Inspired, strengthened and sustained by faith, the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing is committed to confronting the unconscionable and unacceptable reality of homelessness in New York City. Recognizing society's shared responsibility and working as partners with those who have experienced homelessness, the Assembly will mobilize communities of faith to empower all people, to advocate public policies to eliminate homelessness, and strive for the transformation of society.
Tuesday & Wednesday: urgent Albany trips for pro-tenant bills
We have just a couple more days to get the State Senate to pass some much needed rent reforms! from Housing Conservation Coordinators...
NYS Senate passes illegal hotels bill; Assembly needs pressure NOW!
from Housing Conservation Coordinators... Great news on the campaign to stop illegal hotels: The NYS Senate passed A. 10008-A/S. 6873-A! This bill would clarify that Class A units may only be used for residential, not transient, use (more details on the bill below).
Court Victory for Rent Stablized Tenants
Tuesday, June 22, the Appellate Division, First Department, upheld the decision of the NYS Supreme Court in Casado v. Markus. The Supreme Court invalidated the “alternative minimum rent adjustments” that the NYC Rent Guidelines Board had imposed in 2008 and again in 2009. In 2009, for example, the rent adjustments were for 3 and 6 percent. But for apartments renting for $1,000 or less and where the tenant had been in occupancy for six years or longer, the alternative minimums were $30 and $60. Thus a tenant paying $500 per month would pay a rent increase of 6 percent for a one-year renewal, instead of 3 percent. These rent increases were struck down by the Supreme Court and the Appellate Division has now unanimously affirmed the Supreme Court decision.
City Drops Rent for Shelter Plans
Last Friday, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the City has agreed to drop plans to charge homeless families "rent" for shelter! Instead, the city will now implement savings plans for families with income -- allowing homeless families to access the money they save to facilitate their exit from shelter. This represents a major step forward and a big success in our campaign to stop the city from charging homeless families outrageous sums of money to stay in city shelters -- in some cases upwards of $900 a month. You helped to make this victory possible! Thank you to the more than 6,000 people who signed the petition to tell the State legislature to stop the city's plan. Today's agreement is a huge win for the thousands of New Yorkers who are working every day to get out of shelter and back on their feet. This is about helping shelter residents who have jobs, who work hard, and who want to move out of shelter and into permanent housing build up savings to do just that.
Documentary on Loss of Rent Regulation in NYC
RENT: NYC from Aaron Howell on Vimeo.
A short documentary looking at the loss of rent regulation and the law vacancy decontrol as tenant advocates struggle to save affordable housing in New York City.
Syndicate
