♪

>>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH

RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND

JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE

POSSIBLE BY --

SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. POYTA

PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT

ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN

GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --

JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER.

JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD.

CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN

FAMILY.

JUDY AND JOSH WESTON.

DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN

FOUNDATION.

THE JPB FOUNDATION.

>>> WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I AM JACK FORD.

FOR SO MANY NEW YORKERS,

CONCERNS OVER HOUSING AND WHERE

THEY WILL LIVE NEXT HAVE COME TO

DEFINE THIS PANDEMIC.

AROUND HALF A MILLION HOUSEHOLDS

IN NEW YORK CITY ARE BEHIND

RIGHT NOW ON THEIR RENT.

MANY OF THOSE RENTERS SURELY

FELT RELIEVED LAST WEEK WHEN THE

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REINSTATED

A TEMPORARY BAN ON EVICTIONS

BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT THERE IS STILL LINGERING

QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS

NEXT, INCLUDING WHETHER THE NEW

MORATORIUM, THE EXTENSION OF

THAT MORATORIUM HOLDS UP IN

COURT.

THIS UNCERTAINTY COMES AS MAYOR

de BLASIO PUSHES AHEAD WITH A

CONTROVERSIAL HOUSING PROGRAM OF

HIS OWN.

A DECISION THAT'S ALSO BEING MET

WITH LEGAL RESISTANCE.

TONIGHT WE'RE EXAMINING THESE

CRITICAL HOUSING ISSUES,

INCLUDING HOW TO NAVIGATE THE

RENT RELEASED PROCESS AS PART OF

OUR CHASING THE DREAM INITIATIVE

ON POVERTY, JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC

OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA.

TO HELP US DO THAT, WE'RE

DELIGHTED TO WELCOME A SENIOR

REPORTER AND EDITOR FOR "CITY

LIMITS."

HE ALSO COHOSTS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS

PROGRAM.

DAVID, WELCOME.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO LET'S START OFF WITH WHAT

I STARTED OFF WITH IN OUR

INTRODUCTION HERE.

AND THAT IS THE EXTENSION OF THE

FEDERAL MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS.

AND AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN

FOLLOWING IT KNOW, IT LOOKED AS

IF IT WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

THERE HAD BEEN A SUPREME COURT

DECISION THAT ALSO SUGGESTED,

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE END OF

IT UNLESS CONGRESS JUMPED IN.

WELL, CONGRESS DID NOT JUMP IN,

BUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION

DID.

GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW THEY DID

THIS.

WHAT WERE THE MECHANICS INVOLVED

WITH THIS EXTENSION?

>> WELL, THERE IS A REAL

PROGRESSIVE GROUND SWELL TO

EXTEND THESE EXPIRING EVICTION

PROTECTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE

EXPIRED JULY 31st.

AND, SO, YOU HAD ESPECIALLY LEFT

WING LAWMAKERS LEADING THAT

CHARGE AND CONGRESS MEMBER COREY

BUSH SLEPT OUT ON THE STEPS OF

THE CAPITAL TO TRY TO RAISE MORE

ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE.

AT FIRST PEOPLE WERE SAYING, OH,

THIS IS A PUBLICITY STUNT BUT IT

DID GALVANIZE MORE SUPPORT.

SO THE CURRENT BAN ON EVICTIONS

IS NOT A BLANKET BAN.

IT APPLIES TO ABOUT 90% OF

AMERICANS, AND IT TAKES HOLD IN

COUNTIES WITH HIGH RATES OF

COVID TRANSMISSION THAT FOR NOW

INCLUDES ALL OF NEW YORK CITY

COUNTIES.

AND, SO, AS YOU MENTION IN THE

INTRODUCTION, THIS IS BEING

CHALLENGED.

IT VERY WELL MAY FACE SOME TYPE

OF LEGAL SETBACK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF LAWSUITS

CHALLENGING THIS, INCLUDING

LANDLORD GROUPS RIGHT HERE IN

NEW YORK THAT ARE CHALLENGING

THESE EVICTION PROTECTIONS.

AND, SO, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE

IN NEW YORK STATE THAT LASTS

UNTIL AUGUST 31st.

THE FEDERAL EVICTION BAN WOULD

EXTEND UNTIL OCTOBER 3rd.

IF IT IS -- IF IT IS ALLOWED TO

STAY IN PLACE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT

BECAUSE, AGAIN, I MENTIONED

THAT -- THAT THIS HAD WORKED ITS

WAY UP.

