MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES REVISED AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOTTERY RULES

Restrictions on the use of credit scores, personal assets and recognizing special challenges residents of homeless shelters face ensure that affordable housing reaches those New Yorkers most in need

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner and Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Chair Vicki Been announced today a series of new affordable housing lottery rules designed to ensure that City-assisted affordable housing reaches the New Yorkers who need it most.

Important changes to the policies include ending developers and leasing agents’ ability to deny applications based solely on credit scores; new standards for homeless shelter referrals to account for special challenges faced by these households; strictly limiting the ability of landlords to deny an applicant based only on their exercising due process rights in housing court; and imposing limits on personal assets.

“Every New Yorker deserves equal access to an affordable home, including veterans, the elderly and homeless individuals and families,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Disqualifications based solely on credit history, or because a tenant fought for his or her rights in housing court, have no place in our affordable housing programs. These key improvements to the rules level the playing field and give every household the chance to find a home within their means.”

The new Marketing Handbook can be found here.

The requirements – the first updates to these guidelines since Housing Connect was launched in 2013 – address feedback received by applicants, affordable housing advocates, marketing agents and for-profit and not-for-profit developers about the City’s affordable housing eligibility criteria and the application process. In response, HPD and HDC reviewed and revised the policies to make them fairer, more transparent and more effective at targeting affordable housing to those most in need.

“Under Housing New York, we are working not only to build and preserve housing for rent-burdened New Yorkers, but also to ensure that our housing is allocated fairly and efficiently. Through our new marketing policies and procedures, we’ve standardized the criteria developers can use to evaluate applicants, restricted the use of credit scores and housing court history to determine eligibility and limited personal assets, all to ensure that the affordable homes we build and preserve serve the New Yorkers who need them most,” said Vicki Been, Commissioner of HPD and Chair of the Board for HDC.

“New York City is home to almost one million people with disabilities,” said Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Victor Calise. “The release of this handbook marks great progress in ensuring that accessible and affordable homes are available to the families who need them.”

“All New Yorkers, regardless of their source of income, deserve equal access to safe, affordable housing. At the Department of Veterans’ Services, we’re especially concerned with ensuring veterans are not discriminated against because their primary source of income is their post-9/11 GI Bill. Under the Mayor’s new Housing New York policies and procedures, it is clear that landlords must rent to veterans as they would to any other New Yorker. DVS thanks our partners at HPD and HDC for working with us and the larger veteran community to explicitly include this protection of veterans in its new policies,” said Commissioner of the Department of Veterans' Services Loree Sutton.

The new marketing policies are yet another way the City is delivering on the promises of Housing New York, Mayor de Blasio’s ten-year plan to create and preserve 200,000 affordable homes. With nearly 53,000 affordable homes financed under the plan to date, the new policies and procedures help to ensure that those new homes reach the New Yorkers they were designed to serve.

By standardizing all selection criteria, the new guidelines ensure that households who have the ability to pay rent and, by all other indicators, can be expected to be responsible tenants are not rejected solely on the basis of a low credit score, or solely because a tenant appeared in housing court.

The policies also promote greater language accessibility at all stages of the application process, require consistency in how developers and marketing agents communicate with applicants and apply credit criteria and other standards, and increase the transparency of the appeal process.

The new policies and procedures make the affordable housing application process more inclusive to reach New Yorkers most in need by:

• Standardizing and limiting use of credit and housing court history in the selection process so that applicants are treated consistently and fairly across all projects.

• Accounting for the special challenges residents of homeless shelters face in meeting eligibility criteria, including victims of domestic violence, to improve the chances that households will be placed in permanent housing.

• Clarifying how developers calculate income of applicants receiving government benefits, for example those receiving GI Bill or Section 8 benefits, to ensure consistency and forestall discrimination.

• Tightening guidelines to ensure those who qualify for affordable housing will use their new home as their primary residence.

