PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Roland Nimis, Acting Director of Housing Unit at Bronx Legal Services
9:02:53
·
107 sec
Roland Nimis, Acting Director of Housing Unit at Bronx Legal Services, testified in support of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal. He emphasized the urgent need for more affordable housing options for low-income New Yorkers, based on his organization's experience in eviction defense and tenant protection work.
- Highlighted the benefits of legalizing and regulating shared housing and accessory dwelling units for low-income tenants
- Stressed that while the proposal is not sufficient to end the housing crisis, it includes necessary zoning changes that will benefit vulnerable populations
- Emphasized the importance of combining increased affordable housing stock with stronger tenant protections and legal services
Roland Nimis
9:02:53
Good evening.
9:02:53
My name is Roland Nimis.
9:02:54
I'm the acting director of housing unit at Bronx Legal Services, which as part of Legal Services, defends and uplifts tenants, through right to counsel eviction defense work and anti harassment work for low income New Yorkers.
9:03:06
As one of the largest providers of eviction defense in this city, we witness up close every day the consequences of New York City's housing crisis for low income tenants.
9:03:15
Many of our clients are trapped in housing situations that are unsafe and unaffordable.
9:03:19
Tenants we defend are afraid to ask for repairs or assert their rights because they know that the enemy dispute could land them in housing court and a threat of eviction.
9:03:28
Even tenants who secure housing vouchers can't use their vouchers because the city lacks available apartments within the payment limits.
9:03:34
As tenant lawyers, we know that building more affordable housing is essential for low income New Yorkers.
9:03:39
The city of yes includes necessary zoning changes, to create housing that will benefit those we serve.
9:03:45
This includes relegalizing and regulating shared housing in smaller apartments, which can be transformative for low income tenants, particularly those who rely on vouchers to find housing.
9:03:54
Likewise, legalizing and regulating accessory dwelling units is crucial to increase access to safe and affordable housing.
9:04:00
Today, many low income tenants are forced into illegal units in basements and subdivided departments where they are powerless with few defenses to evictions if their landlords decide they want them out.
9:04:10
Creating a legal pathway for these types of units would bring these tenants into the formal housing market where they are protected from arbitrary evictions.
9:04:17
As many before me have said, these proposals and others within the CVS package are not sufficient to enter housing prices.
9:04:24
Nevertheless, our clients are in desperate need of more affordable housing.
9:04:27
Together with stronger fully funded and enforced tenant protections and legal services aimed at preserving existing tendencies, increasing the amount of a variety of affordable housing stock is crucial to law and firm communities and our clients.
9:04:39
Thank you.
