Housing

The lack of affordable housing in New York City has reached disproportionate levels. In Queens, elected officials, community board representatives, and homeowners alike keep bringing up the importance of dealing with illegal conversions. Of course, these people do not realize that the unavailability is not just affordable housing but housing period. Lack of affordable housing has lead to the present situation of housing overcrowding. Notwithstanding, the housing overcrowding in New York City has existed for over 30 years. 

The elected officials, commissioners and those in the housing authority, ignore the influx of newcomers to this city. Year after year the budget does not reflect reality. It seems unrealistic of projected budgets without taking into consideration at least a ten to fifteen (10-15%) percent in population increase. Why then punish newcomers? Why not have the vision of developing budgets with such increases in mind?

Hispanics comprise the highest percentage of newcomers to New York City. They face obstacles finding affordable housing. It has been our experience that many immigrants live in apartments and homes where ten to fifteen people live together. The overcrowding conditions are dangerous because many times there are entire families with children living together. This can lead to safety issues, incest, abuse and domestic violence.

The only possible solution to this embarrassing condition is to advocate and fight for more housing construction in New York City. Elected officials claim there is no land to build but we know where there's a will, there's a way. We can speculate that for more housing to be built, the housing laws must be changed. The community must advocate and demand land use revisions for new housing construction.

In the interim, we at Latin Women in Action, provide counseling, information and referrals to agencies that assist clients with housing problems.