Housing and Children & Families Committee Chairs Host Roundtable on Housing & Homelessness on Long Island

On Thursday, January 16, 2020, Senator Kavanagh, who chairs the Senate Housing Committee and Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Chair of the Senate Committee on Children and Families hosted a roundtable discussion at Farmingdale State College on Long Island to discuss Long Island’s affordable housing shortage and its impact on homelessness.

Representatives from 27 nonprofit and government service agencies from across the Island had the opportunity to share their perspectives and ideas with the Committee Chairs, as well as local Senators and Assemblymembers. The topics of discussion included expanding access to affordable housing, improving mental health services, and ensuring educational equity. Local lawmakers say the lack of affordable housing on Long Island, combined with the high cost of living and high property taxes, is forcing many to leave the region. Among the groups most affected are young people, seniors, veterans, and people living with disabilities.