The Long Island Progressive Coalition has created a new campaign called YIMBY-Yes In My Backyard.
We seek to build a movement to support affordable housing across Long Island by getting organizations to endorse YIMBY and turn their members out to support affordable housing.
In addition to working with organizations we will be organizing individuals who need affordable housing and who support it in their communities.
Turning out affordable housing supporters at Town Halls meetings will be a major component of this campaign.
In order for YIMBY to be successful we need to build support from unions, businesses, community organizations and housing organizations.
Long Island is not affordable for many populations. Rising property taxes, the lack of affordable rental housing, and the cost of homeownership have made this a challenging place for people to live. Many seniors want to stay here, but are finding it harder and harder each year. The school tax burden has literally forced people out of their homes, forced seniors to choose between their prescription drugs and their tax bills, and has kept many low income families from being able to purchase a home or find a decent affordable rental unit.
The housing situation on Long Island is in crisis. Long Island is among the 10 least affordable places to live in the United States. Nassau and Suffolk Counties have the highest fair market rents in New York State. A one bedroom apartment averages $1,084 which is unaffordable to 49% of Long Islanders. Someone is who paid minimum wage that makes $7.15 an hour has to work one hundred and fifty one hours to afford a one bedroom apartment. That leaves absolutely no money for other expenses. It is no wonder that Nassau County is reporting increased homelessness and there are families who are homeless with incomes of $50,000. The situation is desperate.
The LIPC is working on a YIMBY-Yes In My Backyard affordable housing movement to raise Long Islanders awareness of the need for affordable housing and to develop core housing supporters. A coalition of organizations including unions, business groups, builders, housing, and community organizations will turnout supporters of affordable housing to town board meetings and other actions that further affordable housing. People in need of affordable housing are being organized to speak to Town Boards and Supervisors and be a part of the YIMBY movement.
The Long Island Progressive Coalition is actively supporting the affordable housing for all Long Islanders.
If you’d like to become part of the YIMBY campaign, call Maritza at 516-541-1006 X 20 or email her at maritza@lipc.org.
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The Long Island Progressive Coalition has created a new campaign called YIMBY-Yes In My Backyard.