• Requiring that interview locations be accessible and clearly marked, and that interviewers provide interpretation services, including American Sign Language.

• Ensuring developers’ outreach and advertising efforts include diverse communities citywide.

• Reforming the appeal process to make the process more transparent.

• Revising interview standards to ensure more privacy and security of personal information.

• Prohibiting home visits, which are too subjective to be fair.

Developers are notified of the marketing policies and procedures before their affordable housing projects are financed, and are required to follow them to allocate units that become ready for occupancy. About 7 months before the construction project will be completed, developers must submit a marketing plan to the HPD or HDC marketing teams for approval. These plans must adhere to the policies described in the Marketing Handbook. Once HPD or HDC approves the marketing plan, the developer must advertise the availability of new affordable housing. Those advertisements and other outreach described in the marketing plans typically begin twenty-one to sixty days prior to the lottery application deadline.

Learn more about the affordable housing lottery process and about available housing lotteries by visiting the links below:

• For a summary of affordable housing resources visit: How to Find Housing

• Learn What to Expect when you apply

• Find out what happens After you Apply

All of the above webpages can be accessed through HPD’s website.

Since its 2013 launch, NYC Housing Connect has simplified the City’s housing lottery process. The website allows New Yorkers to fill out a single online profile, which can be used to apply to multiple new housing lotteries. That profile can be saved and edited, eliminating the need to fill out individual paper applications for upcoming lotteries. HPD and HDC encourage people in need of affordable housing opportunities to take advantage of the convenient online application, as application periods for new affordable housing lotteries open regularly. Because the City has shaped its programs to ensure that housing is available for people at a range of income levels, not all buildings provide housing at all income levels. However, applicants who are not income-eligible for one given development may be eligible for another.

Income eligibility standards are generally set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and contain strict rules about how income is calculated. For more information that will help with this portion of the application process please visit: Applicant Income Guidelines

The NYC Housing Connect website now serves Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish speakers. Each existing housing lottery advertisement and all upcoming lotteries are also available in each of the above listed languages. Translations were funded by Citi Community Development.

All registered applicants are notified via email when new lotteries are posted to the NYC Housing Connect site. Instructions on how to submit a paper application are also available, and listed in each housing lottery advertisement. Applicants may not submit both a paper application and a web application for the same project. Duplicate applications may be disqualified, as an applicant can only apply once to any given development.

About the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD):

HPD is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked with fulfilling Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York: A Five-Borough Ten-Year Plan to create and preserve 200,000 affordable units for New Yorkers at the very lowest incomes to those in the middle class. For more information visit www.nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us via www.facebook.com/nychousing and @nychousing.

About the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC):

HDC is the nation’s largest municipal Housing Finance Agency and is charged with helping to finance the creation or preservation of affordable housing under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York plan. Since 2003, HDC has financed more than 120,000 housing units using over $13.7 billion in bonds, and provided in excess of $1.6 billion in subsidy from corporate reserves. HDC ranks among the nation’s top issuers of mortgage revenue bonds for affordable multi-family housing on Thomson Reuter’s annual list of multi-family bond issuers. In each of the last four consecutive years, HDC’s annual bond issuance has surpassed $1 billion. For additional information, visit: http://www.nychdc.com.

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NYPD - Crime Continues to Fall in New York City This Year, Compared with 2015

New York City continues to experience a reduction in overall crime this year. There were 2,322 fewer index crimes reported year-to-date, or -3%, compared with 2015. Additionally, there were 97 fewer shootings year-to-date, or -10.9%, and 10 fewer murders year-to-date, or -3.7%; compared with 2015.

The month of September 2016 is safest September in the entire Compstat-era, with 1,163 fewer total index crimes reported, or -12.1% compared with September 2015. Reductions in the following crime categories have resulted in the lowest number of crimes reported for any September in the entire Compstat-era: robbery is down 220 crimes, or -14.3%; burglary is down 338 crimes, or -24.8%; and grand larceny auto is down 176 crimes, or -22.7%. Additionally for September 2016, Murder is down two, or -5.8%; rape is down 27 crimes, or -20.0%; felonious assault is down 89 crimes, or -4.9%; grand larceny is down 311 crimes, or -7.9%; and shootings are up 10 crimes, or +10.2%.

