The Fight for a 30 Percent Rent Cap
Since 2005, Housing Works has fought for the passage of New York State legislation that would cap the rents of approximately 10,000 poor New Yorkers with AIDS who receive housing subsidies from New York City. The 30 Percent Rent Cap would redress a cruel and unfair policy of the city’s HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA).
New York City residents with AIDS in subsidized housing are nearly the only New Yorkers who are forced to pay more than 30 percent of their public benefits (such as Veterans’ or disability benefits) toward rent. Because of this policy, many HIV-positive people are forced to give up a large portion of their public benefits for rent, and in some cases, live on as little as $12 a day. Housing Works and the grassroots organization VOCAL-New York have long argued that over time, increased housing stability would allow the state to save millions in emergency housing and medical care costs.
The 30 Percent Rent Cap passed both houses of the state legislature in 2010, but Gov. Paterson vetoed it. The governor had promised to sign the bill on two occasions, but reversed his decision, thanks in part to pressure from New York City Mayor Bloomberg. Still, Paterson himself called the move his most difficult veto.
The Paterson veto set off a wave of protests across the city in fall 2010, including three that led to arrests.
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Video: Police Arrest CEO Charles King, Sen. Tom Duane and Others in Protest Targeting Paterson
Calling on Gov. David Paterson to pass a critical AIDS housing bill before he leaves office, 18 New York AIDS activists sat down on Broadway today, blocking traffic at Barclay Avenue and refusing to move before police arrested them and hauled them away.
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The Face of Paterson’s Rent Cap Veto
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Despite years of grassroots advocacy by low-income New Yorkers, Gov. Paterson vetoed a bill today that would have capped rent for thousands of poor people with HIV/AIDS. The legislation, known as the 30 percent rent cap bill, would have adjusted a lopsided …
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Five AIDS Activists Arrested at Paterson’s Office While Protesting Rent Cap Veto
In a sign of mounting outrage over Gov. Paterson’s veto of the 30 percent rent cap bill, police arrested five AIDS activists in a civil disobedience protest this morning outside the governor’s Manhattan office.
Download high resolution photos.
The activists positioned themselves in front of the entrance at 633 Third Avenue, …
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AIDS Housing Bill Reintroduced in New York State Assembly
For years we’ve fought for the passage of the 30 percent rent cap bill, legislation that would provide housing stability for thousands of low-income New Yorkers living with AIDS and their families. After the bill passed last year in the state Assembly and Senate, Gov. David Paterson broke his promise to …
March 14, 2011
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