WHAT: Protest denouncing Gov. Paterson’s veto of the “30 Percent Rent Cap” AIDS housing assistance bill
WHERE: 41st and Lexington Avenue (Paterson’s Manhattan offices)
WHEN: 9:30 AM
WHO: New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and their advocates from Housing Works, the New York City AIDS Housing Network and other groups
BACKSTORY: Gov. Paterson vetoed the “30 Percent Rent Cap” bill that would have addressed an egregious injustice in New York State housing policy for nearly 10,000 poor New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. He cited the state’s fiscal crisis as an explanation, but the “30 Percent Rent Cap” bill actually saves the state money. Read about //www.housingworks.org/blogs/detail/patersons-veto-devastates-new-yorks-poor/”>who it would have helped.
FULL HOUSING WORKS PRESS RELEASE ON THE VETO:
Housing Works denounced Gov. Paterson decision to veto a bill today that would have addressed an egregious injustice in New York State housing policy for nearly 10,000 poor New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.
“Shame on Gov. Paterson,” said Housing Works President and CEO Charles King. “He has gone back on a promise to sign this legislation and given support to a policy that actually penalizes people for being poor and receiving shelter assistance. I am embarrassed for him.”
Housing Works has fought since 2006 to push through the //www.housingworks.org/activism/fighting-for-housing/30-percent-rent-cap/”>30 percent rent cap bill, legislation that would cap rent contributions at 30 percent for New Yorkers who receive housing assistance through the state’s HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA).
Nearly 10,000 individuals would have been helped by the bill, according to HASA. Paterson pledged to sign it in both //www.housingworks.org/blogs/detail/paterson-says-hed-approve-30-percent-rent-cap/”>2009 and //www.gaycitynews.com/articles/2010/04/29/gay_city_news/news_in_brief/today/doc4bd9d952a0cd4989112312.txt”>2010.
While all people who receive federal housing subsidies benefit from a 30 percent rent cap, that cap does not apply to those who receive housing assistance through New York’s HASA. Some HASA clients pay up to 75 percent of their monthly income (for example, veterans’ or disability benefits) toward rent, forcing them to choose between necessities—such as toilet paper and medical bills—and paying their landlords. The policy is also expensive for the state, as it leads to high rates of arrears, evictions and homelessness.
//feedproxy.google.com/i/blog/Memo_about_30_percent_rent_cap.doc”>Analysis by the consulting agency Shubert Botein Policy Associates has found that the cost of the cap would have been immediately offset by savings from increased housing stability.
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