Elizabeth Fox testifies on eviction cases and income limit gap

Good afternoon, chairpersons and members of the committee.

My name is Elizabeth Fox.

I am a staff attorney in the right to counsel unit of the Brooklyn Legal Services, part of LSNYC.

In my role, I serve people on the brink of eviction and homelessness every day.

Our hardest cases in right to counsel are often cases pertaining to the exact populations that screen injury aim to serve.

Seniors and people with disabilities on limited incomes whose benefits or employment cannot keep up with inflation and the rising cost of rent.

Screen injury can be a lifeline for these New Yorkers, and expanding the income limit would allow more people to maintain affordable housing, especially those who may currently be able to afford their rent, but stand no chance of continuing to do so as their incomes plateau while their rents rise.

Just this past spring, I assisted a client who I'll call Ms.

A, who would have greatly benefited from an increased maximum.

Ms.

A had lived in her rent-stabilized apartment for around 14 years.

Despite being in her late 60s and dreaming of retirement, she was still working full-time to afford her rent and other expenses, earning around $39,000 per year.

Her spouse, who was nearly 80 years old, homebound and requiring around-the-clock medical assistance, had a sole income from Social Security of around $13,000 a year.

Their combined income put them at roughly $52,000 annually, which is about $2,000 over the limit for SCRI.

This meant that they were unable to freeze their rent at the time I was assisting them.

Neither Ms.

A nor her spouse will ever make more money than they do now, and when Ms.

A retires and takes Social Security, her household income will be reduced to about half of what it currently is.

Yet, without assistance, Ms.

A will be unable to safely retire for fear of facing eviction.

This household deserves to be able to stay in their apartment, and expanding the income limits will allow them to do so.

The state of New York recognized that the current income limits create a cruel and unnecessary barrier to assistance when it permitted those limits to be raised.

These are essential programs that help some of the most marginalized communities in New York City maintain their housing stability, and raising the income maximum would greatly expand access to these benefits.

Expanded eligibility would better reflect the economic realities facing today's seniors and people with disabilities and ensure that modest increases in income or benefits do not prevent individuals from accessing critical rent protections.

Stable housing is often the foundation for good health, financial security, and community engagement.

When seniors and people with disabilities remain in their homes, they are better positioned to maintain medical care, remain connected to their support networks, and live independently with dignity.

Based on our experience serving low-income New Yorkers every day, expanding eligibility would help more individuals and their families maintain housing stability and economic security while meeting their other essential needs.

Thank you.

Thank you.