On May 4, NYHC hosted our Annual Congressional Delegation Affordable Housing Breakfast. Check out the video to hear the discussion on New York’s housing needs, the policy agenda for coming the year, and how we can support renters and homeowners amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
We are proud to bring together members of the NY Congressional Delegation – including U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and the following representatives: Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-9th); Rep. Eliot Engel (NY-16th); Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13th); Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8th); Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12th); Rep. Grace Meng (NY-6th); Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25th); Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-4th); Rep. Max Rose (NY-11th); Rep. Tom Suozzi (NY-3rd); Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20th) – as well as leaders of New York’s housing agencies (HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll, HCR Comissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, HDC President Eric Enderlin, and NYCHA Chair & CEO Gregory Russ), and more than 90 affordable housing industry experts (from our Executive and Advisory Boards).
The coronavirus presents an urgent health and economic crisis and significant federal resources are required to weather this emergency. During the virtual breakfast, we talked about how to work together to build support for federal funding for rental assistance in particular, but also funding for direct assistance to public and affordable housing operators and funding for homelessness programs. We also emphasized the importance of housing investment in any economic recovery or infrastructure response measures.
We were honored that Senate Minority Leader Schumer spoke at length to our coalition about housing priorities including need for more rental assistance funding, fixing the 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and the need to support public housing. Also discussed on the call was legislation announced yesterday by Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Denny Heck (D-WA) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act will provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance. We strongly support this bill and encourage NY delegations members to sponsor this critically needed legislation. We look forward to working together with our coalition and federal partners to advance it. NYHC thanks the NY Congressional Delegation for their continued partnership and steadfast advocacy for affordable and public housing. We are dedicated to continuing our advocacy efforts to advance housing priorities in Washington.
