Category Archives: Blog

by | May 21, 2013 · 4:56 pm

New Yorkers March to Denounce LGBTQ Hate Crimes

Photo by Macey Foronda. Featured on BuzzFeed

Yesterday, a rally was held in the West Village to honor Mark Carson who was murdered Friday evening as a result of a hate crime. While walking through the West Village with a friend, Carson was confronted by Elliot Morales.  Morales made homophobic remarks such as, “Look at these faggots” and “What are you, gay wrestlers?” Despite trying to walk away and avoid an altercation, Morales followed the two men, pulled out his .38-caliber revolver and shot Carson. He died shortly after.

To show respect for Carson and denounce the recent hate crime against the queer community, thousands of LGBTQ folk and allies gathered in the West Village and marched from the steps of The Center to the site of the shooting. Chanting “We’re here, we’re queer!” and “Homophobia has got to go!” the voice of the queer community echoed down Greenwich Avenue and up through 6th Avenue. Speaker Christine Quinn, the first openly gay Speaker of the New York City Council, and Edie Windsor, the plaintiff of the Supreme Court same-sex marriage case, joined the march. After a slew of violent hate crimes within the past month, this march reestablished the visibility and, in turn, power of the queer community in New York City.

The West Village has been portrayed as a haven for queer folks. Home of the Stonewall Inn and the inception of the gay liberation movement, LGBTQ folk from across the country have come to the West Village either seeking refuge from hate crimes, in search of community, or to pay tribute to those who have fought to stop violence. Unfortunately, there has been a resurgence of hate crimes in the West Village. According to the Anti-Violence Project (AVP), six hate crimes against LGBTQ folk have been reported within the past week in New York City. The following are a list of three incidents reported by the New Yorker:

… a gay man and his partner were beaten up outside Madison Square Garden after a Knicks game, another gay man was attacked and beaten on Christopher Street, and a gay couple was beaten after leaving a pool hall on West Thirty-second Street.

With Pride month fast approaching, these weeks serve as a point of reflection to assess how much progress has actually been made in terms of LGBTQ rights and safety in our country. One of the signs held at yesterday’s protest read, “Marriage means nothing if we are being gunned down.” While much emphasis has been placed on the Federal Supreme Court ruling on the Marriage Equality Act, much more needs to be done to stop homophobic prejudice, discrimination, and violence in New York City and throughout the country.

While it might appear as if this rally has little to do with our work in housing and organizing, look again. As we’ve discussed before on the blog, discrimination in housing against LGBTQ folks is alive and well in our country and our city.  Through organizing, we need to ensure that everyone who lives in our city feels secure enough in demanding that their rights be met- whether it’s housing conditions, marriage, or the right to walk down the street in safety. We at UHAB admire the powerful organizing that has taken place in response to the recent hate-crimes, and plan to support that organizing effort as long as it takes.

If you or someone you know has experienced a homophobic hate crime, please contact the Anti-Violence Project at (212) 714-1141.

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by | May 20, 2013 · 12:57 pm

Tell Bankers that People are Too Big to Fail

This is happening now in DC. We support:

Too Big to Fail, Too Big to Jail?

Millions of underwater homeowners have paid the price for Wall Street’s crimes. From mortgage fraud to predatory lending, it’s time to put bankers in jail.

Join Occupy Homes, dozens of underwater homeowners, and hundreds of allies from across the country as we take action and risk arrest at the Department of Justice.

Bring Justice to Justice Rally: May 20th @ 1pm Gather: Freedom Plaza, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave NW – March to Department of Justice @ 1:30pm

With Occupy Homes, Home Defenders League, Campaign for a Fair Settlement, and community and faith leaders

Five years after Wall Street crashed the economy, not one banker has been prosecuted for the reckless and fraudulent practices that cost millions of Americans their jobs, threw our cities and schools into crisis, and left families and communities ravaged by a foreclosure crisis and epidemic of underwater mortgages.

Record profits are back at the bailed-out banks. Meanwhile:

  • Homeowners and communities have lost billions to Wall Street’s foreclosure crisis;

  • Millions more families face foreclosure in the coming months;

  • Communities of color have been impacted the most.

This March, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, testifying before a U.S. Senate committee,admitted that big banks and their executives have escaped prosecution simply because they are too wealthy and powerful. “Too big to fail” banks are officially “too big to jail.”

