“Governor Hochul’s so-called affordability agenda does nothing to keep costs down for renters”
NEW YORK – Housing Justice for All, a statewide coalition of more than 80 organizations representing tenants and homeless New Yorkers, released the following statement in response to Governor Hochul’s State of the State.
The statement below can be attributed to Cea Weaver, Campaign Coordinator of Housing Justice for All:
“Housing costs are New Yorkers’ number one expense each month and homelessness is on the rise. Yet Governor Hochul’s so-called affordability agenda does nothing to keep costs down for renters, who make up half the state, and does little for homeless New Yorkers.
“If Governor Hochul really wanted to keep our homes out of the hands of private equity, she would embrace the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which would help tenants buy their buildings when they go up for sale, keeping homes in the hands of the people living in them. And if she was truly ready to house our homeless neighbors, she would embrace the Housing Access Voucher Program, which would prevent homelessness and provide rental assistance to families stuck on the streets or in shelters.
“Lastly, a true affordability agenda would build housing that all New Yorkers can afford by investing in social housing and protecting and expanding our rent stabilization system to keep rents low.”