MVUT News and Update – January 2023
Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)
Our HPIP continues to fight and stop evictions in Mt. Vernon and throughout Westchester County. We have been providing services via the Emergency Rental Assistance Proqram (ERAP) for the last couple of years. The ERAP was for families and individuals who had either lost income or had additional expenses as a result of Covid-19. The ERAP ended January 20,2023 and we will no longer be able to secure thert funding for tenants who had fallen into arrears as a result of Covid-19. We will continue to provide case management assistance for any tenants who are facing eviction. Please let tenants in your building know of the ending of ERAP and MVUT’s continuing efforts to fight all evictions (see below on the Winter Eviction Moratorium.)
Tenant Action Project (TAP)
Our TAP is our building organizing component – where we assist tenants in forming effectivra tenants’ associations within their building to improve services, fight landlord harassment, negotiate more affordable rents and to become more able to represent theiir buildings” interest. We’ve recently become involved in two (2) new and exciting building organizing campaigns: 122 North Third Avenue and 60 West First Street.
We’ll update you on the issues in these buildings and also regarding the ongoing organizing campaigns in a number of other buildlngs that we’ve reported on. The message is always clear: GET ORGANIZED!!!
ALBANY LOBBYING
MVUT is involved with couple of distinct campaigns with the New York State Legislature. First, MVUT is organizing a bus trip to Albany on Monday February 13 for the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition’s “Annual Affordable Housing Lobby Day.” The New York State Neighborhood Preservation Proqram (NYS-NPP) is MVUT’s largest single source of funding. MVUT is one of approximately one hundred forty (140) l-lousing Groups throughout New York State to get funds under the NYS-NPP to provide”Housing Preservation” activities within an economically distressed nelighborhood. For MVUT, the neighborhood is the south side of Mt. Vernon and our program activity falls under “Tenant Assistance.” Some Housing groups build housing, some rehabilitate housing, and some manage housing.
The various housing groups have been receiving annual grants of just over $90,000.00 for the last number of years. That amount has been lessened in value over the years as a result of inflation. Our campaign this year is to raise each of the groups’ funding to $125,000.00. We believe this raise is both warranted and necessary. Virtually all politicians are finally talking about affirrdable housing. This is an opportunity for them to “put their money where their mouth is.” We’re enclosing a flyer for the February 13 bus trip. If you or someone you know can join us, please fill out the reverse side and mail it back to MVUT.
In addition, we are working with a couple of New York City housing coalitions: Housing Justice for All — HJ4A; Housing Court Must Change – HCMC) on a few biils that coutd dramatically improve tenants’ lives. Some of the Bills are:
Statewide Right to Counsel:
Senate sponsor Rachel May
Assembly sponsor LaToya Joyner
Winter Eviction Moratorium:
Senate sponsor Zellnor Myrie
Assembly sponsor Anna Kelles
Good Cause Eviction:
Senate sponsor Julia Salazar
Assembly sponsor Pam Hunter
As we go to print, the bills do not yet have bill numbers. We will forward them in a subsequent mailing. We’ll also let our members and friends know of activities that they can support as the legislative session continues.
Tenants’ Rights Workshop – Sunday, January 29, 2023
We’re enclosing a flyer for a Tenants Legal Rights free workshop at the Riverfront Library in Yonkers which MVUT is co-sponsoring along with the New York City Right to Counsel Coalition and the Lower Hudson Valley Democratic Socialists fof America.
There will be loads of valuable information for everyone. We strongly encourage MVUT members and friends to come to this event.
Tenants’ Rights = Tenants’ power!! !
Support Tenants’ Rights!
Support Affordable Housing!
Support MVUT!!!