Housing
A Times Square office building will now serve as a migrant shelter, following a decision by the city to convert commercial properties into shelters for refugees and asylum-seekers. The building will house hundreds of people and provide them with basic necessities such as food, clothing, and medical care.
This move is part of New York City's efforts to support migrants and refugees who are seeking asylum in the United States. The city has been a sanctuary for immigrants for many years, and this latest move is a testament to its commitment to helping those in need.
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a new initiative aimed at addressing the housing crisis by reaching out to New York City suburbs.
At the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Summit with NYC Mayor Eric Adams back in December, we discussed the Working Group on Faith-Based Affordable Housing & Community Development’s action plan to address the housing crisis in New York City.
We believe the faith community is uniquely equipped to play a huge role in aiding the City.
More than 5,600 religious properties exist across the five boroughs – and they control 72 million square feet of land. This land and the human services provided by the FBOs would be critical in working to close the gap in housing.
Want to get involved with the Working Group’s next steps? Email us at info@bricksandmortals.org.
A report from Regional Plan Association estimates that more that 817,000 homes need to be added over the next decade in New York to keep up with population growth and overcrowding.
However, our partner New York State Council Of Churches, believes we still have a chance to strengthen housing in the City – we just have to capitalize on it.
In housing news in Maryland, Enterprise has partnered with faith-based groups to build 700 affordable homes in Prince George's County. This partnership between Bank of America, Prince George’s County and the Greater Washington Community Foundation is helping seven houses of worship with the development of new housing on their vacant property.
More than 1,500 affordable homes and one health clinic have been created or preserved by Enterprise’s Faith-Based Development Initiative in the mid-Atlantic region.
Upcoming Holidays and Worship
Last week marked the beginning of the month of Ramadan for Muslims around the world – nearly 800,000 Muslims who live in New York City.
New York City Comptroller Lander has announced that the city will offer free halal iftar meals during Ramadan to address food insecurity needs.
An initiative to provide for Jews celebrating Passover started as an initiative to provide college students a way to celebrate Passover and has now turned into a worldwide personal Seder-in-a-Box project.
With the help of organization Chabad on Call, Seder-in-a-Box has expanded to reach hospital patients and support community members who are isolated and want access to their own Seder plate.
Each Seder-in-a-Box is equipped with every resource they would need to conduct their own Seder – from Seder non-perishables to a step-by-step guide to leading your own Seder.
As Passover is approaching, beginning on April 5th, the NYPD is deploying additional resources around synagogues, due to the rise in antisemitism. Their safety tips include securing homes and synagogues, and guidance on how to respond to potential threats.
Last week the Jewish Community Relations Council and the New York Disaster Interfaith Services held a Preparedness Training for an Armed Intruder in a House of Worship. The JCRC provides Community Security Initiative Trainings to provide tips to keep synagogues, schools, or other Jewish facilities safe and secure.
Acknowledging a Racist Past
The Episcopal Church of New York has issued an apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, and pledged $1 million towards combating racism. The apology is part of a broader effort by the church to address its history of complicity in slavery and racism.
