In tandem with Fair Housing Month and Community Development Week, County Executive Ed Day and Community Development Director Alexandra Obremski announced the launch of the County’s “Keep Rockland Home” Affordable Housing Campaign at the fourth annual Rockland County Housing Forum Friday.
“Our county is in a housing crisis and despite the need to increase supply, affordable housing developments face resistance due to the stigma surrounding them,” said County Executive Day. “This campaign aims to not only dispel those rumors but remind residents of the value that those who qualify including seniors, college graduates, teachers, essential workers, first responders, and more, bring to our community.”
“Keep Rockland Home” is a County of Rockland initiative committed to breaking down the stigma around affordable housing by showing what it truly is: safe, quality, and accessible homes for residents across the board.
“Housing that is safe, stable, and affordable across a broad range of incomes is critical to the continued economic growth and stability of Rockland County,” said Community Development Director Alexandra Director Obremski. “Affordable housing is necessary for us to build strong community connections, while preserving the character of neighborhoods our residents love.”
The County’s first-ever housing forum back in 2023 featured Rockland’s very first comprehensive community and affordable housing needs assessment, which revealed a number of things about the County’s housing challenges including that more than 40% of Rocklanders spend 30% or more of their household income on housing, leaving little extra for all other purchases or emergencies.
This year’s event featured a keynote speech from Nora Madonick, the CEO of Arch Street Communications, which is leading the Keep Rockland Home. marketing campaign.
“Keep Rockland Home aims to explain the affordable housing issue in plain language, humanize the importance of attainable housing with real stories of real people in Rockland, and underscore the benefits everyone in Rockland gains when people have access to safe, affordable housing,” said Madonick. “We are thrilled and grateful to be part of this initiative.”