doing in Westchester to address some of these concerns,” Bronz said. She spoke about such efforts as “Don’t Borrow Trouble,” a new public education campaign conducted by Westchester Residential Opportunities Inc., to deal with the growing number of foreclosures in the county, part of a national trend. The program provides “clear-cut” information on how homeowners can prevent serious credit problems and avoid becoming predatory lending victims. In addition to the educational component, the program provides “viable solutions to some of these problems,” Bronz said.
Bronz also described the county’s successful efforts to increase the number of affordable housing units available to seniors. The county has been encouraging municipalities to create affordable housing for seniors and has often made it possible through its housing funding programs, she said.
Another Westchester County program Bronz spoke about was 211, a county-funded project operated in partnership with The United Way. Individuals who call the phone number will speak with “a real live person” who can provide information about community services, including housing, she said.
Last month, Bronz and fellow Legislators Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) and Thomas Abinanti (D-Greenburgh) spoke at a New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal hearing in White Plains to support legislation intended to preserve thousands of subsidized housing units.
