REP VELAZQUEZ LEADS RALLY AGAINST #TrumpRentHike

On Friday, NYHC joined Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), elected officials including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Rep Adriano Espaillat,  impacted renters and housing activists to denounce the Trump Administration’s rent reforms.  HUD’s proposal would raise rents and impose work requirements on residents who receive federal housing assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  WABC covered the event here.

Currently, public housing agencies can charge residents up to $50 in minimum rent, but under Carson’s plan they would be charged $150. The rent burden standard would be increased from 30% of adjusted income to 35% of gross income.  Experts have concluded that if enacted, the proposal would put 1 million children at risk of homelessness.

Jessica Facciponti (center), New York Housing Conference’s Director of Policy & Programs called on impacted renters to use the #TrumpRentHike calculator to oppose rent increases.

REP ESPAILLAT LEADS LETTER TO HUD SECRETARY

We thank Rep. Adriano Espaillat for leading the charge to rebuke HUD rent reform proposals for low-income households in a letter sent to Secretary Carson.

The letter linked here was signed by all members of the New York City Democratic Congressional Delegation: Rep. Joseph Crowley (NY-14), Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Eliot L. Engel (NY-16), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Rep. José E. Serrano (NY-15), Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), and Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06).

REP CROWLEY ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION TO PROMOTE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS

Last week, Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, announced legislation to help student veterans find affordable housing and protect them from predatory landlords.

The legislation, the Students LIVE Act, is part of Chairman Crowley’s Better Deal for Queens and the Bronx, a comprehensive plan put forward by Crowley to improve the lives of working men and women in New York’s 14th Congressional District.  The Students LIVE Act would establish federal protections for student veterans when they apply for housing accommodations. Chairman Crowley was inspired to introduce the legislation after assisting a constituent and student veteran, Manish Singh, who faced unnecessary burdens and hurdles when seeking affordable housing.

“It’s a travesty that too many of our nation’s heroes are denied access to affordable housing and other resources they need when returning home,” said Chairman Crowley. “This issue is especially prevalent amongst our student veterans, including one of my constituents. Manish’s experience drove me to introduce the Students LIVE Act, which will safeguard the rights of our nation’s returning servicemembers as they transition back to civilian life.”

HUD ASSISTED HOUSEHOLDS SPEAK OUT DURING NLIHC’S HOUSING WEEK OF ACTION!

As part of the “Our Homes, Our Voices” campaign organized by the National Low Income Housing Coalition to preserve HUD funding, NYHC partnered with CASA and the Red Hook Initiative (RHI) to interview public housing and HUD-assisted tenants about how critical HUD funding is to them and how a rent hike would impact their lives.

  • Check out tenant videos opposing Trump’s Rent Reforms here.
  • Follow us @theNYHC on twitter and join #OurHomesOurVoices TwitterStorms today!
  • Calculate your rent increase and share your results on social media with your elected officials using our #TrumpRentHike Calculator.