Our Catholic faith requires us to work for a more just social order one in which all persons have what they need to live in dignity. Affordable housing is essential to human dignity and so advocacy for affordable housing is an appropriate expression of our Catholic faith.
Affordable housing that is in good condition is essential to human dignity because so many other basic human needs depend on it. There is the beginning of scientific data linking poor housing conditions - peeling paint, cockroaches, falling plaster – to a number of health issues, particularly the plague of childhood asthma. It is difficult to sustain a job without a steady home. Every night in this City there are persons who are working who depend on the City shelter system because their income is insufficient to meet the cost of housing. When individuals and families pay too much for housing, they are unable to meet other basic needs such as food, clothing, and medicine. Clearly, affordable, decent housing is a fundamental human right.
We have a crisis in affordable housing in this City. A recent survey taken by the NYC Office of Housing Preservation and Development found that 56% of New Yorkers are paying more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities (which the federal government classifies as “rent burdened.”) Three in ten renter households are severely rent burdened, that is, they are paying more than 50% of their income on rent. The DeBlasio administration is committed to an aggressive campaign to create more affordable housing in this City. Staten Island, of course, is included in the Mayor’s plan. We have an obligation to insure that this housing is affordable to those most in need of such housing – low-wage workers and their families. We don’t want to exclude anyone but we want to be certain that this plan serves those with the greatest need.
If you are interested in advocating for more affordable housing, pay attention to future bulletin announcements or contact me at the rectory. Together we can secure the right to affordable, decent housing for all New Yorkers.