NEW YORK – Housing Justice for All, a statewide coalition of more than 80 organizations representing tenants and homeless New Yorkers across the state, responded to the failure to expand the Housing Access Voucher Pilot Program in the Fiscal Year 2027 State Budget. The following statement is attributable to Sumathy Kumar, director of Housing Justice for All:
“During a historic housing crisis with rents and homelessness on the rise, and the federal government slashing social services, the State of New York is failing to meet the moment. Housing costs are a top issue for New Yorkers, yet the state budget does almost nothing to make rent more affordable for millions of tenants in the near term.
“Homeless New Yorkers and tenants facing eviction have been calling for an expansion of the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP). We know that rental assistance works to help people secure permanent homes, yet the $50 million pilot passed last year that went into effect in March provides vouchers for just 2,000 households. With more than 150,000 families in shelters and temporary housing and hundreds of thousands on the brink of losing their homes as cuts to food aid and health care drive up their expenses, New York must do more.
“Taxing high-end second homes in NYC is a good step forward, but we can do better. In one of the wealthiest states in the richest country in the world, we can afford to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
“The legislature fought hard to expand the HAVP and to increase taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund the programs New Yorkers need. Now that the budget is done, lawmakers must act to pass the Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants (REST) Act – a cost-free way to empower municipalities to limit rent hikes and stabilize communities.”