FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

CONTACT

Joseph Loonam, Joseph@vocal-ny.org, 347-409-4650

Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203-470-9979

VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF HAVP OUT OF SENATE HOUSING COMMITTEE

ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, the Senate Housing Committee passed the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), which would help homeless New Yorkers find stable housing and create eviction prevention for tenants at risk of becoming homeless.

“This voucher will allow me and other undocumented immigrants  to get out of the shelter system, which none of the current programs do,” said Kassi Keith, a leader with VOCAL-NY’s Homelessness Union. “HAVP  is the most inclusive program of its kind, and we are proud of the Senate for bringing this bill one step closer to passing by getting it out of the Housing Committee. We are calling on the Assembly to do the same, and for both houses to work together to ensure it is included in the final budget this March.” 

BACKGROUND:

Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) is a part of VOCAL-NY’s 2022-2023 Legislative Platform. HAVP is a state-funded rental assistance program which dedicates at least 50% of the program’s vouchers administered through public housing authorities to help homeless New Yorkers across the state find stable housing. The rest of the program’s vouchers will go towards eviction prevention for tenants at risk of becoming homeless. If funded at 1 billion dollars it would create enough vouchers to get everyone currently in shelter access to a market rate rental subsidy, as well as prevent thousands of evictions a year.

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