By Nelson A. King
NEW YORK, Aug 19, CMC – The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) has condemned what it claims to be Mayor Eric Adams’s statement that “right to shelter increases homeless”
NYIC president and chief executive officer, Murad Awawdeh, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the mayor makes the attacks “without providing solutions.
“Mayor Eric Adams and his administration said that asylum seeker encampments are not allowed anywhere in New York City, and that the city will work with the NYPD (New York Police Department) and Parks Department to clear them.
“All New Yorkers need stable housing in order to build productive and healthy lives. Yet, Mayor Adams has doubled and tripled down on attacking New York City’s long-standing right to shelter policies by prioritizing shelter evictions instead of people’s ability to live safely with a roof over their heads.
“The obvious result of these attacks is that people are forced to sleep on the street. Clearing encampments without providing alternative housing is another example of his short-sighted policies.
Earlier this month, NYIC, an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups, including Caribbean immigrants, and Make the Road NY, another immigrant advocacy group, strongly condemned as “a devastating blow” to Caribbean and other immigrants a Manhattan Supreme Court decision striking down a lawsuit that would have compelled the Adams administration and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to implement the CityFHEPS housing voucher package that was passed in May 2023 by the City Council.
The City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) programme is a local housing voucher for New Yorkers on the brink of or experiencing homelessness.
On August 1, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Lyle Frank struck down the legislation to expand eligibility for CityFHEPS housing vouchers for low-income New Yorkers facing eviction or homelessness.
“Too many New Yorkers are struggling to keep a roof over their heads as housing costs continue to rise. This expansion of CityFHEPS vouchers would have been a lifeline to vulnerable families stuck in the shelter system and at risk of eviction,” Awawdeh said.
“By expanding opportunities to live in safe, stable housing, we build a city where New Yorkers can put down roots to invest and grow in their communities. This court decision is a devastating blow to low-income families, and any of us who may fall on hard times in the future.
“We stand with the City Council in appealing this decision, and implore the mayor to start implementing real solutions to the problems faced by so many New Yorkers,” Awawdeh said.
The lead organizer at Make the Road NY, Jennifer Hernandez said at a time when New York City is facing an unprecedented affordability crisis and working-class communities of colour are struggling to pay ever-increasing rents, it is outrageous that Mayor Adams would continue to stand in the way of common-sense changes to the programme that could have been a lifeline for many tenants in eviction processes.
“Instead of fighting against the interests of low-income New Yorkers, the mayor should spend his time and energy making sure that everyone in this city has safe, stable and affordable housing,” she said.
A spokesperson for the City Council, Rendy Desamours, confirmed that the Council will appeal the court’s decision.
“We disagree with the court’s ruling and will be pursuing an immediate appeal,” Desamours said, adding “it’s unfortunate that Mayor Adams’ administration has fought to delay help to New Yorkers that can prevent them from evictions and homelessness amidst a housing crisis.”
The mayor said that while he is happy that the court agrees with his administration’s position that these laws went beyond the City Council’s legislative authority, “we are hopeful that our partners in the Council will join us in remaining committed to working to connect New Yorkers in need with safe, affordable, permanent housing”.
CMC/nk/ir/2024