House Our Future New York Statement In Response to the City Council Introduction of Updated Homeless Housing Bill

Legislation Would Set Aside at Least 15% of Newly Constructed Apartments for the Homeless

NEW YORK, NY – The following statement from the House Our Future NY steering committee is in response to the City Council introducing an updated Intro. 1211, which would require developers who receive City financial assistance for housing development projects to set aside at least 15 percent of created apartments for homeless individuals and families:

“One year ago this week, members of the House Our Future NY Campaign linked arms with Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. and staged a sit-in at City Hall to convey the urgent need for the Mayor to create more permanent housing for the record numbers of homeless New Yorkers. Today, the House Our Future NY Campaign applauds the New York City Council’s steadfast leadership in working toward a city where no person goes without a home. By requiring housing developments receiving City financial assistance to set aside at least 15 percent of newly constructed apartments for homeless New Yorkers, Intro. 1211-a will make thousands more affordable apartments available to our neighbors who desperately need them. The Council has been a crucial ally in pushing the administration to do what’s right, and the agreement announced today will give hope to the more than 62,000 New Yorkers currently in shelters and thousands more on the streets – many of whom have been on the frontlines of this campaign. We eagerly await the bill’s passage in the coming week and are committed to continuing our collaboration to ensure that it is implemented as designed. Congratulations and many thanks to Speaker Corey Johnson, Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr., and our many Council allies for treating mass homelessness like the urgent humanitarian crisis it is, and embracing this bold measure to create more apartments for the New Yorkers who need them.”

House Our Future NY Leading Organizations:

Care for the Homeless
Coalition for the Homeless
Housing Works/Bailey House
Human.nyc
Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing
Neighbors Together
Urban Pathways
VOCAL NY
The Legal Aid Society

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House Our Future NY is an advocacy campaign formed by the Coalition for the Homeless and 68 partner organizations, as well as homeless men, women, and children and other caring New Yorkers. The campaign calls for 30,000 new units of affordable, permanent housing for homeless New Yorkers by 2026, with 24,000 of these apartments to be created through new construction. Visit www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/hofny for more information