The time is now for Congress and the Obama administration to make Wall Street pay us back:

  • Prosecute Wall Street bankers for stealing our homes, savings and livelihoods;

  • End the foreclosure crisis;

  • Reset mortgages to their current value (“principal reduction”);

  • Restore and rebuild wealth stolen from communities of color hardest hit.

Since the crisis began, Americans from all walks of life have banded together to help each other. Working through community organizations, civil rights groups, the Occupy movement, and community and faith leaders, we have shared our stories, lobbied, petitioned, and even faced arrest for occupying our own homes and demanding justice.

During the Wall Street Accountability Week of Action in Washington, D.C., May 18-23, families on the front line of the foreclosure crisis will travel from around the country to Washington, D.C., to make their voices heard. The week will include community organizing, home-defense training, and non-violence and civil-disobedience training.

On Monday, May 20, at 1:00pm, home defenders, as well as faith and community leaders will rally to Bring Justice to Justice – demanding an end to the “too big to jail” policy, and relief for families and communities devastated by the financial crisis and foreclosure epidemic.

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by | May 17, 2013 · 3:18 pm

Friday News Round-Up

Here’s a short list of some of the stories we’ve been following today. As always, have a great weekend and we’ll see you on Monday!

  1. Last week, and today, Philadelphia students walked-out of school to protest harsh budget cuts that would totally gut the public school system, which is already suffering from austerity. Of note to New Yorkers: the plan, which initially included the closure of over 40 public schools, was prepared with the help of the Boston Consulting Group. If that name doesn’t ring a bell: its the same neoliberalizing global business entity hired – to the tune of $10 million – to study NYCHA.
  2. Legal Services is on strike. In the past year, Legal Services attorneys have represented tenants in at least 15 of the buildings we organize, and the work they do is invaluable to low income New Yorkers. Support them in their fight.
  3. We’re basically just waiting to see when Anthony Weiner will announce he’s running for mayor. In the meantime, check out this piece by Michael Mckee of the Metropolitan Council on Housing: “Why No Tenant Should Vote for Anthony Weiner.” In a city chock full of tenants that’s a bold claim — but his record in the City Council calls for it.

 

 

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by | May 15, 2013 · 4:53 pm

Amending the Fair Housing Act to Support LGBT and Single Folks

Map by National Fair Housing Alliance

Map by National Fair Housing Alliance

Last month marked the 45th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). To celebrate, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) published a report entitled, “Modernizing the Fair Housing Act for the 21st Century.” The paper works to elucidate the current discriminatory obstacles faced by renters and homeowners, and to offer suggestions to fill in current loopholes. Since FHA’s inception, two amendments have been made to protect against sex (1974) and disability (1988) discrimination. Despite the bill’s progress and evolution, it has yet to include protections against sexual orientation, gender-identity, and marital status discrimination.

Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Between 2009 and 2011, hate crimes based on sexual orientation increased from 17.8 percent to 20.8 percent, and this type of discrimination has manifested itself in the housing sector. In a study conducted in Michigan, 27 percent of same-sex couples were treated differently based on sexual orientation, including asking their references to clarify their sexual orientation. The research also illustrates that “the largest evidence of sexual orientation discrimination was in rental tests (33 percent), followed by sales tests (25 percent) and close behind were mortgage tests (20 percent).” Today, 21 states as well as the District of Columbia have enacted laws that protect against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation. New York is not one of them.

Gender Identity Discrimination

The NFHA study reports that discrimination based on gender identity is also prominent in housing. In a different study conducted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality, it is reported that of 6,450 transgender and gender non-conforming participants, 19 percent had been denied a home or an apartment, 11 percent had been evicted, and 19 percent of folks became homeless. Of the participants that tried to access homeless shelters, 1/3 were turned away and 42 percent were segregated to a facility intended for folks that identify with a different gender identity. 55 percent of participants that did access the shelter system experienced harassment; 25 percent experienced physical assault; and 22 percent experienced sexual assault.

The National Transgender Discrimination Survey also showed that transgender folks of color experience much higher levels of discrimination. The survey illustrated the following:

  • 38 percent of African-American transgender folks were refused housing; 31 percent were evicted due to discrimination; and 41 percent experienced homelessness (5 times the national rate).
  • 29 percent of Latino/a transgender folks were refused housing; 15 percent experienced eviction due to discrimination; 26 percent experienced homelessness (4 times the national average).
  • 21 percent of Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander transgender folks were refused housing; 7 percent were evicted due to discrimination; 14 percent experienced homelessness (2 times the national average).

