Velázquez Leads Six NY Lawmakers in Calling for Inclusion of Rental Relief for NYCHA Tenants in Final State Budget

NEW YORK— Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-7), Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-9), Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-6), Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) wrote to Governor Kathy Hochul, Majority-Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Carl Heastie to call for the inclusion of emergency rental assistance funding in New York State’s final budget for FY 2024.  
 
In early 2020, the Federal government established the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program to help American renters avoid eviction. In total, the ERA program provided state, territorial, tribal, and local governments with more than $46 billion to support housing stability. Through two separate disbursements, the State of New York received more than $2.29 billion to help prevent mass evictions.    
 
Unfortunately, the state did not prioritize public housing authority (PHA) and Section 8 residents when disbursing these funds. As a result, many of these residents face insurmountable delinquent rent bills that may lead to eviction. NYCHA residents are believed to have amassed $485 million in delinquent rent. Despite applying for $128 million in ERA relief, NYCHA tenants have received no assistance to date. This situation has forced PHAs to consider cutting services and staff, as they rely on rental payments to balance their budgets. 
 
In the letter, the lawmakers urge statewide leaders to ensure rental assistance is included in the final budget to protect public housing tenants and public housing authorities across the state. 
 
“We are encouraged to see that the State Assembly and the State Senate have both included rental assistance funding for Public Housing and Section 8 tenants in their one-house budgets to relieve the aforementioned issues,” wrote the lawmakers. “As you proceed with your budget negotiations, we urge that the Executive and Legislature come together to support our common constituents and the housing authorities that serve them by including important emergency rental assistance funding in the State’s final budget for FY 2024.”
 
“The pandemic created a once in a lifetime crisis for public housing residents and public housing authorities. Through no fault of their own, many of the city and states’ most vulnerable residents have been left severely indebted” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in Washington and New York City to call for the inclusion of desperately needed rental relief in the final state budget to help support NYCHA tenants in their time of need.”   
 
“NYCHA residents work every day to build a better future for themselves, their kids, and their families, and they deserve safe, high-quality, affordable homes while doing so,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “NYCHA residents have a champion in me and in our partners in Albany and Washington, D.C., who are fighting to deliver much-needed emergency financial support after devastation of the pandemic. We will all continue to work hand-in-hand to get this done.” 
 
“We appreciate the efforts of Congresswoman Velazquez, Democratic Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Schumer, and the entire New York City delegation for always advocating for public housing residents and the authorities that provide housing to over a half a million New Yorkers Statewide,“ said NYCHA Interim Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “By working with our partners in Albany, we can find the funding in the upcoming State budget to make sure that Federally subsidized tenants are given the relief that they need and deserve.”    

For a final copy of the letter, click here.