A SUGGESTION BY ORGANIZATION WHO

SAID ONCE THIS WAS PUT INTO

PLACE THAT IT JUST WAS NOT

LEGAL.

WORKED ITS WAY ALL THE WAY UP TO

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

WHAT ESSENTIALLY DID THE SUPREME

COURT SAY ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THEY DID NOT

OVERTURN IT.

AND, SO, IT'S -- IT CAN STAY IN

PLACE, BUT NOW THIS NEW BAN IS

FACING ANOTHER ROUND OF

CHALLENGES.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED AS

SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING

THIS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN BEFORE

THE DECISION TO EXTEND THIS HAD

MENTIONED THAT THEY BELIEVE,

BASED UPON WHAT THE SUPREME

COURT HAD SAID, NOW IT WASN'T

THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION,

BUT IT WAS AN OPINION IN THE

CONCURRENCE.

THAT SIMPLY MEANS IT IS

PERSUASIVE, BUT IT'S NOT BINDING

RIGHT NOW.

AND IN THAT CONCURRENCE, JUSTICE

BRETT KAVANAUGH HAD SAID, WELL,

IF THIS IS GOING TO BE EXTENDED,

IT HAS TO BE DONE BY CONGRESS.

YOU HEARD THAT REITERATED BY THE

PRESIDENT.

LOOKS LIKE CONGRESS WILL HAVE TO

DO IT.

THE PRESIDENT SAID I DON'T HAVE

THE POWER TO DO IT.

THE CONGRESS DIDN'T DO IT.

THE PRESIDENT SAID, WELL, I'M

GOING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET

THIS DONE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THE GROUPS

THAT HAD CONTESTED THIS IN THE

BEGINNING AREN'T CONTINUING TO

CONTEST THIS IN THE FEDERAL

COURTS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE WHAT

HAPPENS WITH THAT.

AND WE DON'T KNOW.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU MENTIONED ALBANY,

HOWEVER.

IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE?

YOU TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE

EXPIRATION DATE IS NOW FOR

ALBANY.

IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE IN

ALBANY THAT MIGHT EXTEND THIS?

>> TWO LAWMAKERS AND ASSEMBLY

MEMBER NEW HAVE INTRODUCED

LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXTEND

NEW YORK STATE'S EVICTION BAN

UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER.

SO GIVING IT ANOTHER TWO MONTHS.

THE REASONING THERE IS THAT

THERE IS THE EMERGENCY RENTAL

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WAS PUT

IN PLACE IN THE LAST STATE

BUDGET.

IT IS ALLOCATING FUNDS TO

LANDLORDS WHOSE TENANTS HAVE

BEEN UNABLE TO PAY RENT BECAUSE

OF THE COVID-19 PAB NDEMIC.

THEY FUNDED THAT MOSTLY FROM THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT'S BEEN A SLOW PROCESS.

IT'S BEEN SLOW TO GET OFF THE

GROUND.

THEY HAVE, WITHIN THE PAST

COUPLE WEEKS, BEGAN TO

ADMINISTER SOME OF THAT MONEY.

AND I JUST LOOKED RIGHT BEFORE I

INTERVIEWED.

THEY HAVE ALLOCATED ABOUT $98

MILLION.

ABOUT A WEEK AGO THEY HAD DONE

JUST ABOUT $20 MILLION.

SO IT'S STARTING TO PICK UP.

AND, YET, THAT $100 MILLION,

MORE OR LESS, IS STILL JUST LIKE

ONE-TWENTY OF THE TOTAL EVICTION

MORATORIUM HERE IN NEW YORK IS

ENDING IN JUST ABOUT THREE

WEEKS.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS

TO GET THIS MONEY OUT THE DOOR

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE

LANDLORDS WHOLE, ESPECIALLY

TENANTS AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC

IN THEIR HOMES AND, YOU KNOW,

RIGHT NOW WE SEE THE PANDEMIC AS

RESURGING.

AND, SO, EVICTIONS COULD MAKE

THAT WORSE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT DELAY.

BECAUSE, AS YOU MENTION, THERE

IS A LOT OF MONEY THERE THAT'S

AVAILABLE TO HELP.

WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, YOU

KNOW, LANDLORDS OFTENTIMES THEY

GET PAINTED WITH THE BAD GUY

BRUSH, IF YOU WILL.

LANDLORDS HAVE MORTGAGES THAT

THEY HAVE TO PAY AND TAXES THAT

THEY HAVE TO PAY, AND THEY RELY

UPON THE RENTAL INCOME TO DO

THAT.

