Advocates are calling for an increase in housing vouchers in Monroe County and across the state.
During the public forum section of the Monroe County Legislature meeting on March 10, several members of Citizen Action called for an increase in housing voucher rates.
Housing vouchers are federal subsidies to help low-income families, elderly individuals and people with disabilities afford livable apartments and find housing stability.
There are several types of housing vouchers and they are primarily administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Some common housing vouchers include tenant-based vouchers, project-based and special purpose vouchers.
Advocates say current vouchers fall far short of local rents
The Rochester Grants Pass Resistance described housing vouchers to be one of the most effective tools to reduce homelessness until people can afford housing through a living wage.
“Right now the state housing subsidy starts at just $295 a month plus heat, which is far too low to secure even a rooming house room,” the Grants Pass group said in a statement. “Without realistic subsidies these programs go unused while people remain unhoused. Instead of criticizing people who speak up about this crisis, we should be focused on fixing a system that is clearly failing our communities.”
In addition to tenant-based and project-based vouchers, the housing advocate group also calls on Monroe County to fund shelter to placement housing vouchers and housing stability housing vouchers to accommodate more people.
Citizen Action said the housing crisis in Rochester is severe and deeply rooted in poverty as the city has one of the highest poverty rates in the country with nearly 28% of residents living below the poverty line.
The group also noted that the homeless population has grown roughly by 34% over the past six years and how families and children are being hit especially hard.
“Housing security is a core issue at the heart of what the Economic Justice Committee of Citizen Action, led by Jalil Muntaqim, is fighting for,” Citizen Action said in a statement. “We’re building real campaigns, rooted in community needs, to move Rochester toward lasting economic stability and opportunity.”
The group said they are pleased to see $250 million for the Housing Access Voucher Program included in the legislature’s one-house budget and are calling on the governor to prioritize this investment in the final enacted budget.
— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Advocates press Monroe County to raise housing voucher rates
Reporting by Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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