The Habitat-NYC Housing Covenant

Building Common Ground for Housing Justice
At Habitat for Humanity – New York City we are called by our mission not only to build, but to unite, all New Yorkers around the cause of housing justice for everyone.

In 2012, Habitat for Humanity - New York City is committed to promoting affordable housing and financial stability for all. We invite New Yorkers to come together and raise our voices as well as our hammers to strengthen our great city, state and nation.

Read Habitat-NYC's 2012 Housing Covenant

2011 Housing Covenant Issues:
New York City Legislative Priorities
Keep Affordable Housing at the Forefront of Public Policy:
Affordable homeownership gives low-income families critical economic and social benefits — building equity, significantly improving educational achievement, fostering greater civic participation, inspiring pride and a sense of accomplishment and improving physical health. Building and preserving affordable homeownership units are powerful economic engines that quickly create jobs, generate new tax revenue and stabilize communities. Habitat-NYC will ensure that our elected officials support the vital importance of affordable homeownership.

Pass Intro 48: Citywide Census of Vacant Properties:
Intro 48 is a City Council bill that would mandate an annual count of vacant buildings and lots in the five boroughs. In 2006, a similar count was conducted in Manhattan, identifying 24,000 vacant units. Currently the city does not keep track of vacant property. A similar census in Boston led to a vacant residential property decline of 77%, from 796 to 187 buildings. Most of those buildings were renovated and put back into use. A New York City count is expected to cost the city no more than $46,000 annually.

New York State Legislative Priorities
Increase New York State's Affordable Housing Investment to $500 Million:
For the past eight years, applications for New York State housing capital funds have exceeded availability by an average of $167 million per year. In 2008, the gap was $125 million — despite an additional $200 million one-year appropriation. Today, more New Yorkers than ever before are experiencing a housing crisis, and we are urging Governor Cuomo to increase the state's capital investment in affordable housing and the economic activity and job creation that homebuilding generates. The state should also identify a flexible, dedicated revenue stream for affordable housing that is not subject to annual appropriations.

Repeal Vacancy Decontrol and Renew the Rent Laws:
Since vacancy decontrol was enacted over a decade ago, New York City has lost an estimated 300,000 once-affordable apartments. This practice allows landlords to charge market rates for vacated units with rents over $2,000. Because New York City faces an extreme shortage of affordable homes, and rent control is overseen by the state, Habitat-NYC is asking the Governor and State Legislature to repeal the decontrol provision. New York State's rent laws (The Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 and the Emergency Housing Rent Control Law of 1946), which continue rent regulation, expire on June 15th, 2011. Our rent regulation system protects tenants from the negative impacts of the severe housing shortage we face. If the laws were to expire, over one million units of rent-stabilized housing outside of New York City and apartments in New York City that are regulated by the Emergency Tenant Protection Act would likely be converted to market-rate housing when current tenants' leases expire.

Ensure that 10% of New York State's National Housing Trust Fund Allotment is Set Aside for Affordable Homeownership:
When that the National Housing Trust Fund is capitalized, New York State is positioned to receive $120 million. Each state has the ability to elect a 10% set-aside for affordable homeownership for families earning below 50% of the area median income. This would enable the 54 Habitat affiliates across New York State — which build the lowest income homeownership units — to access $12 million for preservation and new construction.

Federal Legislative Priorities
Increase Funding for National Affordable Housing Programs:
In support of the federal Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, Habitat for Humanity International seeks to leverage United States government programs and resources to revitalize low-income neighborhoods and to create resilient communities. To support this initiative, the federal government must enhance the following funding streams:

Read more about HFHI's national advocacy campaigns

Habitat-NYC Housing Covenant History
Habitat-NYC's first Housing Covenant was released in October 2004.
Read the 2011 Housing Covenant.
Read the 2010 Housing Covenant.
Read the 2009 Housing Covenant.
Read the 2008 Housing Covenant.
Read the 2007 Housing Covenant.
Read the 2006 Housing Covenant.
Read the 2004–2005 Housing Covenant.