How affordable housing for a few can help us all

June 15, 2018                            By: Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.

A housing project in my district affords 10 working-class families the opportunity to become homeowners. Some may see that as too generous, while lamenting the lack of affordable housing citywide. That’s shortsighted: Affordable homeownership will lead to a stronger, fairer city.

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Indeed, the Van Buren Green project is exactly what’s right about Mayor de Blasio’s housing plan, which has already created almost 90,000 homes and apartments toward an ambitious 300,000-unit affordable-housing goal.

And though the majority of New Yorkers are renters — and his plan slants toward rentals — helping New Yorkers own a piece of their city is an essential piece of the puzzle.

Affordable homeownership offers security to families, too many of whom worry they are losing their place in the city they love. It allows New Yorkers of lesser means to grow equity that can then be passed along to future generations.................Read More