Issue Position: Affordable Housing

Issue Position

In my nearly forty years proudly representing the citizens of Upper Manhattan, I have worked to create affordable housing as the author of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which is responsible for financing 90 percent of the affordable housing built in the U.S. in the last 10 years.

Affordable housing in the district is always at a premium, and we must do everything as a community to ensure that our units are preserved. All across Upper Manhattan, tenants are facing an uphill battle with higher rents, a decrease in services, and harassment by landlords. Only by working together can we stop the great loss of affordable housing and ensure real success in combating irresponsible landlords.

The affordable housing buildings in Upper Manhattan and across the city are more than the brick and mortar of which they are built; they are our homes and our communities. We must work to ensure that no matter what the financial conditions of a building are, the tenants are protected by the laws that are in place.

Over the past few months, I have worked with elected officials from all levels of government and the housing agencies to preserve Section 8 housing in numerous buildings throughout the district. I will continue to work to preserve our affordable units and to protect our tenants.

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