October 19th 2023.
New York City landlords and real estate brokers have been accused of discriminating against tenants who rely on government subsidies. This is according to an October report released by Unlock NYC, a tech nonprofit specializing in housing issues, as reported by Gothamist.
The report revealed that 23 corporate owners and real estate firms have allegedly been discriminating against government assistance recipients more than 10 times since 2018. During a press conference at City Hall Park, Manon Vergerio, an advocate with Unlock NYC, said, “We are in the throes of a devastating homelessness crisis. We need to aggressively tackle the barriers that are standing in the way between New Yorkers and stable homes.”
City and state laws prohibit discrimination based on the source of income, including vouchers used to subsidize rent. The city’s Commission on Human Rights is tasked with enforcing these laws, but advocates argue for more stringent enforcement measures. Manon shared, “We want to see astronomical fines, more apartment units set aside for voucher holders as a form of repair, and broker licenses revoked.”
The report identified several landlords and brokerage firms as the worst offenders, such as Goldfarb Properties, Chestnut Holdings, Parkchester, and the Parkoff Organization, along with 19 brokerage firms. Kamilah Newton, a 28-year-old resident, shared her five-year struggle to secure housing for herself and her two children. She said, “It turns out nobody wants vouchers, as one bold broker put it.”
The report is based on a crowdsourced database of more than 500 residents who reported discrimination. Landlords allegedly used various tactics, such as setting minimum income or credit requirements, adding arbitrary fees, failing to attend viewings, or ceasing communication once a tenant mentioned their voucher.
New York City Council member Pierina Sanchez highlighted the importance of expanding housing access to provide stable living conditions and to enhance community safety. She noted that housing discrimination against voucher holders is so widespread that many affected individuals may not even realize they are being discriminated against.
Due to the ongoing issue of housing discrimination, advocates are calling for strengthened enforcement measures to ensure fair access to housing for all. Such measures include astronomical fines, more apartment units set aside for voucher holders, and revoking broker licenses. To end the homelessness crisis, we must continue to fight for the rights of those who are affected by housing discrimination.
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