SO BOTH SIDES HERE ARE

SUFFERING.

THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS POT OF

MONEY THERE THAT WAS AVAILABLE.

WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG FOR

THIS DISTRIBUTION TO ROLL OUT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S THE BIG

QUESTION THAT IT'S NOT JUST YOU

AND I ARE ASKING, THAT A LOT OF

PEOPLE UP IN ALBANY ARE ASKING.

AND THIS WEEK, THERE ARE --

THERE IS A HEARING GOING ON

ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THE DELAY IS,

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS

CONTRACTOR THAT THE STATE GAVE

ABOUT $130 MILLION TO TO HAVE

THIS PROGRAM RUN SMOOTHLY TWO

AND A HALF MONTHS AFTER THE

FIRST APPLICATIONS WENT OUT,

FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS AFTER THE

STATE INCLUDED THIS IN THE

BUDGET THERE IS STILL SUCH SLOW

GOING.

THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF

QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THIS IS

TAKING SO LONG.

GOVERNOR CUOMO SAID EARLIER THIS

MONTH THAT THE STATE WILL

FUND -- WILL GIVE MONEY TO EVERY

LANDLORD WHO HAS APPLIED AND

THEIR TENANTS HAVE APPLIED AND

THEY HAVE A COMPLETED

APPLICATION OUT BY THE END OF

AUGUST.

NOW, THAT'S A BIG LIFT.

WE'RE JUST LOOKING.

THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN 160,000

APPLICATIONS.

SOME ARE DUPLICATES.

SOME ARE UNDOUBTEDLY INCORRECT

APPLICATIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO

BE RESUBMITTED.

TO MAKE LOND LORDS WHO HAVE

APPLIED AND TENANTS WHO APPLIED

WHOLE IN THE NEXT THREE WEEK

WILLS BE A REAL CHALLENGE, I

THINK.

>> THAT'S THE FRUSTRATING

ELEMENT, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT

BOTH OF THE RENTERS AND LARD

LORDS KNOW THAT THERE IS AN

ENORMOUS FUND OF MONEY THERE FOR

THEM, BUT THEY CAN'T GET THEIR

HANDS ON THEM.

AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS COVERED

THIS, WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD

YOU OFFER FOR RENTERS AND

LANDLORDS AS TO WHAT THEY SHOULD

BE DOING HERE TO MAKE SURE THEY

WILL GET A PIECE OF THAT.

>> FIRST OFF, YOU HIT THE NAIL

ON THE HEAD SAYING THERE IS A

LOT OF FRUSTRATION BECAUSE

LANDLORDS AND TENANTS KNOW THE

MONEY IS OUT THERE AND, YET, IT

IS NOT COMING THROUGH FOR THE

MOST PART.

I WOULD SAY IF YOU ARE A

LANDLORD OR IF YOU ARE A TENANT

WHO HAS APPLIED, CONTINUE

FOLLOWING UP.

AND IF YOU ARE A LANDLORD WHO IS

WAITING FOR THIS MONEY TO COME

THROUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE A

LOW-INCOME, MIDDLE-INCOME TENANT

WHO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE THE

PAYMENTS, JUST BECAUSE THE

EVICTION MORATORIUM HERE IN NEW

YORK STATE ENDS ON AUGUST 31st

DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S THE DEADLINE

TO GET THE MONEY.

IF, IN FACT, THERE IS A DELAY IN

MONEY GETTING ALLOCATED FROM THE

STATE, IT COULD COME IN

SEPTEMBER.

IT COULD COME IN EARLY OCTOBER.

AND, SO, I MENTIONED THAT

BECAUSE I TALKED TO TENANTS AND

LANDLORDS WHO ARE UNDER THE

IMPRESSION THAT'S THE DEADLINE.

A TENANT HAS A LANDLORD WHO IS

COOPERATING WITH THEM, THEY'RE

WORKING TOGETHER TO AT LEAST GET

SOME OF THAT MONEY, BUT THE

LANDLORD TOLD THE TENANT

RECENTLY THAT HE WILL HAVE NO

CHOICE BUT TO START EVICTION

PROCEEDINGS IF HE DOESN'T GET

THAT RENTAL ASSISTANCE MONEY.

THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE IF YOU

PROCEED WITH EVICTIONS AND YOU

START EVICTION PROCEEDINGS, YOU

KICK YOUR TENANT OUT, YOU WILL

NEVER GET THAT MONEY.

THERE GOES 17 MONTHS OR SO OF

MISSED RENT PAYMENTS THAT YOU

WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RECOUP.

