Housing Works: Housing Prevents AIDS. Housing Improves Health.

The Fight for a 30 Percent Rent Cap

Since 2005, Housing Works has been fighting for the passage of New York State legislation that would cap the rents of people with HIV/AIDS who receive housing assistance from New York City’s HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA).

Thanks to a short-sighted Pataki-era policy, people with HIV in public housing are the only New Yorkers expected to pay more than 30 percent of their public benefits (such as Veterans’ benefits, or disability) toward their rent. Because of this policy, many people are living on as little as $12 a day.

The 30 Percent Rent Cap bill would protect 45,000 low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and their families and provide desperately needed financial relief to 11,000 low-income people with AIDS who teeter on the edge of eviction because their rents are not capped.

In July 2009, the bill’s Senate sponsor Tom Duane gave an impassioned speech and convinced colleagues to vote for the legislation 52 to 1 (Sen. Kemp Hannon was the only dissenter). See Duane’s impassioned plea below:

Housing Works was part of a coalition including New York City AIDS Housing Network, Bailey House and others who sought out Duane, Assembly Member Deborah Glick and later Assembly Member Keith Wright, to carry the legislation that would provide rent cap protection.

The rent cap bill still must pass the Assembly and even if it does, Gov. Paterson has already stated his unwillingness to sign bills with new costs attached. But the rent cap bill could save the State money: An analysis by Shubert Botein Policy Associates, estimated direct savings of over $19 million from prevented evictions would easily outweigh the projected costs of $16 million of the 30 percent rent cap.

What can you do?

• The Senate bill championed by Senator Tom Duane passed with overwhelming support and but Assembly Speaker Silver won’t schedule a September 2009 vote for the bill in Assembly unless he sees and hears enough community support. Call Speaker Sheldon Silver’s NYC office at (212) 312-1420 with this message: Hi, my name is _________ and I’m calling to ask Speaker Silver to schedule a vote during the special session for Assembly bill number 2565, introduced by Deborah Glick. This bill would help prevent 11,000 low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS from losing their homes by giving them an affordable housing protection.”

• Support our advocacy work by becoming a Housing Works member

• Subscribe to our AIDS Issues Update e-newsletter to stay current on the issues and receive action alerts