The Legal Aid Society is calling on Albany to enact a package of reforms to serve tenants, low-income individuals, new arrivals and other vulnerable New Yorkers.
In the newly released list of Statewide legislative priorities, the Legal Aid Society highlighted housing, homeless rights, and access to public benefits, including cash assistance and delays in receiving federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and State Cash Assistance Benefits, as areas that need immediate improvement.
“New Yorkers everywhere — but particularly low-income New Yorkers — are facing a litany of obstacles including a historic affordability crisis, citywide housing shortages, delays in receiving critical public benefits, and more,” said Adriene Holder, chief attorney of civil practice at the Legal Aid Society. “Our leaders in Albany have a responsibility to address these concerns by prioritizing legislative measures that will help improve the lives of all tenants, immigrants, low-income individuals, and other vulnerable New Yorkers. The Legal Aid Society looks forward to working with Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to usher these bills into law immediately next session.”
Additional priority legislation includes “Good Cause” eviction, which would provide tenants in unregulated units basic protections against unjust evictions and exorbitant rent increases, and the "Housing Access Voucher Program" to provide homeless New Yorkers a path to permanent and affordable housing.
Reforms to make Medicaid more accessible for all New Yorkers, increased employee benefits and protections, legislation to increase basic needs assistance, a shelter allowance increase, and a personal needs and special needs assistance increase were also noted as priorities.
Legal Aid also called on Albany for increased resources to help new arrivals find housing and to assist asylum seekers with temporary protective status and work authorization applications.
