Referred to: The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairman Cahill and Legislators Corcoran, Criswell, Hewitt, Litts, Maloney and Sperry), The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Corcoran, Erner, Lopez, Nolan, Petit, and Stewart), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Roberts, Ronk, and Walter)

Legislators Megan Sperry and Gina Hansut offer the following:

WHEREAS, Ulster County’s Housing Action Plan for 2021 confirms that there is a housing crisis in Ulster County stemming from an alarming lack of affordable housing available to Ulster County residents; and

WHEREAS, there is both an insufficient supply and inventory of homes at an affordable price point, and an alarming number of residents suffering with food scarcity, partially attributed to 28% of renter households and 14% of owner households in Ulster County spending more than half their income on housing costs, confirming that housing represents a cost burden that is untenable for many of Ulster County’s residents; and

WHEREAS, according to Feeding America one in ten people, and one in seven

children in New York State face hunger, with 12% of Ulster County residents and 17%

of Ulster County children reported as being food insecure; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature is committed to finding ways to address the serious and imminent threat that food insecurity and huger poses to families in Ulster County by finding ways to improve access to affordable, healthy food; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature further finds that all residents of Ulster County deserve safe and affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, based upon Ulster County’s food insecurity and the critical shortage of affordable housing confronting Ulster County residents, the Legislature deems it necessary and appropriate to enact a policy that will prioritize hybrid models of affordable housing development and certain Ulster County construction projects, to be inclusive of emergency food pantries and community gardens; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, it shall be the policy of Ulster County that prior to the allocation of any County funding toward any affordable housing development projects in Ulster County, or toward Ulster County capital projects proposed after the effective date of this policy involving construction and development of space utilized for purposes of delivering a county service, it shall be required that such housing development projects and Ulster County capital projects include consideration of food pantry facilities, community gardens, or similar food security measures as a component of said project, which shall be reasonably available to the public; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that summary detail of the food security initiatives to be undertaken pursuant to the above paragraph, or supporting documentation illustrating why implementing food security measures as a component of the project is not feasible, shall accompany any funding request presented to the Ulster County Legislature for consideration; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that no section of this resolution shall be interpreted as augmenting the existing legislative process for expenditures,

and move its adoption.    

        ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

        AYES:                     NOES:    

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on _______________.

Passed Committee: Health, Human Services and Housing on _______________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

TBD