MUST BE VERY CHALLENGING, BUT I

WOULD SAY REMAIN PATIENT.

BUT REMAIN PATIENT AND ALSO

FOLLOW UP.

KEEP MAKING CALLS.

KEEP TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE

STATUS OF THAT APPLICATION IS.

AND IF, INDEED, YOU NEED TO

SUBMIT EXTRA INFORMATION.

I THINK A BIG CHALLENGE FOR THIS

WHOLE PROGRAM HAS BEEN THAT IT'S

ENTIRELY ONLINE.

AND, SO, THERE IS A LOT OF

CONCERN THAT IT'S LOCKING OUT

THE VERY PEOPLE IT'S SUPPOSED TO

BENEFIT THE MOST, AND THAT'S

LOWER INCOME PEOPLE, OLDER

ADULTS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE

CONSISTENT ACCESS TO THE

INTERNET OR TO COMPUTERS OR BE

THAT TEXT SAVVY THAT IT'S TAKING

MORE THAN AN HOUR TO COMPLETE

THE APPLICATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE

TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION ALL

IN ONE SETTING AND THERE IS NO

SAVE FUNCTION.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE

WHO STILL NEED TO APPLY OR WHO

APPLIED AND ARE HAVING PROBLEMS

TO FIND OUT THE NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATIONS IN YOUR AREA THAT

ARE CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY

AND WITH THE STATE TO HELP

PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY WITH THESE

APPLICATIONS.

AND IN EACH BUREAU, THERE IS ONE

THAT'S DESIGNATED, AT LEAST ONE,

THAT'S DESIGNATED TO DO THAT

WORK.

AND NOW MANY DIFFERENT LEGAL

SERVICES, ORGANIZATIONS ARE

HELPING.

BUT THEY MAY ALSO DIRECT YOU.

IF YOU ARE IN THE BRONX, THERE

IS BRONX WORKS, TO HELP PEOPLE

COMPLETE THESE APPLICATIONS AND

GET THEM IN.

IN CHAR

CHARITIES.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES OR ANY

QUESTIONS, CONNECT WITH THEM.

>> THAT'S ALL GREAT ADVICE

BECAUSE YOU HATE FOR PEOPLE TO

LOSE OUT ON THIS SIMPLY BECAUSE

THEY DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND.

>> YEAH.

>> OR, AS YOU SAID, DIDN'T HAVE

THE TECHNICAL CAPACITY TO GO

AHEAD AND DO THIS.

SO GREAT ADVICE FOR THEM.

SAW AN INTERESTING AND TROUBLING

STATISTIC.

TALKING ABOUT DURING THE

PANDEMIC, THE EVICTION CASES

THAT HAD BEEN FILED, THAT IT

SEEMED TO BE THAT BLACK AND

LATINO RENTERS PARTICULARLY

FEMALE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AT

RISK OF HAVING EVICTION PROCEED

BEGUN.

WHY ARE WE SEEING THAT?

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING THE

EVICTIONS BEGUN AGAINST

LOWER-INCOME PEOPLE, BLACK AND

LATINO PEOPLE MAKE A

DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THE

LOW-INCOME POPULATION.

YOU MENTIONED WOMEN RENTERS,

SINGLE FAMILY HEADS OF

HOUSEHOLD, THOSE ARE THE MOST

LIKELY TO BECOME HOMELESS WELL

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOMELESS

FAMILIES IN NEW YORK CITY ARE

HOUSEHOLDS HEADED BY A SINGLE

MOTHER.

AND, SO, JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHER

ISSUES WE SEE DURING THE COVID

PANDEMIC, IT'S REALLY EXPOSED

THESE PROBLEMS, AMPLIFIED THESE

PROBLEMS AND SO REVEALING THAT

BLACK AND LATINO RENTERS,

HOUSEHOLDS LED BY SINGLE MOTHERS

ARE REALLY BEARING THE BRUNT OF

THE PROBLEM AND CONTINUING TO BE

THE MOST VULNERABLE TO EVICTION.

>> ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING

WITH THE SENIOR REPORTER AND

EDITOR FOR CITY LIMITS ABOUT ALL

OF THESE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE

EXTENSION, FEDERAL EXTENSION OF

THE MORATORIUM ON EVICTION AND

WHAT'S BEING DONE HERE IN NEW

YORK STATE AND ADVICE THAT'S

BEEN OFFERED TO THOSE OF YOU

RENTERS AND LANDLORDS TO TRY TO

GET ACCESS TO THE RELIEF PROGRAM

HERE.

