Brooklyn Churches Protest at City Hall for Fair Housing

Rob Solano, Executive Director of Churches United for Fair Housing, an organization made up mostly of Brooklyn Churches, took a request for better accessibility for applicants of Affordable Housing to the steps of City Hall, Thursday, August 13th, 2015. They are supporting legislation LS3572, as proposed by council member Antonio Reynoso.

Presently, the process for applying for Affordable Housing is done online. A method that for many of the applicants, makes it almost inaccessible, because many do not own computers, nor do they do not have the technical savvy to navigate the online application process, which rejects the application if an error is made. The form also is only in English, which for many, if not most of the applicants is not their first language. So at best, a great deal of time, energy, and money has gone into creating a online application process to help people get Affordable Housing, that makes it very difficult, and for some virtually impossible to even apply.

Though legislation LS3572 has merits, it still is reliant on applications being accessed via an online method for printing. I would suggest an addendum be added, to have paper applications be made available in public libraries and post offices. Also, to be included in the addendum, that notices be visibly placed in the libraries and post offices in large print on the walls of both, in the languages of the demographic of that neighborhood, stating that Affordable Housing applications are available, as well as, public notices of upcoming housing lotteries. The application forms should also be in other languages. Public notices that the applications are in post offices and libraries should be posted in the subways as well.

Once it is known in the community that affordable housing information is available in this manner, it will make it an easier process for those that need it to take the matter into their own hands to apply.

Here are 5 Points that they are requesting: (as provided by Churches United for Fair Housing)

Developers of housing development projects shall:
a. Perform two pre-marketing seminars at least six months prior to the earlier of the commencement of the open housing lottery or the anticipated occupancy date of the first unit;

b. Notify the community board in which the affordable units are located by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and by email, of the marketing of affordable units at least six months prior to the earlier of either the commencement of the open housing lottery or the anticipated occupancy date of the first unit;

c. Make applications for units within the housing development available to print online;

d. Place advertisements for applicants for affordable units in newspapers written in the two most common non-English languages spoken in the community district in which the affordable units are located, as calculated using demographic information available from the United Stated Bureau of the Census; and

e. Publish all required advertisements for at least sixty days prior to the earlier of either the commencement of the open housing lottery or the anticipated occupancy date of the first unit;

PHOTO: 8/13/15 City Hall, New York City: Rob Solano, Executive Directive of Churches United for Fair Housing, speaking to the press in front of City Hall, supporting legislation LS3572, with his supporters standing on the steps behind him. To the right of Rob Solano is deputy Borough President for Brooklyn Diana Reyna. photo credit: Raquel Irizarry