Restore Funding for the Basement Apartment Conversion Pilot Program
Dear Speaker Johnson and Council Members Adams, Ayala, Barron, Cabrera, Chin, Cornegy, Cumbo, Deutsch, Eugene, Gjonaj, Kallos, Lander, Louis, Perkins, Rivera, Rosenthal, Torres, and Yeger:
These are difficult times for New Yorkers. In addition to the struggles of our neighbors, colleagues, and friends, COVID-19 poses a dire threat to the City’s finances, necessitating budget cuts and sacrifices. However, this is not the time to draw back support from programs that are critical to the most COVID-impacted populations in our city. The virus is exposing the desperate need for safe spaces for vulnerable populations who need to socially distance. It’s now more important than ever to help modernize and bring up to code informal basement apartment units, where living conditions may put people at risk of disease transmission.
Under the Mayor’s Executive Budget for FY21, the Basement Apartment Conversion Pilot Program (BACPP), authorized by Int 1004–2018, which you supported, will be cut so severely in the upcoming fiscal year that it will no longer be viable. It will also definitely not live up to the City’s commitment to the East New York community as promised during the rezoning of the community four years ago.
$1.09 million of expense funds slated for the program in the coming year will be slashed, leaving only $91,580. This will make it impossible to continue the program, counsel homeowners, package loans or relocate tenants. We have also learned that no funding for the program is guaranteed after FY21.
After years of advocacy from communities who know that safe and legal basement apartments are critical to creating healthy and affordable environments, particularly for low-income and immigrant New Yorkers, the program will now be limited to assisting only nine homeowners before it winds down. This would set back efforts to expand basement legalization that have grown over several years and through countless hours of work by city officials, council members, advocates, and community members.
This is a program that brings financial relief to homeowners by ensuring reliable rental income, decreasing the likelihood of mortgage default and foreclosure. And it makes homes safer, and therefore healthier. With the first year of the Pilot just completed, the results have been encouraging:
- Nearly 900 homeowners in CD5 have expressed interest in the program
- 325 have submitted eligibility paperwork
- 240 have had properties pre-screened
- 102 have completed a home assessment, with 37 waiting
- 9 have been approved to apply for the program, with more in the pipeline towards the 40 goal
Our budget challenges are formidable but this is precisely the moment to channel resources towards efforts that address overcrowding and housing affordability for low-income families. That’s why we ask you to support the reinstatement of funding for the Basement Apartment Conversion Pilot and legislation to ensure that all 40 of the planned basement conversions can be implemented.
We appreciate all you did to advocate for this Pilot Program and hope that you will stand with us again to ensure its continuation and success.
Sincerely,
Member organizations of the Coalition for Affordable Homes, Basement Apartment Safe for Everyone(BASE) Campaign, and allies seeking a healthy and affordable New York City.
To add your name or your organization/coalitions name to this list please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/inq167z965Ftdsx46
The following undersigned organizations, coalitions, and individuals support the views expressed in this letter:
Asian Americans for Equality
Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD)
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
Bridge Street Development Corparation
Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A
Center for NYC Neighborhoods
Chhaya CDC
Citizens Housing & Planning Council
City Bar Justice Center
Cypress Hills LDC
DRUM — Desis Rising Up & Moving
Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
Fifth Avenue Committee
Habitat for Humanity New York City
IMPACCT Brooklyn
Kinetic Communities Consulting
MHANY Management, Inc.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica, Inc.
Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens CDC
Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Inc.
New York Housing Conference
New York Mortgage Coalition
NHS Brooklyn, CDC, Inc.
Pratt Center for Community Development
Rebuilding Together NYC
Red Hook Initiative
Regional Plan Association
Restored Homes Housing Development Fund Corp.
Supportive Housing Network of New York
University Neighborhood Housing Program
Western Queens Community Land Trust
