Housing
In the 56th district, the major issue is housing as both Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights have been the top gentrified neighborhoods in New York City.
As such, my plan is to address housing as a healthcare issue due to the recent and projected demographic changes in our community. The world’s urban population is expected to double by 2050 and for the first time in history people aged over 60 years of age and older will outnumber the number of 0-18 year olds on the planet. Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights is a designated Naturally Occurring Retirement Committee (NORC) and policy makers and residents must work together to provide housing solutions to address these major democratic shifts.
We must reimagine what healthcare and housing will look like so that our seniors are able to age in place without the threat of losing their homes or homelessness. As such, I am actively advocating for the following housing policies to ensure healthy living throughout the district: $3 billion from the federal government to fund Homeless Assistance Grants, Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Public Housing Operating Funds, and Public Housing Capital Grants. Permanent supportive housing and “Housing First” policies that provide the growing number of street homelessness with permanent and supportive housing.
In addition, I am partnering with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers and the NAACP’s NextGen program to create a pathway to homeownership through their “House Then The Car” program, designed to tap in to the $1.7 Million purchasing power of millennials to increase homeownership in the African American community.
Once housing is stabilized and families have access to care and fresh and affordable foods, they can begin adopting a wellness framework with positive and life-affirming social interactions and relationships that will mitigate health issues like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
Housing Security
Invested $222m in Violence Interventions
Lead sponsor of Tax and Take legislation to prevent the government from stealing home equity
