Velazquez Unveils Housing Legislation

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez spoke today at a press conference where she unveiled new legislation aimed at addressing a number of housing challenges brought on by Hurricane Sandy. Following are her remarks as prepared for delivery:

"Superstorm Sandy ravaged our City, harming local businesses and working families. Low income New Yorkers were hit particularly hard. Wind and floods caused over $10 billion in damages to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Hundreds of families were displaced from their homes. With FEMA housing assistance expiring soon, many of these families have no place to go, nor can they afford market-rate rents in their neighborhoods. The Safely Sheltering Disaster Victims Act provides rental assistance to struggling households displaced by Sandy so that they can find decent, affordable housing close to the city while their homes are repaired.

"New York's public housing infrastructure was disproportionately impacted by Sandy – causing hardship for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. The damage was so bad in some units that over 170 households had to be relocated from their homes. The Safely Sheltering Disaster Victims Act would extend rental assistance to these families

"If Sandy taught us anything it is how proper preparation can minimize damage and facilitate recovery efforts. I have authored the Public Housing Disaster Preparedness Act. This bill addresses many of these issues by providing direct guidance on how to correct these problems in future disaster relief efforts.

"The bill clarifies what the expectations for public housing authorities (PHAs) are when assisting residents immediately following a natural disaster. Among other requirements, large PHAs must be prepared to: communicate disaster relief plans with residents; mitigate health and safety-hazards, like mold; restore critical utilities; ensure residents can access food and water; and relocate displaced residents in a timely manner.

"Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) disaster plans must be transparent to the public and monitored for their effectiveness. At this time, many of these programs operate without sufficient oversight and transparency. The Public Housing Disaster Preparedness Act would correct this problem by requiring HUD to review and approve PHA disaster preparedness and relief plans as part of the authorities' annual plans.
"Annual plans are publically available, increasing transparency of a PHA's disaster protocols and allowing the public to hold PHAs accountable to HUD if they are not properly followed.

"Sandy also did enormous damage to NY's economy, destroying businesses and depriving working families of employment. Certain HUD funding recipients—PHAs and CDBG grantees—are required to provide training and hiring opportunities to low-income individuals under the Section 3 program. The Raising Employment in Affordable Communities and Homes (REACH) Act would increase the availability of jobs for these families by requiring these groups to develop and execute detailed Section 3 hiring and training plans.

"The legislation I've introduced is already cosponsored by Reps. Jefferies, Rangel, and Serrano – and I intend to seek support from other Members of the delegation. While Sandy was a dark time, we also saw numerous examples of New Yorkers pulling together to assist one another during a difficult period. If we maintain that spirit of togetherness, we can recover from this storm stronger and better prepared for future disasters. We cannot forget what happened during Sandy and the need for recovery assistance. I will not let that happen and these bills are an attempt to keep those efforts going forward."