Res. No. 394
Resolution calling upon the State of New York to assist the City of New York in subsidizing the 21,000 non-federal housing units managed by the New York City Housing Authority.
By Council Members Gonzalez, Mendez, Mark-Viverito, Reyna, Dilan, Gerson and Jackson
Whereas, There is currently a severe affordable housing shortage in the City of New York; and
Whereas, The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is a public housing agency (PHA) organized and funded primarily through federal and state programs; and
Whereas, The requirements for income eligibility and admission preferences for PHA’s are based on federal and state law; and
Whereas, NYCHA is facing a budget deficit of $168 million as a direct result of reductions in federal funding; and
Whereas, The reduction in federal funding has forced NYCHA to reallocate its existing resources; and
Whereas, According to NYCHA 21,000 housing units were built by New York City and New York State and thus are not subsidized through Federal funding; and
Whereas, NYCHA has developed a Plan to Preserve Public Housing to address this budget deficit that includes an infusion of New York City funding, significant rent increases for more than 25% of NYCHA’s tenants and increases in many of its fees, such as those for washing machines and parking; and
Whereas, According to NYCHA’s Plan to Preserve Affordable Housing, the Federal Section 8 subsidy program will be used to cover the unsubsidized units; and
Whereas, The current Section 8 voucher waiting list is currently closed at 125,000 families; and
Whereas, According to Section 960.206 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, NYCHA has the authority to “adopt a system of local preferences for selection of families admitted to the PHA’s public housing program;” and
Whereas, Such admission preferences must be based on local housing needs and determined by the PHA after a period of public comment and consultation with the resident advisory board of the PHA and then submitted within the PHA’s annual or five year plan, whichever is applicable, to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which then must approve or disapprove the plan; and
Whereas, Local housing needs include the need for affordable public housing; and
Whereas, The State has an obligation to ensure that affordable housing is available to its residents and contribute financially to accomplish this; and
Whereas, A significant increase in State funding for NYCHA would reduce, or potentially eliminate, the need for rent and fee increases and recourse to the Section 8 program when there are so many families on the current waiting list, now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the State of New York to assist the City of New York in subsidizing the 21,000 non-federal housing units managed by the New York City Housing Authority.
BJG
LS # 1156