Suffolk County lawmakers are pushing a law that would require new affordable housing developers to set aside apartments for volunteer firefighters and EMS.
Democrat Rebecca Sanin proposed the bill earlier this month that would apply to builders who receive subsidies out of the county’s workforce housing fund in an effort to stop enrolled volunteers from being priced out of Suffolk.
“This bill is a true commitment to the brave men and women who, without hesitation, risk their own safety at all hours to protect our communities,” Sanin told The Post.
“Our volunteer community really needs this.”
The Democrat caucus-backed bill would require the volunteers set aside 10% of all units, or at least five apartments — a mandate that is so specific one top-ranking Republican worried it could lead to units sitting empty.
Republican Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, who told Newsday he’s adopting a “wait and see” approach, said the bill differs from other legislation that requires workforce housing because it aims to help volunteers who could walk away from their gigs at any time.
“We’re committed to doing something and we just got to make sure that we can get it done the right way,” he told the outlet.
Sanin’s proposal takes a page from a law passed last year under then-County Executive Steve Bellone, which required affordable units be reserved for veterans and people with intellectual disabilities.
The volunteer housing bill is supported by Suffolk’s Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Commission, Fire Chiefs Council of Suffolk County and the statewide Firefighters Association of the State of New York.
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