KINGSTON, N.Y. — A lack of affordable housing, discrimination against people who receive rental assistance, and substandard units where landlords refuse to make necessary repairs are among the problems renters face when trying to live in Kingston, members of the city’s Common Council were told at a a public forum.
“Housing is a human right,” Callie Jayne, executive director of the group Rise Up Kingston, told lawmakers during the Monday evening event at City Hall. “We need to stop letting greed dictate housing costs. We need to make sure that people are given access to housing.”
Jayne was one of five people invited to speak to council members about the experience tenants have living in Kingston. The forum was the third in a series aimed at providing city lawmakers with a well-rounded understanding of the nature of housing in Kingston so they can create a policy that ensures all city residents have access to decent, affordable and comfortable homes.