Action Alert: Remind Paterson of his promise to 11,000 low-income New Yorkers

Action Alert: 30% Rent Cap bill needs the Governor’s signature

Paterson could save the state money and keep 11,000 New Yorkers living with HIV housed.

This can be the year that 11,000 low-income New Yorkers living with HIV will no longer have to pay unsustainable amounts of their income in rent.  Now is the time to take action and let Governor Paterson know that New York wants the 30% Rent Cap bill to become law. The bill has passed both the New York Senate and Assembly, and only awaits Governor Paterson to fulfill his promise to sign the bill.

TAKE ACTION

Remind Paterson of his promise to 11,000 low-income New Yorkers:
Call the Governor’s office TODAY: 518-474-8390. Leave a message for the Governor!

• "I am calling to urge Governor Patterson to fulfill his promise to sign the 30% Rent Cap bill for people with HIV (S2664/A2565)"
• "This bill will ensure that people with HIV, like all other New Yorkers receiving housing assistance, don’t pay more than 30% of their income towards rent."
• "Reliable cost analyses show that this bill will be cost-neutral by preventing costly evictions and emergency housing costs."

Go online to fill out this letter to Paterson, created by Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, or leave a comment on Paterson’s "Straight Talk, Straight Answers" blog urging the same thing.

Currently, 11,000 people living with HIV who receive housing assistance from the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) are paying between 50% and 80% of their income towards rent, which leads to high rates of rent arrears, evictions and homelessness.  The 30% Rent Cap bill corrects this loophole, and assures all HASA clients the same protections all other government housing programs provide, an affordable rent and a home.

Urge Governor Paterson to hold up his promise, and join Senator Duane and Assemblymember Glick in bringing New York State policy in line with federal guidelines, and keeping 11,000 HIV-positive New Yorkers in their homes.