March 14, 2014
By Stephanie West
New York, NY — The campaign titled 'Real Affordability for All' has defined real affordability as housing that low-income families earning less than $40,000 a year can actually afford. At a lively kick-off event, advocates for more affordable housing in private developments and advocates for better quality public housing expressed their shared commitment to the campaign’s key goals.
Campaign leaders highlighted the housing affordability crisis by unveiling a report showing that Bloomberg’s housing boom served middle class and affluent New Yorkers but left behind more than 700,000 low-income New Yorkers. The report is attached.
The report calls on the de Blasio administration to target future housing subsidies to low-income families most vulnerable to displacement and homelessness. It also recommends that the city implement a real affordability framework across all housing programs so that agencies create more affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers.
“As a single mother of 3, I can tell you, finding affordable housing in New York City is impossible. Almost half of the income I earn each month as a homecare attendant goes to paying rent. I shouldn’t be forced to choose between feeding my children healthy food and making my rent, especially when we are all sharing a one bedroom apartment. It’s a desperate situation, and this campaign wants to fix it,” said Fidelina Mueses, a low-income tenant and member of New York Communities for Change.
