Housing

NYWA STATEMENT ON HOUSING - 2001

NYWA believes that housing is a basic human right and need. It is a requirement of life.

At this point there is a housing crisis in New York that affects not just the homeless population but low, moderate and middle income households as well, many of them led by women. This crisis is due to several factors. i.e.;

    Rents have increased, reducing the supply of affordable housing stock.

    Rents have gradually increased in units under rent regulation which are then ultimately removed from that category.

    Section 8 rental assistance contracts are expiring.

    Fewer city-owned sites are available for housing development throughout the city.

    The cost of developing private sites is very high.

NYWA believes that the lack of affordable housing has a grave effect on women and children, the rate of unemployment, crime and the perpetuation of poverty. Given the scope and severity of the problem, the increase in homelessness and overcrowding, and the importance of decent housing in people’s lives and society, NYWA resolves to press City, State and Federal officials to:

    Preserve the current supply of affordable housing in the city.

    Create mixed income public housing units in the city.

    Make homeownership affordable to middle income families.

    Maintain the Community Reinvestment Act and fund Community Development Financial Institutions legislation because it provides money to non-traditional borrowers.

    Develop innovative private/public initiatives to enable the development of new housing stock.

Submitted by Carrie Printz, Member, CitiIssues Committee
1. The New York City of Department of Homeless Services Mission Statement, NYC Department of Homeless Services (2000)

2. A Time to Build, Manhattan Borough President’s Task Force on Affordable Housing (January 2000)

3. Tenant, Metropolitan Council on Housing (April 2000)

Additional information from the NYWA’s 1995 Plank on Housing, and The Workshop on Housing Issues, NYWA’s Political Education Policy Coalition Forum, February 25, 2001

 

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