Public Advocate Williams on LGBTQ+ housing crisis

And I failed to acknowledge that we've also been joined by Council Member Nurse and Public Advocate Williams, who I believe would like to share some remarks.

Thank you, ma'am.

Hello, hello.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Much appreciated.

I'm still riding high, so I want to say Nixon 5.

That's just how I say hello.

Good afternoon, peace and blessings, love and light to everyone.

My name is Jermaine Williams, public advocate for the city of New York.

I'd like to thank Chair Farias, Chair Hudson, members of the Women and Gender Equity and General Welfare Committee for holding this hearing, for the opportunity.

She shared testimony and the admin who's here as well.

New York City is currently in the midst of an unparalleled housing crisis, one that is making it difficult for immigrants, young people in marginalized communities to obtain any sort of affordable housing.

Rising costs and a lack of deeply affordable housing has slowly but surely pushed more and more New Yorkers from the communities and neighborhoods they have called home.

I forgot to mention this is an opening statement in the middle of the hearings, but thank you for allowing me to make it.

LGBTQIA plus individuals are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis and by discrimination in the rental and senior housing markets.

Research done by Homeward NYC shows that despite representing 7% of the general population, LGBTQ plus youth make up roughly 40% of unhoused youth.

They face high levels of harassment and violence on the street and shelter system.

LGBTQ young people are more likely to engage in sex work or survival sex and are at high risk for sexual assault.

LGBTQ plus youth consider suicide at about four times the rate of their heterosexual and cisgender peers, and they're up to four times more likely to attempt suicide.

Studies have also shown that housing providers are less likely to respond to rental inquiries from same-sex couples,

as housing costs continue to rise, many LGBTQ plus seniors on fixed income struggle to remain in their homes and communities and thus are forced to look for alternative living arrangements.

With many facilities run by provider organizations or religiously affiliated groups, LGBTQ plus elders frequently are at risk of risk.

facing discrimination in assisted living facilities and or senior housing, and therefore face harassment or pressure to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity.

With increasing attacks from the federal administration, transgender and gender nonconforming siblings face significant barriers in the traditional shelter system, often experience

targeted violence or a lack of appropriate resources, both to discrimination, but also due to lack of funding and resources.

I do want to make sure I always highlight the intersection of LGBTQIA plus and being black and brown or immigrant.

The intersection makes it even worse.

I always want to highlight black trans women in particular who seem to have the brunt of what's happening.

Housing is a human right, and as a city, we need to ensure that all New Yorkers have equal access to stable housing regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.

Under New York City's human rights law, it is illegal for landlords, real estate agents, or co-op condo-owned boards to refuse housing, charge higher rent, or harass individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender.

And at least for now, fair housing laws also make discrimination based on HIV AIDS status or gender dysphoria illegal.

I'll be remiss in not mentioning the efforts of organizations like Ali Forney, who established the B.

Arthur House and an 18-bed transitional housing facility in Manhattan for LGBTQIA plus youth, and SAGE, who continues to support LGBTQIA plus seniors with housing.

But we must endeavor to do more.

We as a city must continue to do more.

push more affordable and sustainable housing for LGBTQIA plus individuals with a particular focus on housing for the youth and seniors already at a higher risk of homelessness.

Look forward to continuing the discussion today and how my office can continue to support this important work and how we as a city can continue to fight for more equitable New York for all.

And I would say I think the results of the

races last night really highlight how important this is and how much New York wants to see everyone be able to be housed.

Lastly, I do want to just lift up the name of the late Lou Filla.

May he rest in peace.

This type of housing was actually something that he was very big on, even though his community was not.

So I just want to lift him up for the work that he did on this.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Public Advocate.

Okay, now back to our regularly scheduled hearing.