“The hard work of the men and women of the NYPD is self-evident, but it is also supported by a sustained reduction in crime.” said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “With September’s sharp reductions in every major crime category, on top of a historically low-crime summer, we are poised for a terrific fall season.  I am privileged to lead such a committed group of law enforcement professionals, and look forward to telling their ongoing stories of success.”

“After the safest summer in decades, New York City remains the safest big city in America. While other cities across the nation fight rising violent crime rates, long-term crime trends in our city continue to fall,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the police department and further proof that precision and neighborhood policing are effective. I have every faith that Commissioner O'Neill will continue to strengthen the bond between police and community, while New Yorkers do their part and remain vigilant to stop violence before it starts and help drive down crime even further.”

The Transit Bureau is down 10 crimes for September 2016, or -4.6%, and the Housing Bureau is down 63 crimes for September 2016, or -13.9%; compared with 2015.

Note: All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND HPD COMMISSIONER BEEN: “HEAT SEASON” NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL APARTMENTS

As New York’s “heat season” begins, the City reminds tenants of their rights and to call 311, visit 311 online or use 311 Mobile to register all heat and hot water complaints

   Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been remind residential building owners of their legal obligation to provide tenants with hot water year-round and heat when the outdoor temperature falls below 55 degrees during the day and below 40 degrees at night during the “heat season.”

The 2016-2017 “heat season” began on Saturday, October 1, and continues through May 31, 2017.

“Heat and hot water are a necessity not a luxury – and landlords are required by law to provide both. Property owners who fail to provide these basics put New York families in harm’s way,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I urge anyone who is suffering in the cold or without hot water to call or log into 311.”

“By law, building owners must provide tenants heat and hot water during the cold winter months. It is important for tenants to know their rights and report any problems to HPD through NYC 311,” said HPD Commissioner Vicki Been. “While most landlords uphold the law and follow the City’s housing codes, those who don’t will be held accountable as HPD will use all of its enforcement tools to ensure tenants’ rights and safety.” 

The law requires that from October 1 to May 31:

• Between 6:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M., inside temperatures are maintained at a minimum of 68 degrees Fahrenheit when the outdoor temperature falls below 55 degrees.

• Between 10:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M., indoor temperatures must be maintained at a minimum of 55 degrees when the outside temperature falls below 40 degrees.

It is legally required that hot water is maintained at 120 degrees year-round.

Information for tenants:

If an apartment lacks appropriate heat, a tenant should first attempt to notify the building owner, managing agent or superintendent. If heat is not restored, the tenant should register an official complaint via 311. Tenants can call 311, the City’s central 24-hours-per-day, seven-days-a-week information and complaint line or file complaints via 311 online atwww.nyc.gov/311. Hearing-impaired tenants can register complaints via a Touchtone Device for the Deaf TDD at (212) 504-4115.

Tenants can now also file heat and hot water complaints easily from their Android or iPhone using 311MOBILE. Once the 311 mobile app is downloaded, the tenant simply opens the app and selects “Make a Complaint” from the main menu. Tenants can then select “Heat or Hot Water” from the complaint menu.  The app will identify the customer’s location and list the address as the complaint location. Once the customer confirms the address, he or she may select the type of condition – i.e. no heat, no hot water or both – and indicate if one unit or the whole building is affected. 

Another resource is the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for utility and heating bills. If a tenant or homeowner has received an electric, gas or heating disconnect notice, he or she can apply for emergency financial assistance. Tenants and homeowners may also qualify for assistance if they have a low supply of heating fuel or a broken boiler or furnace.  HEAP is a seasonal program.  Applications for the 2016-2017 season are expected to be available in mid-November.

