Nonprofit housing lawyers push Biden to block evictions, fund NYCHA

President-elect Joe Biden. AP Photo/Matt Slocum

By David Brand

New York City’s largest nonprofit legal provider has outlined its list of federal housing priorities for 2021, encouraging incoming President Joe Biden to fully fund public housing, extend a federal eviction moratorium and provide emergency rent relief for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers at risk for eviction.

In a letter to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, attorneys from the Legal Aid Society’s Civil Law Practice praised the president-elect’s $640 billion housing plan for low- and middle-income Americans and his stated belief in housing as “a human right, not a privilege.” They urged him to follow through on his campaign commitments as the pandemic exacerbates housing insecurity in New York and nationwide.

“With COVID-19 cases surging across the state and no clear budget solutions, we implore you to fulfill the housing plan and budget promises you made on the campaign trail,” wrote attorney Adrienne Holder, head of Legal Aid’s top Civil Practice.

The existing federal eviction moratorium expires Jan. 31 and does not protect tenants whose leases expire during the pandemic. A temporary state freeze has not stopped landlords from filing thousands of eviction cases in New York City Housing Courts and will end by May for tenants who submit proof of income loss. 

“The Biden administration should immediately issue a new, universal eviction moratorium that bars all evictions, including against tenants whose leases have ended, and regardless of whether the tenant has made a sworn declaration regarding their income,” Holder wrote.

The letter also encourages Biden to reverse a Trump order banning so-called  “mixed status” families — households comprised of people eligible and ineligible for housing assistance — from public housing. The rule will have a major impact on families where some members are citizens or permanent residents and others are undocumented immigrants. 

They further urged Biden to back legislation outlawing housing voucher discrimination and to work with Congress to “fully fund” deteriorating public housing across the U.S. The New York City Housing Authority has estimated that it will need $32 billion to repair elevators, remove lead paint and upgrade heating systems over the next five years.

“Access to housing that is affordable, stable, safe, and healthy is key to building racial equity and thriving communities, and we hope to work together to create an enduring positive impact on the lives of New York  residents,” Holder and Legal Aid wrote.