During her meeting with Commissioner Rafael E. Cestro from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Margaret Ritchie heard how the US department are tackling challenging housing issues in the city particularly the supply of more affordable housing.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Ritchie said: “Today’s meeting with Commissioner Cestro was very useful in highlighting some of the best-practice approaches that are paying dividends in New York City.
“Housing in Northern Ireland is my number one priority, so it was refreshing and informative to see how things are being done to provide much-needed affordable housing in one of the United States’ most heavily populated cities.”
Minister Ritchie, who also chairs the British Irish Council’s housing working group, said that she gained much from the informative exchange with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development during the meeting.
Margaret Ritchie added: “I’m sure there is learning not just for Northern Ireland but for my housing counterparts in the British Irish Council, who I know are as committed as I am to ensuring that housing issues are top of the agenda right across Britain and Ireland.”
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