During the first 10 months of 2020, nonprofit providers scheduled nearly 3,000 interviews with supportive housing applicants, 560 of whom were outright rejected. The housing shortage allows providers to “cherry-pick” applicants who require the fewest services, a process known as creaming or screening, tenants and advocates say.
“This is the biggest rezoning this administration has done over our eight years,” the mayor said ahead of Tuesday’s vote on the plan, which will upzone an 82-block swath of the Brooklyn neighborhood to add an estimated 8,500 new apartments.
“Disparities that we normally see in campaign fundraising were not apparent this time around in New York City,” said an analyst at the Brennan Center, which compared self-identified gender and race information for each candidate in a competitive June primary with their campaign finance records.
‘Women of color like myself have historically been marginalized from politics and public discourse. When local politicians don’t share any aspect of my identity with me, it can feel like girls like me aren’t meant to be a part of public life.’
Opponents argued to councilmembers that the plan to add about 3,000 new units and change land use rules in a 56-block swath of Lower Manhattan would incentivize demolition to make way for luxury housing, usher in big box retail and forever alter the artistic character of the iconic SoHo and NoHo neighborhoods.
While turnout was not particularly high across the city, GOP wins signal that moderate and conservative voters were pushed to the polls in key districts, perhaps propelled by a rejection of more progressive proposals that have become mainstream, like diverting money from the police department.
The city’s sprawling, patchwork supportive housing network is designed to provide homes and services for people who have experienced homelessness. But too often the model leads to unnecessary restrictions, inconsistencies and even glaring housing violations against vulnerable residents, according to the people who live there.
New York City will choose its next mayor on Tuesday. Check here throughout the day for developments in the 2021 election.
A new rule for CityFHEPS rental assistance vouchers greatly increases the eligibility income for renewal—a response to criticism that the previous, stricter criteria would force participants to the edge of an “income cliff,” making families to choose between a living wage job or their housing voucher.
The Certificate of No Harassment (CONH) Program has forced owners of certain properties to prove they have not harassed tenants before they can receive DOB permits.
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