Richards pledges Borough Hall help for tenants and the homeless
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Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said he will boost support for tenants and the homeless. Photo courtesy of the Borough President's Office
By Rachel Vick and David Brand
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards says he will use his new office to provide legal help for renters facing eviction and support for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
During a speech at his swearing-in ceremony Sunday, Richards said would “fight to expand the tenants’ ability to connect with housing court attorneys so we can battle this eviction crisis we find ourselves in.”
“I know so many people are struggling to pay their rent or find an affordable place to live,” he continued. “There’s been incredible growth in our borough, but as we watch the skyline transform and grow in front of our eyes … there are too many people who feel like they are being left behind.”
No legal evictions have been executed in Queens since state court leaders and Gov. Andrew Cuomo first instituted a moratorium March 16. Nevertheless, New York City continues to experience historic levels of homelessness. An annual review of state Department of Education data found that more than 21,000 Queens school kids were homeless at some point last year.
Many tenants are protected from eviction if they prove they could not pay rent as a result of the coronavirus pandemic by a measure known as the Tenant Safe Harbor Act. Renters whose cases were adjudicated prior to March 16 are not covered by that law, however.
At least four commercial and residential evictions have been carried out in Brooklyn and Manhattan over the past two weeks, according to data from the city’s Department of Investigation, which oversees city marshals.
On the campaign trail, Richards told the Eagle he would take on homelessness by expanding the office’s housing division and providing more resources for people without stable homes.
“You can't just direct someone to a shelter and be done with them, we need to help individuals find employment and find permanent housing,” Richards said. “That includes working with communities throughout the borough to build real affordable housing.”
He pointed to his efforts to secure affordable housing in his Rockaway Peninsula council district and said he would specifically ensure the housing division and the economic development division of the borough president’s office work closely together. He would also promote outreach to connect with people experiencing street homelessness.
“I'll work with nonprofits to provide services and help those currently living on our streets and subways find at least safe, temporary housing and employment so that they can ultimately secure permanent housing and employment,” Richards said.
“The borough president has the ability to take on homelessness through the securing of affordable housing, outreach in the community and working with other leaders on legislation.
The tangible functions of the office are limited, but borough presidents have a bully pulpit from which to advocate for their priorities.
Richards focused on people who are living on the street — a relatively small, but visible population — when asked how he would orient the office to address homelessness.
“We shouldn't be arresting people for sleeping on the subway, we should be providing services for them and working to find them permanent housing,” he said.” Criminalizing those who are homeless does nothing more than make it more difficult to find a job and ultimately find a place to live.”
He praised former Borough President Claire Shulman for creating job opportunities for homeless New Yorkers, including a graffiti removal division that hired homeless veterans
“Former borough presidents have done a good job building out the office and creating divisions to handle housing, but we need to do more,” Richards said. “It's through innovative ideas like this that the office is able to do to get at the root of the issue, and it's something that I will continue to work on and take further.”
