Legislation proposed to protect tenants after building emergencies in NYC

August 23, 2018 Mexican Maribel López’s life turned into ashes. An apartment in the building where he lived in Brooklyn caught fire. After the crisis, she, her family and all her 14 neighbors weeks going through hardships to find a place to live again.

“It was a very difficult experience. The Town almost left us alone. If it wasn’t for the support of community groups like Los Sures, everything would have been worse.”said Maribel, who, moved by this tragedy, became an activist who, starting this week, supports the introduction of the next cycle budget of the legislative draft “Return Home,” which was presented last Thursday at the The town council of the City of NY.

The initiative is a comprehensive solution designed to address the barriers faced by tenants and landlords, after a housing move caused by fires, floods, collapses and other emergencies.

Basically the legislators propose, by force of law, there is an overall urban structure that is clearer with it, for people who, for one reason or another, lose their homes due to death such as fire.

he is neuralgic point of the “Homecoming” proposal, He wants to prevent, at all costs, the owners of the buildings from preventing tenants from returning to their homes.

Renovated building, priceless apartment

According to some reports and complaints from community groups, in many cases it has been confirmed, after several investigations, that some ‘landlords’ They go as far as vandalizing buildings and even starting fires to remodel old buildings.the renovation and the rent at prices not accessible to the working class.

“It’s a really tough form of movement that we’ve proven. It is an excuse to evict families who, after the building is remodeled, cannot afford the high rents. We have seen it in recent years. This practice is more than proof,” he said. Maribel López, spokesperson for the Los Sures group which provides social services to the most vulnerable communities in Brooklyn.

This legislation will be necessary at a time when the The Department of Buildings (DOB) has vacated over 2,500 homesin the last two years, due to structural failure, hazards, fires and floods.

Con 250 fires in 2023, caused by lithium batteries, The need for this type of tenant protection is becoming more urgent.

Other emergencies, such as the partial collapse of a building in the Bronx last year, have also left dozens of New Yorkers in trouble, struggling to find information and stable housing in the wake of great trauma.

“It’s a shame for what they call a ‘holy city,’ that those who lose their home due to fire or other type of tragedy receive so little support. When you look at the stories they are very sad. The Red Cross is providing emergency assistance. If you are lucky, they will pay for a hotel for a few weeks. But the truth is that you almost always end up losing your home.“, claims the Eloisa Gil Dominican, which he says was the victim of a fire​​​​ in Upper Manhattan more than five years ago.

Elisa questions the City system, work faster for newly arrived migrants, than for the working class, who have been building New York for decades.

“Look what happened to the people who were flooded in the last storm in Queens. Or the people who were evacuated from buildings because they collapsed. If you get to the bottom of the this. “You start to cry,” the island stressed.

Counselor Jennifer Gutiérrez from Brooklyn is one of the supporters of this legislative package that creates more clarity between landlords and tenants, during a building crisis. (Photo: Fernando Martínez)

Support, resources and communication

The Brooklyn Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez and Queens Council Member Shekar Krishnan They are the sponsors of this legal package, which is expected to be approved this year.

“The FDNY is there to put out fires. They are not equipped to help you return home. We want to ensure that there is transparency between landlords and tenants, when an emergency arises which means that a building must be vacated. “This law will ensure that this eviction will not be permanent, as is the case most of the time. “ Gutiérrez of Colombian origin was identified.

The “Come Home” legislation would create the Fire Office, which provides support, resources and communication to New Yorkers about rebuilding their lives and homes. In addition, it coordinates the response with all municipal agencies to guarantee reasonable deadlines for tenants to return to their homes.

The other chapter of the proposal includes what is described as “fire instructions,” since New Yorkers were dismissed for this purpose, They do not have a clear vision of what to do in the situation that they have lost everythingor if the residential unit is unsustainable in the medium and long term

This bill would also require that the Fire Department (FDNY) provides instructions to tenants with information about the resources available to them and what happens in the process of repairing their homes.

There is already one guide developed by Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, to guide tenants who are going through difficult situations, such as fire, flood or building collapse. Now, the goal is to make this guide more general.

“In a situation where the housing crisis is a national problem, we cannot allow tenants to be kicked out of their homes by emergency, by fire. and we have no plan for him to return home“Counselor Krishnan reasoned.

The bill introduced this week would create a financial incentive for landlords to act faster to get tenants back into their homes. (Photo: Courtesy of Gerardo Romo – NYC City Council)

Date of repairYes

The package also proposes limits on the ability of landlords to collect rent payments indefinitely from their insurers when tenants are evicted from their flats pending repairs. This would provide a financial incentive for owners faster action to get tenants back into their homes.

Likewise, it is recommended that a very low cost rental insurance, administered by the City, be recommended. especially to support the residents of the most vulnerable places.

In another section, it is necessary that the Department of Buildings (DOB). report the time required to repair vacant units and expand the certified “No Harassment” program to protect tenants from demolition.

Several community groups say that a fire or building collapse is a frequent tactic used by property owners to evict tenants. (Photo: F. Martínez)

City Council guidelines on emergencies:

Since this is a challenging and difficult experience, the NYC emergency management against fires given by Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, He makes it a priority to take care of his mental health.

• To get free and confidential mental health support. Talk to a counselor by phone, text, or chat and access mental health and substance use services in over 200 languages ​​by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL or 1-888-692-9355 (Spanish).

• The Fire Department (FDNY) will now return to investigate the scene of the fire any other affected units to determine the cause of the fire.

• Usually, the owner is not allowed to carry out repairs until the FDNY full investigation.

• The Department of Buildings (DOB) will come to assess the building’s structural integrity and potential issue an eviction order if the building is unsafe.

• An eviction order means that it is not safe to stay in your unit. It is not an eviction order and means that you owe no rent to your landlord. while the eviction order is in effect.

• Housing Preservation and Development Department (HPD) you will check your unit to determine if it is habitable and he could also issue an eviction order.

• The Red Cross will immediately assess your needs, such as food, clothing and medicine.

• If it is not safe to return home, the Red Cross can provide housing assistance for 24 to 48 hours in a hotel. After this time, the Red Cross can assist with referrals to other municipal agencies.

• Everyone deserves help from the Red Cross, regardless of their legal status or citizenship. Your immigration status will never be shared with anyone, without your express permission.

The Data:

• 2,500 households on the Department of Buildings (DOB) in the last two years, due to structural failure, hazards, fires and floods. The City does not have clear guidelines on how to support displaced residents in the midst of this type of crisis.