HOW CONCERNED DO YOU THINK

PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE ABOUT THE

IMPACT THAT THE END, IF IT

HAPPENS, OF THIS MORATORIUM

MIGHT HAVE ON THE HOMELESS

NUMBERS IN THE NEW YORK AREA?

>> I THINK THEY'RE VERY

CONCERNED.

AND, SO, I THINK AT A FEDERAL

LEVEL, YOU SEE SENATOR CHUCK

SCHUMER IS REALLY PRESSING THE

STATE TO GET THIS MONEY OUT

BECAUSE THERE IS KIND OF A TIME

LIMIT FOR HOW LONG THE STATE CAN

ALLOCATE THIS MONEY.

SO HE'S SAYING, LET'S GO.

LET'S GO.

HE SENSES THERE IS A LOT OF

PEOPLE IN NEED, THAT IT WILL

FUEL THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.

ON A STATE LEVEL, THAT'S WHY YOU

SEE STATE LAWMAKERS MOVING TO

EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.

THERE IS ONE BILL THAT'S BEEN

INTRODUCED, A COUPLE OTHER

LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING

ANOTHER BILL TO EXTEND EVICTION

PROTECTIONS AT LEAST FOR THE

MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS.

AND THEN ON A CITY LEVEL, I

THINK IT'S SCARY BECAUSE WE HAVE

BEEN IN THE MIDST OF A HOMELESS

CRISIS HERE IN NEW YORK CITY FOR

OVER A DECADE.

THE NUMBER OF ADULTS

EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAS

BASICALLY DOUBLED IN THE PAST

TEN YEARS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE NUMBER

OF FAMILIES HAS DECREASED.

AND THE CITY THROUGH

PROTECTIONS, WHETHER THAT'S

RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY AND HOUSING

FOR IT, FOR JUST MORE DEDICATED

OUTREACH TO FAMILIES AT RISK OF

HOMELESSNESS HAS REALLY

PREVENTED HOMELESSNESS, ALSO

ASSISTED BY THE MORATORIUM BUT

ALSO DRIVEN DOWN THE NUMBER OF

FAMILIES THROUGH HOUSING

VOUCHERS AND THROUGH LARGER

INITIATIVES LIKE RECENTLY

PURCHASING A PORTFOLIO OF

BUILDINGS CALLED CLUSTER SITES

THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO HOUSE

FAMILIES, TURNING THOSE

BUILDINGS INTO PUBLIC HOUSING

AND IN ONE FELL SWOOP CREATING

PERMANENT UNITS FOR ABOUT 760

FAMILIES.

SO THAT'S A SUCCESS, BUT I THINK

YOU'RE RIGHT.

PEOPLE ARE VERY WORRIED THAT AS

SOON AS EVICTIONS RESUME, THE

HOMELESS CRISIS WILL ONLY

WORSEN.

YOU HEAR A LOT OF DIRE WARNINGS

ABOUT A POTENTIAL WAVE OF

EVICTIONS REALLY DRIVING THAT

HOMELESS POPULATION UP.

>> IT IS GOOD TO NOTE THERE HAVE

BEEN SUCCESSES HERE IN THIS

BATTLE.

I TALKED IN THE INTRODUCTION

ABOUT THE DECISION BY THE de

BLASIO ADMINISTRATION TO NOW

SHIFT CERTAIN HOMELESS PEOPLE

FROM HOTELS BACK INTO SHELTERS.

WHAT'S DRIVING THAT DECISION?

>> WELL, de BLASIO HAD SAID FOR

MANY MONTHS THAT HE WANTED TO

END THIS PROGRAM OF KEEPING --

HOUSING PEOPLE IN HOTEL ROOMS TO

LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

SO TO TAKE A STEP BACK, BACK IN

APRIL OF 2020, PEAK OF THE COVID

PANDEMIC, THE CITY RENTED HOTEL

ROOMS FOR ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE

WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN SHELTERS,

HOMELESS NEW YORKERS, SINGLE

ADULTS.

IT HAD TWO FUNCTIONS, STOP THE

SPREAD OF COVID-19 AMONG SOME OF

THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN

THE CITY, STOP THE SPREAD OF

COVID JUST IN COMMUNITY BECAUSE

PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN RELATIVE

PRIVACY, EITHER ONE OR TWO BED

HOTEL ROOMS.

