Housing is a fundamental human right. But for too many, New York City is becoming unaffordable. According to reports, average rents in Manhattan topped $5,500 in 2023. Working families are spending an outsized percentage of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. And a recent study shows that middle-class and working families are leaving New York City at an alarming rate as the city becomes more unaffordable for all but the ultra-wealthy. The housing crisis, however, is not new. For years, we have seen large development projects push rents up and squeeze out small businesses and local institutions. We need a housing plan that works for everyone—renters and owners alike—and gives every family the ability to live and thrive in our community. That is why ensuring affordable housing, strengthening protections for tenants, protecting our seniors, encouraging sustainable and environmentally conscious development, and protecting the economic diversity of our community are cornerstones of my campaign.

• Protecting Tenants - The first priority of any affordable housing plan is keeping people in their homes. Families should not have to worry about losing their home because of unreasonable rent hikes, discrimination, or retaliation. That is why I will fight for New York to join states like New Jersey, Oregon, California, and Washington in adopting Good Cause Eviction (S305/A4454). I also support strong rent stabilization laws, the Housing Access Voucher Program, and the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.

• Right to Counsel in Eviction Proceedings - I will be a champion for creating a statewide right to counsel in eviction proceedings, strengthening protections against unjust evictions by ensuring that everyone has not only a right to a lawyer in eviction proceedings, but adequate time to defend themselves.

• Supporting Our Seniors - I will place special focus on the housing issues facing the elders in our community. A recent Harvard study found that there is a pressing need for affordable housing and related support for the increasing number of cost-burdened older adults in our country. I will fight for resources and policies like the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) to ensure that our older residents have the safe, secure, affordable, and supportive housing they need.

• Lifting Up Our LGBTQ+ Elders - LGBTQ+ elders in our community face particular housing challenges as they get older as a result of experiencing decades of legal discrimination. Our LGBTQ+ elders need stable housing and related support that is not only affordable, but inclusive and culturally-competent. I will support organizations like SAGE that support LGBTQ+ elders.

• NYCHA - I will fight for NYCHA residents to ensure that low-income New Yorkers can live in safety and dignity and will have a staff member in my office dedicated to NYCHA-related issues.

• Combatting Homelessness - We need comprehensive solutions to chronic homelessness in our city that center compassion and integrated mental health support rather than law enforcement. It's vital that we strengthen programs that intervene at the earliest opportunity during a person’s homelessness, such as investing in rapid re-housing programs like STEHP, and supportive housing services like NYSSHP. I will also fight for greater resources for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, 28% of whom experience homelessness, including more permanent supportive housing units for LGBTQIA+ youth.

• Incentives for Affordable Housing - New York needs more affordable housing to respond to our yearslong housing crisis. Encouraging the development of more affordable housing, however, does not mean giving real estate developers a blank check or ignoring community input. The 421a tax exemption for real estate developers is not the answer. We need affordable housing incentives that are responsive to community concerns and hold developers accountable for creating homes that are actually affordable for working families.

• Strong Labor Standards - We must also ensure that our affordable housing development projects include strong labor standards and help to create good paying jobs so working families can afford to live and thrive here.

New York faces a daunting affordable housing crisis that will require us to think outside the box. That is why I also support exploring social housing programs that will create public-backed housing that is democratic and protected from predatory market forces. I will work in close collaboration with residents, community leaders, and local businesses to set housing priorities for our community.