The first CNY Community Housing Fair was recently held, combining the fun of a carnival with instant access to local resource agencies.
The fair was organized, says CNY Fair Housing Executive Director Sally Santangelo, to better engage residents. It combined kid-friendly activities with informational tables. Her agency additionally coordinated workshop sessions focused on such topics as becoming a first-time home buyer to preventing eviction. The event was held Wednesday at Dr. Weeks Elementary School on the city's North Side.
“We're seeing less and less affordable housing," Santangelo said. "There's been rising prices and a lot of issues with deferred maintenance during COVID, and strained relationships between tenants and landlords.”
Echoing Santangelo, the agency’s Fair Housing Testing Coordinator Brittany Sanderson said Syracuse is in a housing crisis, especially lacking affordable options.
“It is amazing that we are starting to talk so openly and publicly about the issue of affordable housing and to really just start having honest conversations is so important," she said during the fair.
Agencies represented included the Northeast Hawley Development Association, Catholic Charities, Housing Visions and additional social service providers. Information on emergency services, housing vouchers and tenants’ rights were provided, along with time to talk one-on-one with representatives present.
CNY Fair Housing noted the top complaints received this year to be discrimination based on disability or source of income. There is a frustration, staff says, for tenants to know all the resources available as well as the limitations, latest policy changes and the scope of their legal rights. Organizing the fair, they say, allowed all resources to be in one place.
The hope is the fair becomes a regular occurrence.
“If this works out and we see that folks are getting the benefit from it, then the next year, instead of it being on the North Side, try it on the South Side, and try it on the West Side," said Tysha Martin, director of community engagement with CNY Fair Housing. "We want to make sure we make it an event that, if you can't make it to the North Side, [in the future] we'll bring this resource to you.”