AND IT ALSO PROPPED UP THE HOTEL

INDUSTRY, TO BE HONEST BECAUSE

TOURISM HAD GOTTEN DOWN SO MUCH

THAT THE CITY RENTING OUT THESE

ROOMS WAS ABLE TO KEEP A LOT OF

THESE HOTELS STILL IN BUSINESS.

MEANWHILE, THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT WAS REIMBURSING THE

CITY FOR THE HOTEL ROOMS.

SO NO SUITE OFF NEW YORK CITY'S

BACK.

THEY'RE GETTING 100%

REIMBURSEMENT.

BUT STARTING IN FEBRUARY, MARCH,

de BLASIO SAID HE WANTED TO

PHASE OUT THIS PROGRAM, MOVING

PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOTEL ROOMS AS

COVID GOT UNDER CONTROL AND MORE

PEOPLE GOT VACCINATED, POSITIVE

CASES WENT DOWN.

AND HE MADE GOOD ON THAT IN

MID-JUNE, CALLED ON THE STATE TO

CHANGE THEIR RULES TO ALLOW THE

CITY TO SEND PEOPLE FROM HOTELS

BACK TO SHELTERS.

RIGHT AROUND JUNE 16th STARTED

REALLY PUSHING THESE MOVES OF

PEOPLE FROM ESPECIALLY MIDTOWN

MANHATTAN SAYING THIS WAS

NECESSARY FOR THE CITY'S

RECOVERY, THAT WE NEEDED TO

ATTRACT MORE TOURISTS TO THE

CITY AND HOUSE THEM IN THESE

HOTELS.

THERE IS ALSO PRETTY BIASSED

BACKLASH AGAINST HOMELESS NEW

YORKERS THROUGHOUT THIS

PANDEMIC.

YOU SAW IT A LOT DURING THE

MA

MAYORAL RACE.

SAYING THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A

RISING CRIME OR QUALITY OF LIFE

ISSUES.

A LOT OF THAT NOT BASED IN

REALITY.

A LOT OF THAT KIND OF PAINTING

PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

WITH A BROAD BRUSH.

BUT THAT'S THE CONTEXT IN WHICH

THEY STARTED RUSHING THESE

MOVES.

ATTORNEYS FOR PEOPLE

EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

CHALLENGED THE MOVES AFTER A FEW

THOUSAND PEOPLE HAD ALREADY BEEN

RUSHED OUT INTO SHELTERS.

THEY GOT TEMPORARY STOPS BECAUSE

A JUDGE RULED THAT NEW YORK CITY

WAS NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE

DISABILITY NEEDS OF MANY PEOPLE,

EITHER MENTAL HEALTH,

DISABILITIES OR PHYSICAL

DISABILITIES.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE BEING

MOVED INTO CONGREGATE SHELTERS

WHERE 20 PEOPLE SLEEP IN A ROOM

AND DOESN'T HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE

BATHROOM OR MOVING SOMEONE FROM

ONE HOTEL TO ANOTHER.

THAT HOTEL DOESN'T HAVE AN

ELEVATOR AND MEANWHILE THEY HAVE

A MOTOR SCOOTER.

AND, SO, A LOT OF THESE, THERE

WERE A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF THIS.

THE JUDGE PUMPED THE BRAKES.

THE CITY HAS GRADUALLY RESUMED

MAKING THESE MOVES.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON A TEMPORARY

HOLD.

BUT OF 8,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE

STILL IN HOTELS IN JUNE, ABOUT

6,000 HAVE BEEN MOVED OUT.

>> HAS THE ADMINISTRATION

INDICATED WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF

THEY SEE A SPIKE IN POSITIVE

CASES IN THE SHELTERS ONCE THESE

PEOPLE ARE MOVED BACK?

MIGHT THEY REVERSE BACK INTO THE

HOTELS? HAVE THEY SAID ANYTHING

ABOUT IT?

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY

IMPORTANT QUESTION.

THAT'S ONE I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO

GET ANSWERED, TOO.

I HAVE ASKED THE MAYOR.

I HAVE ASKED THE HEALTH

COMMISSIONER IF THERE IS A

THRESHOLD.

SAY IF WE REMEMBER BACK IN 2020

WHEN THE MAYOR SAID IF COVID

CASES REACH 3% WE'RE GOING TO

CLOSE SCHOOLS.

AND WE BECAME ACCUSTOMED TO

THOSE KINDS OF THRESHOLDS.

NOW IS THERE GOING TO BE

SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR THE

SHELTER SYSTEM?

