Citizen Action of New York, advocates and community members rallied outside the Monroe County Office Building on April 14 demanding the county invest in affordable housing.
At the last County Legislature meeting on March 10, during the public forum section, members of the organization spoke about housing vouchers and the housing crisis.
When Jalil Abdul Muntaqim took the podium to advocate for housing vouchers, members of the County Legislature’s Republican conference left the room; they later said it was because of his conviction and imprisonment after a police killing.
In response to this walkout, Citizen Action invited those concerned about housing to rally for the expansion of the housing voucher program.
Yvonne Griffin, a Syracuse chapter member of Citizen Action of New York, came out to stand with Rochester in speaking about the housing crisis.
“For years, our local housing safety net has relied on a rental allowance that for many sits at a staggering $440 a month, in a city where fair market rent for a modest two bedroom is now well over $1,300,” Griffin said. “We want the proposal to move from $440 to $900. … The vouchers would help your people and bring less burden on the county budget.”
Muntaqim also attended the rally to demand an increase in housing vouchers.
“It is a human right to have housing, how can you deny people housing? The property owners, those who legislate for property owners, are neglecting, denying the working class people. This is a class struggle,” Muntaqim said.
— 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 rally at Monroe County building for housing vouchers
Reporting by Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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