The Tenant Support Unit's team of specialists knocked on 53,471 doors from Oct 1, 2015 – May 31, 2016.

                                                                                                                                                                                          

Besides 311, the City's Tenant Support Unit proactively conducts outreach in buildings across the city and connects tenants whose landlords are not providing heat and hot water with legal services and registers complaints with 311, so HPDs team of inspectors can take appropriate action.

How the system works:

When the complaint is received, HPD attempts to contact the building's owner or managing agent to have heat or hot water service restored. The purpose of this call is to encourage the owner to restore heat and hot water as quickly as possible.  HPD will then call the tenant back to determine if service has been restored. If the tenant indicates that service has not been restored, an HPD code inspector is sent to the building to verify the complaint and, if it is warranted, will issue a violation.

If HPD receives multiple heat complaints from the same building, the inspector will attempt to inspect the first apartment that calls in a complaint. If the inspector observes that heat is not adequate in that apartment, a violation will be issued for the building. Inspectors will not attempt to inspect every apartment in the building that called in a duplicate heat complaint. If the inspector cannot access the first apartment, inspections are attempted at other apartments that registered duplicate complaints. If inspectors cannot access any apartments that registered complaint, they will also knock on doors of apartments that did not call in heat complaints to request access to perform a heat inspection.

HPD’s team of inspectors work in shifts and are situated in offices across the five boroughs to provide coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If the city experiences a significant weather event such as prolonged periods of below-freezing temperatures, the agency will deploy additional inspectors and maintenance staff, sometimes doubling the normal number of inspectors on duty to help respond to complaints and emergencies.

If a violation is issued for lack of heat, it is an owner’s responsibility to comply with the violation and restore heat and hot water service.  There are four potential outcomes for a property that receives a violation:

Emergency Repair: In cases where private owners fail to restore heat and hot water, or when HPD is unable to reach owners, HPD's Emergency Repair Program (ERP) may use private contractors to make the necessary repairs to restore essential services. The cost of the emergency repairs, plus administrative fees, is billed to the owner and becomes a tax lien on the property if not paid.

The City's ERP is by far the most extensive in the nation, spending more than $3.7 million to ensure heat and hot water during Fiscal Year 2016, which includes $2.7 million spent within the 2015-2016 “heat season” in over 1,200 buildings.

Civil penalties: HPD’s Housing Litigation Division (HLD) also initiates legal action against properties that are issued heat violations. HLD filed more than 3,151 cases in the 2015-2016 “heat season” and has already recouped more than $1,691,617 in civil penalties related to those cases.

• Property owners are subject to civil penalties for heat and hot water violations that range from $250 to a maximum of $500 per day for a first violation including the date that the violation is posted.

Subsequent violations at the same location, within the same calendar year, are subject to penalties ranging from $500 to $1000 per day.

• For property owners receiving a heat violation for the first time since October 1, 2015, there is an option to pay a settlement fee of $250 in lieu of the civil penalty if the heat or hot water is restored immediately (the fee is $500 if violations were issued for both conditions). 

Almost half of the heat violations issued last “heat season” were issued to properties which had no heat violations within the same or previous “heat season.”  Paying this fee will satisfy the civil penalty without the landlord having to appear in Housing Court.

Inspection fees: HPD imposes a fee of $200 per inspection if it has to perform three or more inspections at the same location, within the same “heat season” for heat violations or calendar year for hot water violations. Failure to pay will result in the City filing a tax lien against the property.

During the 2015-2016 “heat season,” HPD billed for $148,800 in inspection fees. 

Enhanced enforcement: HPD monitors buildings that repeatedly fail to provide heat and hot water.  During the 2015-2016 “heat season,” HPD’s Division of Neighborhood Preservation surveyed almost a hundred buildings, and referred half of those properties for additional enforcement action, which may result in inspections, fees and litigation.

