evidence: Habitat for Humanity builds low-income housing for people in need. Grassroots Gardens of Western New York helps residents create community gardens in the city. The city owns about 7,000 lots, Knight said, and acquiring the lots can be complicated. [...] Issues around affordable housing, food security, and poverty can be helped in part by these nonprofits and their use of the vacant lots, Knight said. [...] "Those in attendance were interested and pushing to turn this work into something actionable by the city," he said.