Interfaith Action has been a leading advocate in Rochester for the creation of a housing trust fund that would revitalize distressed neighborhoods in the county.  Housing trust funds have become a key tool in the renewal of hundreds of communities across the United States.  Trust funds can do this because they provide a dedicated source of revenue that is not impacted by the political climate or the vagaries of governmental operating budgets. This means that the revenue can be counted on year-to-year.  That makes these funds - and there are more than 400 across the country - critical to effective neighborhood development.

In his State of the State address last week, Governor Eliot Spitzer proposed the creation of a $400 million Housing Opportunity Fund.  This is a victory for Interfaith Action (IA) and the entire Rochester community.  It is also a victory for the many organizations of the Empire State Housing Alliance, of which IA is a part.  The Alliance has been working diligently for more than a year to convince key state housing officials to adopt this strategy to fund neighborhood renewal.

"In too many parts of our state, our children cannot afford to come back to the neighborhoods that they grew up in, and their parents cannot afford to stay in the homes where they raised their families," Spitzer explained during his address.  "I will propose the biggest housing initiative in a generation, a $400 million Housing Opportunity Fund."

Spitzer began his post "State of the State" tour with a visit to Rochester, where he met with 100 business executives, the area's legislative delegation and Interfaith Action leaders.  Attending the event for IA were Bishop James R. Wright (New Progressive Cathedral Church of God in Christ), John Perry Smith (IA Board member) and Brian Kane (IA Executive Director).  In response to a question from IA, Spitzer reiterated his support of what he called a "genuine housing trust fund."  He pledged that this would be only the beginning of the state's expanded investment housing.

Several years ago, Interfaith Action became a leading advocate in Rochester for the creation of a housing trust fund.  In October 2004, IA mobilized 450 to a public action meeting with then-Mayor Bill Johnson and County Executive Maggie Brooks that led the creation of a task force to study the matter. In July 2005, IA mobilized over 500 people to the largest mayoral candidate forum, where it presented candidates with the RochesterOneMonroe Community Agenda.  Creation of a housing trust fund was a central item on that agenda.

Both former Mayor Bill Johnson and current Mayor Bob Duffy supported the trust fund proposal.  Last May, Duffy sent Community Development Commissioner Julio Vazquez and Housing Director Bret Garwood to attend an Albany hearing on trust funds at the request of IA.

Going forward, IA leaders will be working with area legislators and their allies from around the state to make certain that this fund becomes a reality.

For more information on Interfaith Action, visit www.iapico.org