For more information visit the Heat and Hot Water link on HPD website at:  www.nyc.gov/hpd

During the 2015/2016 “heat season” (October 1, 2015 – May 31, 2016):

• 200,199 total heat and hot water problems were reported to the City through 311 (this number includes duplicate calls), a decrease of 14 percent as compared to the previous “heat season.”
  • 104,254 unique heat and hot water problems were reported (this number does not include duplicate calls).

• HPD inspectors attempted 117,767 heat-related inspections (this number includes multiple inspection attempts in response to a complaint).

• HPD inspectors wrote 7,548 heat-related violations, a 22 percent decrease as compared to the previous “heat season.”

• HPD completed a total of $2.7 million in heat-related emergency repairs 
  (charged to building owners).

• HPD filed 3,151 heat cases in court and collected $1,691,617 in civil penalties against 3126 properties.                     

Top Community Board In Each Borough for Primary Heat/Hot Water Complaints

Manhattan

• CB 12:  13,592 complaints logged (peak month – January 2016: 3,001 complaints)

Bronx

• CB 7: 11,298 complaints logged (peak month – January 2016: 2,766 complaints)

Brooklyn

• CB 17:  7,210 complaints logged (peak month – January 2016: 1,969 complaints)

Queens

• CB 4:  4,334 complaints logged (peak month – January 2016: 1,006 complaints)

Staten Island

• CB 1:  1,502 complaints logged (peak month – January 2016: 386 complaints)

Information on “heat season” is also available on the HPD website atwww.nyc.gov/hpd.

HPD also works with building owners who want to improve the management of their buildings or need assistance with improving their heating systems. Through the Green Housing Preservation Program (GHPP), owners of small- and mid-size buildings can seek low- or no-interest loans to finance energy efficiency and water conservation improvements along with moderate rehabilitation work. Building owners and managers can access HPD’s e-learning course online atwww.nyc.gov/hpd to learn about heat and hot water regulations, HPD’s processes and heating system maintenance.

COMPTROLLER STRINGER ANNOUNCES FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION OF ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Comptroller’s Research and Investigations Unit will lead probe 

Inquiry into ACS’ investigations of child abuse comes in response to Zymere Perkins’ death

New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer announced that the Research and Investigations Unit of his Audit Bureau will lead a new probe into the City’s Administration for Children’s Services. The Comptroller’s investigators will follow-up on a June 2016 audit, which found the agency conducted shoddy, inconsistent, and incomplete investigations into child abuse. The inquiry will explore whether ACS has acted on any of the key reforms they committed to in June.

Comptroller Stringer’s announcement comes in response to Zymere Perkins’ death earlier this week. Zymere, a six year-old from Harlem, died Monday – and according to media reports, his family had been the focus of a number investigations by City agencies, including ACS.

“This week, our City tragically lost another child – months after ACS pledged to enact critical reforms. This death highlights the precarious situation at this agency, and underscores the need for immediate improvements,” New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said. “The bottom line of this investigation is simple – ACS made promises, and New Yorkers deserve to know if they’ve made progress. With children’s lives on the line, we cannot wait another day for this agency to make fundamental reforms.”

The investigation will focus on whether ACS followed recommendations made in the June 2016 audit, including that ACS:

• Ensure managers and supervisors complete case reviews and conduct them on time, so that children aren’t left in dangerous situations;
• Make sure that case workers perform all key steps of an investigation in response to allegations of abuse – including domestic violence screenings; and

• Clearly distribute uniform policies and procedures to all staff in a timely manner.

“Since 2005, thirty children have died on ACS’ watch, and this week Zymere Perkins’ name joined ones like Nixzmary Brown, Marchella Pierce, and Michael Segarra,” Comptroller Stringer said. “This new probe will once again shine a light on an agency that has for too long operated in the shadows and left our children vulnerable to abuse.”

THERE WERE IMPORTANT VICTORIES FOR BRONX COUNTY IN SEPTEMBER’S DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
District 32 Bronx County, New York

  You should know that on September 13, 2016, Democratic Primaries were held here in Bronx County, and the New York City Board of Elections has finally released the certified results.

