Governor Paterson Vetoes 30% Rent Cap Bill To Prevent Homelessness Among

New Yorkers Living With HIV/AIDS

Advocates Criticize Governor For Backing Failed Bloomberg Policies

New York, NY – New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and their allies expressed profound
disappointment in Governor Paterson for vetoing a bill that would have created an
affordable housing protection for low-income families enrolled in the HIV/AIDS Services
Administration (HASA) at risk of becoming homeless.

“Governor Paterson's veto means thousands of low-income New Yorkers living with
HIV/AIDS will be pushed into the shelter system even though it costs more than twice
as much as keeping them in their homes,” said Wanda Hernandez, a NYCAHN/VOCAL
Board member paying 71% of her Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) check
towards rent. “This should have been an easy decision between saving lives and
money by keeping people in stable housing versus allowing the commercial SRO hotels
to continue profiting off of homeless people living with HIV/AIDS.”

The bill, introduced by Senator Tom Duane and Assembly Member Deborah Glick,
passed the legislature with bipartisan support earlier this year. It would have capped
the rent contributions for all HASA clients at 30% of their disability income, establishing
a consistent policy within the agency. Currently, only clients enrolled in certain types
of HASA housing assistance have the rent cap, even though it is the standard in every
other housing assistance program in New York. About 10,000 permanently disabled
HASA clients are required to pay upwards of 70% or more of their disability income
towards rent.

"I don't know how much longer I can continue paying 76% of my SSDI check towards
rent and still afford prescription deductibles, co-pays, utilities and food I need to
survive," said Jim Lister, another NYCAHN/VOCAL campaign leader. "Governor
Paterson made the wrong decision by failing to keep people in their homes instead of
the costly, dangerous and deadly shelter system.”

The bill was expected to pay for itself by reducing rental arrears and emergency shelter
placements, resulting in a net savings of more than $2 million according to an analysis
by Shubert Botein Policy Associates.

About 1 in 20 HASA clients in the rental assistance program are homeless at any point
in time because they were not able to afford their rent contribution. Once they become
homeless, they are placed into for-profit SRO hotels that cost over twice as much as an
apartment. Those who remain in their apartments are forced to choose between paying
their rent or other essential needs like transportation to the doctor, buying groceries,
and paying utilities.
 “Governor Paterson decided to stand with Mayor Bloomberg and his failed policies
around HIV/AIDS and homelessness in New York City, instead of the diverse coalition
of City leaders calling for an affordable housing protection that keeps vulnerable New
Yorkers in their homes. This is a missed opportunity to save New York money and, far
worse, it means thousands more people living with HIV/AIDS and their families will be
in the shelter system, which is a short step away from emergency rooms and hospital
beds,” said Sean Barry, Director of NYCAHN/VOCAL.

The NYC AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN) & Voices Of Community Advocates and
Leaders (VOCAL) is a statewide membership organization dedicated to addressing the
root causes of the epidemic through community organizing and advocacy.