NEW YORK (April 13, 2022) - The New York State Fair Housing Network and Enterprise Community Partners have released the following statement in response to the exclusion of flexible fair housing funds that had been included in the New York State Senate One-House Budget, from New York’s final FY 2023 State Budget:
The Covid-19 pandemic has inflicted a disastrous health and economic toll on New York State, and has only made clearer the necessity of a stable, affordable home. At the same time, many communities, including individuals with disabilities and communities of color, have experienced widespread housing discrimination based on factors like race, ethnicity, disability and source of income. Fair housing services, including testing, have been a crucial support for these individuals and families statewide.
The New York State Fair Housing Network and Enterprise applaud the Governor and State Legislature for providing $2 million in the 2023 state budget for New York’s Fair Housing Testing Program. This is a step forward, and we thank the Governor and State Legislature for acknowledging the importance of fair housing in this way. It is our hope that the Division of Housing and Community Renewal will continue to scale up this work throughout New York.
We are disappointed, however, at the exclusion of $3 million in flexible fair housing funding from the final 2023 State Budget. This vital funding had been included in the State Senate One-House Budget. Such funding would have supported activities to combat housing discrimination by six Qualified full-service Fair Housing Organizations throughout New York State. These organizations had previously worked with the Office of the Attorney General through the Eliminating Barriers to Housing in New York (EBHNY) pilot program, to protect home seekers from housing discrimination based on race, national origin, disability, source of income and other protected classes.
During Fair Housing Month (April), we now urge Governor Hochul and the Division of Housing and Community Renewal to continue working with New York’s six full-service fair housing organizations to carry forward the vital work of EBHNY, including investing and exposing systemic housing discrimination and supporting qualified tenants facing barriers to fair housing.
New York State Fair Housing Network members: Fair Housing Justice Center, CNY Fair Housing, Long Island Housing Services, Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc., Housing Opportunities Made Equal Buffalo and Legal Assistance Western New York
About Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $54 billion and created 873,000 homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico – all to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging. Join us.
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