The Rockland County Office of Community Development held a meeting in Spring Valley Tuesday to discuss ways to create more affordable housing for people who lost their homes to foreclosure.

"We think we can keep affordable housing going, construction workers employed and get some desperately needed units built even in these tough economic times," says New York State Commissioner of Housing Deborah VanAmerongen, who gave the keynote address at the meeting.

VanAmerongen says her optimism is backed by federal stimulus funds that can fill in the financing gaps in existing building projects, such as the one on Grove Street in Spring Valley.

"People have a terrible time finding places to live that fit their economic limits," says Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef.

Vanderhoef says there must be a continued partnership between the local, state and federal government to continue the effort to build more affordable housing.

Despite the economic crisis, there are 200 additional units of affordable housing in the planning stages in Rockland County.

For interviews about efforts to build affordable housing in Rockland, go to your digital cable box and select iO Extra, Ch. 612.