OUR FIGHT FOR HOUSING JUSTICE
We don’t just care about the planet. We care about the people who live on it, too. And what good is a green future if no one can afford to live there?
For the past two years, BCAN has been organizing neighbors to find political solutions to the climate crisis and fight for a better, more equitable world for all of us. We’ve knocked on hundreds of doors in Beacon and Fishkill, chatted with folks at farmer’s markets and community events, and hosted our own block parties and festivals. And the number one concern on everyone’s mind? Housing.
We’re worried about it too. Your home should be your safe place, a shelter for you and your loved ones. Being displaced from that safe place due to soaring housing and living costs is traumatic for families, and destroys ties crucial for keeping communities whole. Inadequate or unstable housing access also makes people more vulnerable to the extremes of the climate catastrophe, like unsafe heat waves and flooding. Just the zip code where you live can determine your exposure to toxic pollutants in the air and water.
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The climate and housing crises are interconnected, and both require urgent action to address. That's why we decided as a group that fighting for affordable, accessible housing in our community was just as important to us as fighting for climate-focused causes. Will you join the fight with us?
Our current campaign: a 2025 Housing Justice Budget in Beacon
Government budgets are moral documents: they reveal what kinds of issues are literally of value to a community. If Beacon is serious about addressing the housing crisis, then it needs to put money toward real solutions. We call on the city to fund the following items in its 2025 budget:
1. Hire a housing justice coordinator
We need a dedicated employee with expertise in housing to guide the city’s approach to making Beacon affordable and accessible to all. Their responsibilities could include:
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Coordinating with the building department to respond to tenant complaints.
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Providing constituent support on a range of housing issues.
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Maintaining city databases of landlords and Airbnbs.
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Applying for grants to build multi-income and social housing.
2. Educate residents on their new rights under Good Cause Eviction
We passed Good Cause Eviction in August, which means many tenants have new protections—but what good is the law if no one knows about it? We want the city to support an advertising campaign to ensure that everyone understands their rights.
3. Expand legal aid access for Beacon residents
Challenging an unfair eviction in court is expensive. Beacon should dedicate resources to help residents get legal representation and advice for tenant matters through Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.
4. Enforce Beacon's rental registry
The city is supposed to keep track of rentals to ensure the safety of buildings and occupants, as well as disincentivize Airbnbs. But this list is not being kept up to date. Funding enforcement of the rental registry would help us understand how many renters there are, and be able to more easily inform tenants about rights like Good Cause.