IF WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF COVID

CASES IN THESE LARGE GROUP

SHELTERS, IS THE CITY GOING TO

REVERSE COURSE AND SEND PEOPLE

BACK INTO WHAT THEY CALL

DEDENSIFICATION HOTELS AND THOSE

ARE THE SINGLE OR DOUBLE ROOM,

DOUBLE BED HOTELS TO LIMIT THE

SPREAD.

LAST WEEK I ASKED THE DEPARTMENT

OF HOMELESS SERVICES

COMMISSIONER, STEVE BANKS, THE

SAME QUESTION.

I SAW HIM AT AN EVENT AND HE

KIND OF JUST REVERTED TO TALKING

ABOUT THE CITY IS FOLLOWING

STATE GUIDANCE.

THE STATE SAID THAT THE STAY --

THAT ALL MUNICIPALITIES CAN

RETURN PEOPLE TO CONGREGATE

SHELTERS.

SO HARD TO GET AN ANSWER ON

THAT.

I WOULD FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE

THERE ARE NOT SOME TYPES OF

CONVERSATIONS GOING ON ABOUT

THAT, SOME TYPE OF CONTINGENCY

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT A LOT OF

HOMELESS NEW YORKERS AND

ADVOCATES ARE FLAGGING, THAT THE

DELTA VARIANT IS VERY CON

CONTAGIOUS.

IT'S SCARY.

HOMELESS CASES ARE GOING UP AND

THE ADULT SHELTER POPULATION IS

LARGELY UNVACCINATED.

AND, SO, EXPOSING MORE PEOPLE TO

COVID.

>> YOU MENTIONED A NUMBER OF

THINGS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION

HAS BEEN DOING TO DEAL WITH

THESE ISSUES.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW

RECENTLY IS THAT THE MAYOR

OKAYED INCREASING THE VALUE OF

CITY RENTAL VOUCHERS.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT PROCESS IS AND

HOW THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

>> SO I THINK MANY OF US

PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THE

FEDERAL HOUSING VOUCHER SECTION

8 WHICH WILL COVER A YEAR'S RENT

FOR LOWER INCOME AMERICANS,

LOWER INCOME NEW YORKERS.

THE CITY HAS THEIR OWN RENTAL

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CALLED CITY

FAST.

AND THAT WILL DO THE SAME THING.

IT WILL COVER A YEAR OF RENT,

ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES MOVING

OUT OF SHELTER INTO PERMANENT

HOUSING.

AND, SO, PREVIOUSLY, THE RATE OF

CITY WAS LOWER THAN SECTION 8.

SECTION 8 COULD COVER A $2,000

APARTMENT FOR A FAMILY OF THREE,

WHICH IS MARKET RATE, MORE OR

LESS, IN A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS

IN NEW YORK CITY.

THIS WOULD COVER $1,300.

SO WHAT SO MANY VOUCHER HOLDERS

WOULD SAY, I HAVE THIS VOUCHER

BUT IT IS WORTHLESS BECAUSE I

CAN'T FIND AN IMPORTANT PRICED

LOW ENOUGH TO AFFORD.

AND SO A LOT OF THEM WERE GOING

UNUSED.

THE CITY POINTS OUT MANY OF THEM

WERE USED, AND THAT'S NO DOUBT

TRUE, BUT THERE ARE STILL

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAD

THESE VOUCHERS UNABLE TO FIND A

LANDLORD ABLE TO TAKE THEM.

A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM

ADVOCATES, SOME LAWMAKERS AND OF

COURSE HOMELESS NEW YORKERS

PUSHING THE CITY TO RAISE THAT

VALUE.

CITY COUNCIL PASSED LEGISLATION

IN JUNE THAT WOULD MATCH THE

CITY'S RATE TO SECTION 8, OPEN

UP THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL

APARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY

FOR PEOPLE TO AFFORD.

AFTER A LOT OF PRESSURE,

ESPECIALLY BY HOMELESS NEW

YORKERS DURING AN INITIATIVE

CALLED HOMELESS RIGHTS MONTH,

TOOK PLACE THROUGHOUT JULY,

MAYOR de BLASIO AGREED TO SIGN

THAT BILL AND TO IMPLEMENT IT

STARTING SEPTEMBER 1st.

SO PEOPLE ARE HOPING THAT THIS

WILL UNLOCK A LOT OF NEW

APARTMENTS FOR FAMILIES AND

INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING

HOMELESSNESS.

>> ONE OF THE ADVOCATES SAID

THAT IT JUST MADE NO SENSE TO

HAVE THAT GAP, IF YOU WILL.