Today, 16 states as well as the District of Columbia have enacted laws that protect against discrimination based on gender identity. New York is one of them. *

Marital Status Discrimination

Non-married couples have been experiencing significant discrimination in the housing market as well. According to the Fair Housing Center in Nebraska-Iowa, investigations regarding income discrimination found that 38 percent of cases were rooted in discrimination based on marital status. The investigation found that many landlords made statements such as “’I don’t believe that people should live in sin.’”

Today, 22 states including the District of Columbia have enacted laws that protect against marital status discrimination. In this case, New York is one of them.

The information compiled by the NFHA illuminates an undeniable need to amend the Fair Housing Act. Within the past few years, LGBT and unmarried folks have gained tremendous visibility and greater rights. However, with acceptance also comes animosity. As the paradigm shifts, the male/female binary and hetero-normativity is called into question and somewhat dismantled. To protect the inevitable backlash during such transition, it is imperative that legislative protections be implemented and enforced at this time.

 

*A previous version of this blog post mistakenly stated that New York did not have laws preventing housing discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, NY Exec Law § 296(2)(a) does provide this protection. 

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by | May 14, 2013 · 4:05 pm

Three Ways to Improve the AEP Program

The Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP) is an extensive NYC project established to improve landlord compliance with the housing maintenance code. Each year, 200 buildings are enter into the program, which increases oversight from HPD and levies costly fines against landlords who allow their buildings to fall into disrepair. While the program has been effective in forcing repairs, we have also identified several ways in which it can be improved to greater serve New York City tenants.

  1. DHCR should approve an automatic rent reduction for tenants whose homes enter the alternative enforcement program.
    DHCR, the NYS Department of Housing and Community Renewal, administers rent regulations and has the power to provide tenants with legal rent reductions when negligent landlords refuse to make necessary repairs in their homes. If a building enters the Alternative Enforcement Program, it is clearly one of the most physically distressed buildings in New York City, and tenants have likely been paying rent without receiving anything in return for a very long time. In order to decrease the burden of bad housing on working families as well as increase the pressure on property owners to make repairs, DHCR should grant automatic rent reductions to any tenant who lives in a building that enters the Alternative Enforcement Program.
  2. Remove AEP buildings from the lien sale list.
    Each year, the NYC Department of Finance sells off uncollected tax, water, and emergency repair liens to raise money. This process gives a third party (usually a bank or a trust) the right to foreclose on these debts. Buildings in AEP are often included in the lien sale list: it stands to reason that landlords who are negligent about repairs may also be negligent about paying their bills, and these buildings are often candidates for emergency repairs done and billed by the city.When a building is in severe physical distress, it does not make sense to bring in a speculative actor whose only interest is in sucking more money out of the property. It does make sense, however, for the city to hang onto these liens: they are secured debt, and can be used by the tenants and the city as leverage to fight for a deal that preserves the building’s affordability. AEP buildings should be automatically removed from the city’s lien sale list in order save the city’s most vulnerable housing stock.
  3. Hold the bank accountable when a building is in foreclosure.
    As we’ve discussed on this blog before, the Alternative Enforcement Program is not nearly as effective as it could be when a building is in foreclosure. The heart of the program is that it puts financial pressure on building owners to make necessary repairs. But what if the owner is legally forbidden from intervening in building management, as is the case in most multifamily foreclosures? The AEP program has no way to hold receivers responsible for making repairs. Moreover, the fines levied while the building is in the program (unpaid during foreclosure) are not enough to deter a predatory buyer, but they are enough to throw off a non-profit landlord or a tenant group who is looking to reclaim the building in a cost effective manner.

    As foreclosure proves to be a persistent problem in New York City, we need a program that ensures tenants living in multifamily buildings receive decent housing. A foreclosure can last for up to five years, and that is FAR TOO LONG for tenants to live in AEP conditions. In the landmark Milbank case, courts have ruled that when buildings are in foreclosure, banks have a responsibility to maintain the asset: i.e., pay for repairs. In foreclosure cases, the AEP program must demand accountability from lenders as well.

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