For Immediate Release Contact: Sean Barry

March 11, 2011 (646) 373-3344, sean@vocal-ny.org

30 Percent Rent Cap Bill To Prevent Homelessness for

HIV-Positive New Yorkers Reintroduced in the Assembly

Bill Would Save Money By Keeping Vulnerable New Yorkers Out Of

Shelters and Emergency Rooms; Advocates Hopeful Cuomoʼs Housing
Record Means They Have The Governorʼs Support This Year

Brooklyn, NY – Legislation that would prevent homelessness for 10,000 low-income

New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and their families is being reintroduced in the
Assembly today by Assembly Member Deborah Glick and dozens of her colleagues.
The bill would ensure that low-income people who are permanently disabled by
HIV/AIDS and already receive rental assistance pay no more than 30 percent of their
disability income towards rent. It would not create a new entitlement program or expand
eligibility for existing rental assistance programs.

“While I was desperately disappointed in our inability to eliminate this injustice last year,
I remain hopeful that it can be addressed as we move forward," said Assembly Member
Deborah J. Glick. Assembly Member Glick also recently sent a letter with Assembly
Members Keith Wright and Hakeem Jeffries signed by 21 of their colleagues urging
Governor Cuomo to include the bill language in his amended budget proposal.

After becoming the first legislation to pass the Assembly in 2010, the bill was later
approved by the Senate with bipartisan support for the second time before being vetoed
by Governor David Paterson last September. Openly HIV-positive Senator Tom Duane
has sponsored the Senate bill.

In an Albany Times Union op-ed last year, Assembly Member Glick and Ginny Shubert,
the author of several cost studies on the bill, wrote, “Simply by keeping [low-income
people with HIV/AIDS] in their own affordable housing, instead of in expensive
government-funded emergency hotels, the bill will pay for itself. And savings will multiply
as additional HIV-related health costs are prevented. The only ones who stand to lose
are the commercial single-room-occupancy hotel owners who profit from the
status quo.”

80-A Fourth Ave. | Brooklyn, NY 11217 | www.VOCAL-NY.org | info@vocal-ny.org | (718) 802-9540 | 718-228-2477 fax
  
 

The primary housing program for low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS is
tenant-based rental assistance, although it is the only housing program of its kind in the
state that does not cap the tenantʼs rental contribution at 30 percent of income. Clients
of the HIV/AIDS Services Administrationʼs (HASA) rental assistance program pay
upwards of 70 percent or more of their federal disability or Veteranʼs benefits towards
rent, with Veteranʼs paying the highest amount on average.

“Assembly Member Glick has shown steadfast leadership in working to address the
affordable housing crisis facing low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS,” said Jim
Lister, a VOCAL-NY leader. “I feel like Iʼm falling further and further behind. My first
priority is always paying my rent, but that takes over 74% of my Social Security
Disability check and leaves little money left over to buy things like bath soap or wash my
clothes.”

Advocates are hopeful that Governor Cuomoʼs record defending the 30 percent rent cap
policy at HUD and his interest in making government programs more efficient are strong
indications he will support the bill. Last year, the Obama Administration released
Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, which
specifically calls for a 30% rent cap for all federal, state and local rental assistance
programs for homeless persons or those at risk of homelessness. The Obama
administration National AIDS Strategy also reecognizes stable and affordable housing
as essential for effective healthcare and prevention for people living with HIV/AIDS.

“We expect Governor Cuomo to work with us to save New York money and keep people
out of the shelter system,” said Wanda Hernandez, a VOCAL-NY leader and Board
member. “I worked for many years investing into a safety net that was supposed to
protect me if I became disabled, so it doesnʼt make sense that Iʼm now on the verge of
homelessness because people living with HIV/AIDS are singled out and not given the
same affordable housing protection that exists in other programs.”

VOCAL-NY is a member of the New Deal for New York coalition and has been working
to extend the millionaireʼs tax in order to generate revenue for good jobs, quality
healthcare, and safety net programs for New Yorkers affected by the recession.

VOCAL-NY is a statewide grassroots organization building power among low-income

people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, drug use and mass incarceration in order
to create healthy and just communities. More information about VOCAL-NY available at
www.VOCAL-NY.org and the campaign at www.HousingFightsAIDS.org.

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80-A Fourth Ave. | Brooklyn, NY 11217 | www.VOCAL-NY.org | info@vocal-ny.org | (718) 802-9540 | 718-228-2477 fax