About 10,000 low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS are at risk of becoming homeless because they are denied affordable housing through the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA).
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Rallying to Prevent Homelessness for HIV-Positive New Yorkers
More than 100 VOCAL-NY members rallied at the state capitol on March 23rd to urge Governor Cuomo to work with legislative leaders to enact the 30 percent rent cap bill to prevent homelessness for low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. We met with representatives from Assembly Speaker Silver and Senate Majority Leader Skelos' offices, although Governor Cuomo's staff declined to meet. We also joined a press conference around strengthening rent laws and repealing vacancy destabilization.
30 Percent Rent Cap Bill Reintroduced In Assembly
Assembly Member Deborah Glick was joined by dozens of her colleagues in reintroducing the 30 rent cap bill on March 11, 2011. The bill would prevent homelessness for 10,000 low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and their families by ensuring they pay no more than 30 percent of their limited disability income towards rent. It would not create a new entitlement program or expand eligibility for existing rental assistance programs.
Assembly Member Glick also recently sent a letter with Assembly Members Keith Wright and Hakeem Jeffries signed by 21 of their colleagues urging Governor Cuomo to include the bill language in his amended budget proposal.
“Assembly Member Glick has shown steadfast leadership in working to address the affordable housing crisis facing low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS,” said Jim Lister, a VOCAL-NY leader. “I feel like I’m falling further and further behind. My first priority is always paying my rent, but that takes over 74% of my Social Security Disability check and leaves little money left over to buy things like bath soap or wash my clothes.”
Read VOCAL-NY's press release below:
On Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Lawmakers Call For Passage Of 30% Rent Cap Bill
Photos and press release below.
Media coverage included:
Cuomo Appoints HIV/AIDS and LGBT Advocate
Check out our press release on Erik Bottcher's appointment as Governor Cuomo's new Special Assistance for Community Affairs is below.
Gay City News' coverage is available online: Pride Agenda, VOCAL New York Hail Cuomo Debut.
Paterson’s Last Stab at 30 Percent Rent Cap?
Gay City News: Paterson’s Last Stab at 30 Percent Rent Cap?
Published: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 12:46 PM CST
BY PAUL SCHINDLER
In the latest round of a four-year struggle to cap rents on more than 10,000 city public assistance clients living with AIDS, Governor David Paterson personally reached out to a leading advocate on November 19 to say he hoped to finish the job during next week’s special session of the Legislature.
According to Sean Barry, executive director of VOCAL New York (Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders), the governor telephoned him at the end of last week to say that as part of a deficit reduction plan he will send to the Legislature when they convene on November 29, he was prepared to cover the cost of limiting rents of clients of the city’s HIV/ AIDS Services Administration (HASA) who receive assistance to live in privately-owned housing at 30 percent of their income.
VOCAL was until recently known as the New York City AIDS Housing Network, and has spearheaded efforts to allow HASA clients living in private housing to benefit from the same rental cap that applies to those living in public and congregate care housing. Advocates note that many of the city’s housing assistance programs, including all housing support funded with federal dollars, limit rents to 30 percent of residents’ income.
Read the rest online here.
Sen. Duane Joins AIDS Advocates In Die-In Blocking Broadway; Call For 30% Rent Cap Solution
Eighteen HIV/AIDS activists were arrested after blocking Broadway this afternoon following a rally urging Governor Paterson to keep his promise to work with the legislature and enact the 30% rent cap bill before he leaves office. Senator Tom Duane joined advocates from NYCAHN/VOCAL and ten other organizations in the civil disobedience (see full list in press release below).
After what he called his "most difficult veto," Governor Paterson told Gay City News that he was supportive of the bill and would work with the legislature to enact it before he left office. He has since failed to offer any more details or include it on the agenda for the aborted special session on November 15th.
We are committed to holding Governor Paterson accountable during the rest of his time in office and will look to Governor-Elect Cuomo for leadership if Paterson fails to keep his promise.
Photo slideshow from the action:
Video of Senator Tom Duane's speech:
Tom Duane speaks at the Rally for Housing and Dignity from Charles Long on Vimeo.
Video of Assembly Member Deborah Glick's speech:
Deborah Glick speaks at the Rally for Housing and Dignity from VOCAL NY on Vimeo.
Video of NYCAHN/VOCAL Board Member Wanda Hernandez's speech (thanks to Housing Works for video!):
Media coverage included:
Our updated press release: Pr Aids Housing 110910 Updated
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