On May 20, 2025, Shams DaBaron testified in support of One45 before the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. The hearing was held at 250 Broadway and chaired by Kevin C. Riley. DaBaron is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LionFox Development and is known nationally as Da Homeless Hero and Da Housing Hero. He was then serving as a Commissioner on the New York City Charter Revision Commission.
DaBaron entered foster care as a young child, first became homeless at 10, and was permanently discharged from foster care at 12. He survived his teenage years in libraries and subway stations.
“Thirty years ago, I spent many nights curled up on a park bench across from where One45 is proposed. That park bench where I once slept is still there today, but with your vote, it can become the view from someone’s window instead of their bed.”
Shams DaBaron, testimony to the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, May 2025
He said 85,000 people were in the city’s shelter system, 31,000 of them children. He said that when the city fails to produce housing, the result is more shelters. He asked the Council Members to vote yes on One45.
The City Council approved One45 unanimously in July 2025. One45 is 1,000 apartments across 3 buildings at West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue, including 338 permanently affordable homes, 90 of them in a 100% affordable building for seniors.
LionFox is co-developer of One45, delivering the affordable housing. We develop mixed-income and affordable housing for people at every income level, in the communities where we build. The official Council transcript carries DaBaron’s testimony on pages 72 to 74.
