Brooklyn, NY - Congressman Edolphus Towns, 10th District, New York, has joined with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chair of the Housing and Opportunity Subcommittee in holding a hearing that will continue to stress the importance of keeping the Starrett City/Spring Creek Development affordable for local residents.  The hearing entitled "Affordable Housing Preservation:  Lessons from Starrett City" is scheduled for Tuesday, 10:00am on July 10, 2007 at the Brooklyn Sports Club located at 1540 Van Siclen Avenue.

"It is extremely kind of Congresswoman Maxine Waters to agree to hold this hearing as a favor to me and the residents of Starrett.  Again, it is my priority to ensure that this development remains affordable no matter who purchases Starrett," said Congressman Towns.

Affordable housing preservation has become a national issue.  From 1995 to 2003, 300,000 federally assisted units exited the nation's affordable housing inventory.  The proposed sale of Starrett City has alarmed tenants and housing officials who are concerned that the development may not be maintained as affordable housing.

"America is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. The preservation of our affordable housing stock, including Starrett City, is critical.  We simply cannot afford to lose any more affordable housing units," said Chairwoman Waters.

Among the witnesses testifying at Tuesday's hearing are:
· Brian Montgomery/U.S. Housing and Urban Development
· Marie Purnell/President Starrett City Tenant Association
· Rafael Cestero/Sr. Vice President, Enterprise Community Partners
· Deborah VanAmerongen, Commissioner, New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal 

At the federal level there are a few things that are being considered to keep developments such as Starrett City affordable:

First, there is a plan that would permit owners to replace fully funded Section 8 contracts with new, long-term contracts subject to annual appropriations.  In essence, this would authorize the owners or purchasers at the time of acquisition, to terminate the remaining portion of 40-year-development-based Section 8 contracts if they pledge to keep them affordable.

The other plan being considered in Washington is converting Rental Supplemental/Rental Assistance Payment (RAP) contracts to development-based Section 8.  Congress would permit owners to convert Rent Supplemental and RAP subsidies to development-based Section 8 assistance.  This would protect low-income tenants in danger of losing their apartments, save valuable rental units, and in some cases make it possible to mark rents up to market to facilitate rehabilitation. 

"One thing that I would like to see done which may involve the introduction of legislation at both the state and federal level is that if the purchaser of a housing development that is currently in the Mitchell-Lama program decides to opt out of the program, they must give the residents at least three years notice.  This is a courtesy when you consider that people may be uprooted from their homes primarily for profit," added Congressman Towns.

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