PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Travis Bostick, Director of Policy and Research at Association for Neighborhood Housing and Development (ANHD)
1:52:07
·
114 sec
Travis Bostick from ANHD testifies about the inadequate funding of ERAP and its impact on NYCHA residents and affordable housing in New York City. He urges the City Council to advocate for more state funding to address rental arrears and the risk of evictions.
- Highlights the ongoing federal disinvestment in NYCHA and how it compounds the problem of inadequate ERAP funding
- Discusses the challenges faced by mission-driven developers managing affordable units, including rising operational costs and low rent collection
- Warns of a potential crisis of escalating homelessness and declining quality of NYCHA housing without urgent intervention
Travis Bostick
1:52:07
Good afternoon, share banks.
1:52:09
I'm Travis Bostick.
1:52:10
The director of policy and research at association for a neighborhood housing and development.
1:52:15
The COVID 19 pandemic has had enduring economic repercussions, significantly affecting New York's affordable housing sector.
1:52:23
Although the emergency rental assistance program was designed to provide financial support to renters and housing providers, its funding has been inadequate, especially for income restricted housing.
1:52:35
We urge the city council to take a proactive stance in advocating the state and and advocating with with the state to address the financial strain of rental arrears and the escalating risk of evictions faced by night shift residents due to ERAP underfunding.
1:52:51
The state's recent infusion of funding for our Nitri related arrears as well as the new programs we learned of today.
1:52:57
Our welcome efforts, but clearly insufficient.
1:53:01
Nitri's ongoing federal disinvestment compounded by an adequate ERAP has deepened resident mistrust and uncertainty.
1:53:09
Even outside of nature, some of our mission driven developers who manage affordable units with average rents of even just a $1000 are facing severe arrears.
1:53:20
Despite some progress in addressing this issue, these organizations are grappling with rising operational issues in terms of insurance costs and low rent collection.
1:53:31
They're operating on tight margins, and these organizations struggle to maintain their properties.
1:53:36
Without immediate action to resolve the arrears, affordable housing in New York City will continue to face severe setbacks.
1:53:44
We agree that night shift must be held accountable and commend the council and share banks' efforts to do so but we wanna emphasize that without urgent and substantial intervention, New York City faces a crisis of escalating homelessness and a continuous decline in the quality of NICA housings housings stop.
