Our ability to provide families with two or more children with a secure roof over their heads has diminished to such a level that we are losing the backbone of our neighborhoods, our single family housing, to townships north and west of Ulster County.

This trend has got to stop. It changes the character of the city and puts a strain on the wholesome nature of each street as we watch landlords cut up large homes and place single occupancy units with little concern for the local quality of life.

Our government programs help some families with subsidized vouchers to offset some of the high cost of raising a family, but the overall security of raising a family without is ever jeopardized.

This is why my colleagues on the Council and I have pushed for quality affordable housing every time a developer has asked to build homes in Kingston. I would ask that any future housing proposals include the same options. Our native middle-class families shouldn't have to move away to meet their needs.