THAT THE PROGRAM WASN'T DOING

WHAT IT SHOULD BE DOING.

WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO GET

THAT REMEDIED, DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THERE WAS A LITTLE

BIT MORE OF A FOCUS ON SOME

OTHER INITIATIVES THAT KIND OF

DISTRACTED FROM THIS ONE, LIKE

THERE WAS A PUSH TO GET A

SUBSIDY AT THE STATE LEVEL

CALLED A HOME STABILITY SUPPORT

THAT WOULD KIND OF LIKE

AGGREGATE ALL RENTAL ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMS.

THAT NEVER REALLY GOT OFF THE

GROUND.

BUT I THINK IT DISTRACTED AWAY

FROM THIS FIGHT AMONG A LOT OF

ADVOCATES.

SO ONCE THEY STARTED PRESSING

FOR THIS, THEY WERE GETTING A

LOT OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO

SIGN ON AND FINALLY THEY HAD A

SUPER MAJORITY TO PASS IT.

NOW, THE CITY PUSHES BACK, WAS

PUSHING BACK AND SAYING WE DON'T

WANT TO RAISE THE VALUE OF THE

CITY'S VOUCHER, WHILE THE STATE

WHICH ALSO HAS A RENTAL

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS NOT GOING

TO RAISE THE VALUE OF THEIRS.

AND ADVOCATES WOULD SAY THAT

THEY ARE SEPARATE CRITERIA FOR

THE TWO PROGRAMS, SO IT IS NOT

REALLY COMPARING APELES AND

APPLES, BUT THE CITY'S POINT IS

THAT OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO

THE STATE HAS REALLY ADDY KATED

THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ON HOMELESS

SERVICES AND HAS SLASHED FUNDING

FOR HOMELESS SERVICES

PROGRAMMING LEAVING NEW YORK

CITY HOLDING THE BAG.

SO THEY DIDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE

THAT TREND OF THE PAST DECADE OR

SO.

NOW STATE LAWMAKERS AT THE END

OF THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION

DID ACTUALLY PASS A MEASURE TO

RAISE THE VOUCHER VALUE ALSO TO

SECTION 8 LEVELS.

THAT SURPRISED A LOT OF

ADVOCATES WHO DIDN'T SEE THAT

COMING.

NOW IT IS UP TO CUOMO TO SIGN

IT, BUT I THINK HE HAS OTHER

STUFF GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

LAST QUESTION, WE HAVE ABOUT A

MINUTE FOR YOU HERE.

BUT YOU TOUCHED BASE ON IT

BEFORE WITH SOME POSITIVE

STATISTICS, IF YOU WILL.

THAT WAS, AS YOU MENTION, THAT

THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES WITH

CHILDREN IN SHELTERS IS THE

LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN A DECADE.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I THINK THERE'S BEEN A HUGE,

CONCERTED EFFORT TO GET FAMILIES

OUT OF SHELTERS AND INTO

PERMANENT HOMES.

TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED.

WE'RE WORKING IN CONTEXT OVER

THE PAST YEAR PLUS OF THE

EVICTION FREEZE.

SO THERE IS NOT AS MANY NEW

FAMILIES ENTERING THE SYSTEM.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE

FAMILIES WHO ARE IN SHELTER,

ARE -- A GOOD PORTION OF THEM

ARE GETTING HOUSED.

THAT'S THROUGH PROGRAMS I

MENTIONED.

THE CITY BUYING A PORTFOLIO,

BUILDING CLUSTER SITE SHELTERS,

TURNING THOSE INTO PERMANENT

HOUSING.

SO ONE FELL SWOOP GIVING

FAMILIES PERMANENT HOUSING.

I THINK RAISING THE VOUCHER

VALUE IS GOING TO FURTHER HELP

FAMILIES.

AND THEN JUST KIND OF LIKE WRAP

AROUND SERVICES AFTER PEOPLE GET

HOUSING TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE

KEEPING IT, THEY'RE PAYING THEIR

RENT, THEY'RE KEEPING THEIR

SUBSIDIES.

STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

THERE IS STILL 8,000 FAMILIES OR

SO EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,

BUT IT IS A MAJOR CHANGE.

>> DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> VERY HELPFUL.

VERY INFORMATIVE.

WE'LL TALK TO YOU AGAIN SOON.

>> TAKE CARE.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE

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PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT

ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN

GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --

JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER.

JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD.

CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN

FAMILY.

JUDY AND JOSH WESTON.

DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN

FOUNDATION.

THE JPB FOUNDATION.