New York Metropolis prides itself on being a beacon of range and alternative. Nonetheless, this promise rings hole for a lot of of our residents with disabilities who face a scarcity of accessible and reasonably priced housing. This disaster calls for pressing motion, and a vital first step lies in increasing entry to the Incapacity Lease Improve Exemption (DRIE) program.
DRIE gives a lifeline to eligible tenants with disabilities by exempting them from future lease will increase, permitting them to take care of housing stability. Sadly, many who qualify stay unaware of this very important program, and navigating the appliance course of generally is a significant impediment.
To deal with this, we’re placing ahead laws within the Metropolis Council that may:
Broaden outreach: Implement focused campaigns to tell eligible residents about DRIE and the sources out there to them.
Streamline the appliance course of: Make it simpler for people with disabilities to entry software supplies of their most well-liked language.
This laws will not be merely a bureaucratic tweak; it’s a lifeline for numerous New Yorkers dealing with the specter of eviction and homelessness. Based on the 2023 NYC Housing and Emptiness Survey, solely 34 % of all items in NYC, each reasonably priced and market-rate, may very well be entered with out stairs, together with sidewalk entry and to increased floors. The NYC Housing Lottery is one avenue for buying an accessible and reasonably priced unit, however solely 5% of all items are reserved for tenants with mobility disabilities and a pair of% with listening to and imaginative and prescient disabilities, with no crossover. Discovering an reasonably priced and accessible unit is close to unimaginable, forcing many people into unsuitable residing conditions and exacerbating current inequalities.
Addressing this disaster requires a multi-pronged strategy:
Improve the inventory of accessible housing and strengthen enforcement of accessibility necessities in new development.
Retrofit current housing: Adapt current items to satisfy ADA requirements to extend the supply of accessible choices.
Tackle financial disparities: Acknowledge and deal with the distinctive financial challenges confronted by folks with disabilities, together with decrease employment charges and better medical bills.
The housing disaster for folks with disabilities is an ethical crucial. New York Metropolis should try to be a really inclusive metropolis the place everybody, no matter capability, has entry to a protected, accessible, and reasonably priced house. This laws represents a vital first step in that route. We urge our fellow policymakers, neighborhood leaders, and all New Yorkers to assist this essential initiative and be part of us within the fight for a extra simply and equitable metropolis for all.
Erik Bottcher represents the neighborhoods of West Village, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, Carlina Rivera represents the 2nd Council District which incorporates Greenwich Village, Union Sq., East Village, and Kips Bay, and Tamara Morgan is Neighborhood Partnerships Coordinator at Adaptive Design, a nonprofit group that builds customized adaptive tools for kids with disabilities.