It is important for you to know that many interesting things happened during those primaries. Some of these things make us happy and proud, and others are cause for concern.  

For me, personally, I am tickled pink because the residents of the 32nd Senatorial district gave me a tremendous victory of historic proportion. In this 2016 Democratic Primary race, the residents of my district gave me a sweeping victory with 94 percent of their vote.

You should know that here in Bronx County, no one in recent history has ever received a Democratic Primary Election victory with those results.

On the other hand, in General Elections, these very high percentages are expected results when a Democrat is running against a Republican, because Bronx Democrats always vote for Democrats. That is why when 94 percent of Bronx voters choose one Democrat against another Democrat, it is a historic victory!

I am humbled and grateful to my constituents, and very proud of the race we ran, and the mandate I received.

Another one of the great achievements in this past Bronx Primary Election season is that there were no Hispanic candidates pitted against any African American incumbents.

It was noble how Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Bronx Democratic Party Chair Marcos Crespo, and the Bronx Hispanic leadership did not promote, support nor encourage other Hispanics to challenge any African America incumbents in the Democratic Primary. This is especially noteworthy since there are African American incumbents who represent Bronx districts where the majority of residents are, in fact, Hispanic.

Bravo to Rubencito, Marcos, and the Hispanic Leadership here in Bronx County in their quest for unity!

You should know that it is a concern that many Hispanic incumbents were challenged by African American and non-Hispanic insurgents.

For example, the Chairman of the Bronx Democratic Party, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo was challenged by Mr. William Moore; Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda was challenged by Ms. Pamela Stewart; Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo was challenged by Mr. Jackson Strong; and New York City Councilman Rafael Salamanca was challenged by Ms. Helen Hines.

Even though all of the Bronx incumbents kept their seats – Marcos Crespo won with 76% of the vote; Luis Sepulveda won with 75% of the vote; Carmen Arroyo won with 67% of the vote; and Rafael Salamanca won with 62% of the vote – there is still reason to be concerned because Hispanic incumbents were subjected to unnecessary spending of resources and energy.

My dear reader, you and I know that we live in the United States of America, where everyone has the right to aspire to elected office, and where no one can be prevented from running for any position of their choice. It is most important to cherish our freedoms, and never strive to prevent another person from running for elected office because of race, gender, religion, nationality, or sexual preference.

America is the country of freedom, but in our quest for unity among different ethnic groups, what the Bronx Hispanic Democratic leadership did by not challenging any African American incumbents has to be recognized.

I would hate to see, in the future, if any members of our Hispanic leadership would join forces to target African American incumbents the way it appears that Hispanics were challenged in this past primary.

If that were to happen, it cannot be called racism, discrimination nor anything else, because it is the freedom we have here in America.

I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Congrats to Senator Diaz Sr. on his victory as I said in my political column which appears in the the Bronx Voice newspaper. However the Bronx Democratic County organization has one of, if not the best election lawyer who helps knock off or tie up on the court system candidates who challenge Bronx County incumbents. This challenge phase takes away much valuable resources from the challengers who are not as well known or as financially backed as the incumbents backed by the county organization.

BRAVO to Senator Diaz, but if the good senator was able to get 94 percent of the vote, why is it that those who ran with Senator Diaz Sr. did not do as well as he did. In fact the Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo lost 18 percent of the vote Senator Diaz got, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda lost 19 percent of the vote Senator Diaz got, and incumbent Councilman Rafael Salamanca, (a disciple of Senator Diaz) lost 32 percent of the vote Senator Diaz got.  

My dear Senator you did extremely well, but your disciples lost something in the translation of the vote to them. That makes you strong and them appear to be weak. If the opposition to the Bronx County organization was to unite, then maybe we would see much better elections. After all Democracy is not about how much you won by, but how good the elected officials are for the people who elected them. 

That is what you should know.