Facing the growing immigrant population and the increasingly tense housing market, New York City officials emphasized at a roundtable forum for minority ethnic media held in City Hall on Tuesday, May 20th that all residents of New York City, regardless of immigration status or country of origin, are protected by law and enjoy equal housing rights.
MOIA Director, Manuel Castro, stated during the meeting, “Anyone who comes to New York, regardless of their immigration status, should not be excluded from city services. Housing rights are fundamental human rights and non-negotiable.”
Castro highlighted that the city government is closely monitoring any changes to the “Public Charge” rule and will promptly clarify to the public if there are any changes to avoid misinformation affecting immigrant behavior.
According to the city’s statement, in New York City, landlords are not allowed to refuse renting, harass, or impose unequal terms on tenants based on their actual or perceived immigration status, citizenship status, or country of origin. Harassment behaviors include threats to call immigration authorities, using discriminatory terms (such as “illegal immigrant”), or refusing to make repairs to the property.
Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Kajori Chaudhuri, pointed out that the Commission accepts anonymous complaints and does not inquire about the immigration status of the complainants. “Retaliation itself constitutes another violation under our laws,” she emphasized.
Acting Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Ahmed Tigani, added that the city government has set up the “Housing Connect” website in partnership with 60 community-based organizations to provide language assistance and technical support to residents seeking housing. Any resident can report housing issues through 311, the HPD website (link: https://tinyurl.com/33vjyuxr). HPD will not ask for the identity of the complainants, and inspectors will be dispatched based on the actual circumstances.
Regarding rent disputes arising from the pandemic or economic hardship, Tigani also acknowledged that the backlog in housing court cases is severe. Still, he stressed that the city government is actively coordinating with the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to intervene early through city resources and prevent the situation from deteriorating.
In addition to protecting tenants’ rights, Deputy Mayor Adolfo Carrión, Jr. mentioned that New York City’s housing vacancy rate has hit a new low since 1968. Therefore, the city government is promoting the “City of Yes” policy, which includes relaxing zoning restrictions, utilizing public land for housing development, and expanding the supply of affordable housing. For instance, the “100 Gold St” project near the Brooklyn Bridge is expected to add 2,000 housing units, with 500 units designated as affordable housing, alongside community public spaces and facilities. The deputy mayor stated that the project is expected to proceed as planned.
Director of the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, Adrienne Lever, pointed out that immigrant communities currently face a “culture of fear,” where individuals may be reluctant to come forward even when facing threats or substandard living conditions, fearing retaliation. She added that the city government has established a Tenant Helpline, where anyone can call 311 for assistance without providing personal information, which does not affect their immigration status.
Currently, the city government website has released outreach materials and emphasizes that anyone who believes they have experienced discrimination can call 212-416-0127 or report through the website link: on.nyc.gov/reportdiscrimination
The event was organized by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) and the Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media, with the involvement of Deputy Mayor Adolfo Carrión, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU), NYC Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), and other city government officials. The focus of the forum was to convey to immigrant communities their housing rights and resource channels under the law.