Westchester officials are pushing to bring more affordable housing to one of the country’s most expensive counties.

A ceremonial ground-breaking at Antioch Baptist Church on Railroad Avenue in Bedford Hills is a marking a new chapter.

The century-old church is part of a $3 million project to build 12 affordable apartments, some of which will be built into the existing church while others will be built from the ground up.

The apartments will be rented to families with average incomes that are 40 to 50 percent below the county’s average medium income.

"The need for affordable housing has never been greater. I think that everyone recognizes that Westchester County is one the most expensive areas of the country in which to live," says Bedford Hills Town Supervisor Chris Berget.

The Antioch Affordable Housing Project is part of a push by Westchester County to fulfill a discrimination lawsuit settlement that required the county to add at least 750 affordable housing units in a seven year period.

"There is a great need for affordable housing, the county has complied with the settlement we are up to almost 800 units of affordable housing," says Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett.

County officials say 500 of the affordable housing units are already occupied and the rest are in the process of being built.

Although surpassing the lawsuit settlement requirements, county officials say they will continue to look for ways to bring more affordable housing to Westchester County.

The project is expected to be completed by October and residents are expected to begin moving in by the end of the year.