Every person deserves a stable, dignified home. That is the guiding value that Local Progress New York members led with last weekend at the LPNY Housing Summit in Albany when over 40 local electeds and community organizations came together to talk about housing. With the New York State House in the background, and days after Governor Hochul’s budget failed to include Good Cause eviction protections, local elected officials from across New York are leading the housing justice work in the state.
Grappling with a lack of housing stock, with increasing evictions, and with inertia at the state level, LPNY members spent two days connecting with each other, learning about different housing policies they can take back home and did some practical campaign planning with each other. From housing finance to social housing to tenants unions, members shared their experiences and best practices while also learning from each other.
“I hope that someday everyone living in some kind of housing has decision-making power in what that housing looks like. I’ll be taking back home the value of small wins we can grow over time.”
Many LPNY members are or have been renters, have dealt with housing insecurity or displacement, or have been community organizers fighting for a world where everyone has a home. The political is deeply personal as members bring their lived experiences and relationships with their communities to this work. We were glad to be joined by NY State Senator Brian Kavanagh to hear about how local and state electeds can collaborate, as well as Denver City Councilmember and LP Board member Robin Kniech to hear about how Denver has steadily built out its affordable housing policies over the course of years.
The Housing Summit also had many local tenant and housing organizers in attendance, taking part in campaign planning and power mapping to collaboratively create a true vision for housing justice in Local Progress New York. When things seem stalled at the state or federal level, our community partners and local elected officials are the constant in the years-long work of decommodifying housing and guaranteeing homes for all.
“It’s great to know that we’re not alone in our communities fighting the fight and doing the work.”
