Categories: New York State
12.30.2016
Plea to the Governor and legislators to make good on promise to create 20,000 new homes.
Peter Cook, Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches, speaking to the press, flanked by Kevin O'Connor, Director of Joseph's House.
On December 21st, faith leaders held a prayer vigil outside the Senate chambers at the state capitol in Albany to honor the memories of homeless New Yorkers who died in 2016, part of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. Kevin O’Connor, Director of Joseph’s House in Troy, read the names of homeless individuals who passed away over the past year. “The average life expectancy of a person who is homeless in America is 52 years of age,” O’Conner said. “That’s 26 years younger than those who are housed.”
Faith leaders used the moment to call on Governor Cuomo to uphold his nearly year-old promise to create 20,000 homes for the most vulnerable homeless New Yorkers over the next fifteen years and release funds to pay for the first 6,000 homes. Peter Cook, Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches, led the delegation.
There are now 88,000 homeless people in New York State.
Press coverage of the event:
Newsday
TWC News
North Country Public Radio
NYS News
Politico
State of Politics
Albany Times-Union