As New York faces a mounting housing crisis, many renters are feeling the pressure of skyrocketing rents and unresponsive landlords. The urgent conversations occurring among mayoral candidates about zoning targets for 2035 seem untimely for the renters who are grappling with immediate challenges. For them, the need for swift and decisive action has never been clearer.
Allia Mohamed, co-founder and CEO of openigloo, advocates for substantial reforms to address the deep-rooted issues in the housing market.
Mohamed underscores that the current system cannot be salvaged through minor adjustments. Instead, it requires a bold approach, characterized by political courage and comprehensive reforms aimed at revitalizing the housing landscape. She proposes five key policies that should be initiated within the first 100 days of the next mayor’s term.
Firstly, she calls for a transformation of the city’s voucher programs into a more effective system of cash-based housing allowances. Despite the program’s budget growing significantly — from $174 million in 2019 to over $816 million in 2024 — it remains ineffective. An audit revealed that households approved for the CityFHEPS program endured an average waiting period of 10 months to exit shelters, with some families waiting over three years for placement.
The existing vouchers are mired in bureaucracy, with various restrictions that make them less useful for many seeking affordable housing options. Mohamed argues for a portable, cash-based subsidy that would grant tenants more freedom and better leverage in lease negotiations while reducing the stigma associated with subsidy recipients.
The urgency does not stop there. Mohamed stresses the importance of offering rental assistance before evictions occur. Statistics reveal that keeping families housed is not just a moral imperative but also a financial one. The average cost for the city to house a family in shelters exceeds $100,000 per year, while proactive rental assistance could be as low as $3,500. By preventing evictions, communities are kept intact, which ultimately promotes safety and well-being for all residents.
In addition to early intervention, reforming the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) is essential to foster more equitable rental policies. Currently, RGB applies uniform rent adjustments across various units, failing to account for significant differences in boroughs, building conditions, and landlord histories. This approach is outdated and often punishable to tenants. Mohamed proposes that policymakers should implement data-driven strategies that incorporate tenant protections into the decision-making process. She calls for the appointment of a reform-oriented board with the necessary authority and support to reevaluate rent increase methodologies.
Moreover, Mohamed advocates for incentivizing good landlords rather than solely punishing those who violate housing codes. She suggests a “Good Landlord Program” that offers tax breaks for well-maintained properties, low-interest loans for capital improvements, and expedited permits for landlords who comply with the law and accept vouchers. By recognizing and rewarding responsible landowners, the city can improve overall housing conditions and tenant experiences.
Fixing the Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) enforcement is another priority. Tenants frequently report various housing issues, including heat outages, leaks, mold, and pest infestations. However, code enforcement has proved problematic, with a significant uptick in housing code violations reported for 2024 — a staggering 24% increase totaling 895,457 violations. This is compounded by the fact that the HPD is understaffed, and most fines against negligent landlords go uncollected, estimated at over 97% of the fines issued.
For effective change, the next mayor must equip city agencies with the necessary resources and authority to enforce housing laws and collect fines appropriately, reinvesting those penalties into housing support initiatives.
These proposals, while far from radical, challenge the status quo and require the political will to implement. As New Yorkers confront a critical housing crisis, it is crucial for the next mayor to prioritize the needs of the community rather than trying to appease all stakeholders. The current system needs a fundamental overhaul to prevent more New Yorkers from being forced out of their homes.
Change in New York City is never straightforward; however, Mohamed insists these common-sense policies are actionable and can be set in motion from day one of the new administration.
Ultimately, the call to action is clear: housing is a right, not a privilege. The next mayor must not only manage the housing crisis but also embrace a bold vision that fundamentally reimagines how New Yorkers are allowed to live and thrive.
Allia Mohamed’s vision for the future of housing in New York emphasizes the necessity of immediate and significant reforms to restore the dignity and security that every renter deserves.
image source from：https://citylimits.org/opinion-what-nycs-next-mayor-must-do-on-housing-in-the-first-100-days/
