NEW YORK – The proposed federal rule change regarding undocumented immigrants would impact thousands of New Yorkers that presently depend on federally-assisted housing.
The governments plan affects housing agencies across the country by eliminating their ability to serve families with mixed immigration status. This includes families where at least one person in the household is eligible for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs and another is not.
“The Trump Administration wants to make kids homeless and call it immigration policy,” said Mayor de Blasio. “This proposed rule would hurt some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and we’ll fight it every step of the way.”
The rule would deny eligible U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens from their right to access affordable and public housing resources, including Section 8 vouchers. This rule change would have immediate effects for approximately 11,400 New Yorkers, including nearly 5,000 children. The Presidents policy would force thousands of households to choose between breaking up their families or losing their homes.
“New York has always been a City of immigrants, and we will fight to keep it that way,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “Immigrants contribute to the cultural and economic fabric of our City. Denying more than 11,000 New Yorkers access to affordable and public housing is unacceptable, and we will work across City government to keep these families in their homes.”
