Long Island is facing a serious housing crisis  and we’re working to meet the moment with practical, people-first solutions that can be implemented town by town. Led by Erase Racism, the Long Island Housing Coalition is advancing a shared agenda focused on increasing access to affordable, inclusive, and well-located housing across Long Island.

We believe every community has a role to play. That’s why we’re focused on three core policy goals that can be adapted and scaled in towns and villages throughout Long Island:

1. Legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Every town on Long Island should have a clear and legal path for homeowners to create accessory dwelling units (ADUs) like basement apartments, garage conversions, or backyard cottages. These units provide flexible, affordable options for seniors, returning young adults, caregivers, and working families all without creating major development projects in our neighborhoods.

We’ve seen progress in places like Huntington, Shelter Island, Riverhead but we need consistent, fair ADU ordinances across the Island that allow homeowners to build safely and legally, with common-sense rules that actually work in practice. ADU ordinances will also help homeowners mitigate the high costs of homeownership by being able to rent out a unit on their property.

2. Promote Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Long Island has over 100 Long Island Rail Road stations, yet the areas around many of these stations remain underutilized. Every town with a major transit hub should have a plan or a zoning district to support walkable, mixed-use development near their train station.

Transit-oriented development (TOD) helps reduce traffic, brings new life to downtowns, and supports housing options that don’t require a car. Towns like Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma have already shown what’s possible, now it’s time to bring that vision to scale.

3. Mobilize Support for Multifamily Housing at Town Halls

Even well-designed housing proposals struggle to move forward without visible support and too often, the only voices at public hearings are the ones in opposition. We’re changing that dynamic.

We’re organizing residents, faith leaders, and community partners to show up and speak out in favor of affordable and multifamily housing across Long Island. This work is about making sure that when housing decisions are being made, town boards hear from the people who want their communities to grow in a way that’s inclusive and sustainable.

These three priorities, ADUs, TOD, and local advocacy are how we turn policy into real progress. Every town has a part to play, and we’re here to help make it happen.

If you believe in a Long Island where everyone can live, work, and thrive, we hope you’ll join us.