Westchester County is rapidly becoming unaffordable for many residents, especially young families and individuals, such as policemen, firemen, nurses and teachers, who help shape communities.

The situation has worsened in recent years with the sagging economy and real estate market. If there was ever a time for affordable housing units to crop up in local municipalities to retain residents who are fleeing by the dozens on a monthly basis, this is it.

The county is currently in the midst of working out a housing desegregation settlement with the federal government that calls for 750 “fair and affordable” housing units that must be built in the county over the next seven years in municipalities where less than three percent of the population is black and seven percent is Hispanic.

One of those municipalities is Irvington, and Mayor Jonathan Siegel seems more than willing to embrace whatever housing units may come his way.

“Affordable housing has to be available to all people, including minorities,” Siegel said. “I think it benefits Irvington and all the rivertowns to have a diverse population.”

Of course, 750 units is a far cry from the thousands of affordable homes the county needs. The county is prohibited from dictating who occupies the affordable units, and in this difficult economy, there are many white families and individuals, along with minorities, struggling to make ends meet, although that doesn’t often get talked about.

While somewhat controversial, the issue should not be muddied with racial undertones. To date, county lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, have publicly approached the matter, for the most part, the right way—by being color blind. Let’s hope the discussion continues on that path and the housing units are placed in areas where they are needed most, and, perhaps, will lead to more “fair and affordable” housing in the future.