The good news is that the legislation referred to as H.157 did not make it over the finish line last month before the Vermont General Assembly had adjourned. The bill,
The Fair Chance for Housing Act would bar landlords and brokers from conducting criminal background checks on prospective tenants, a barrier to housing for the formerly incarcerated and their families.
[co-author: Alexander Volpicello]
In a major victory for unhoused New Yorkers, the New York Court of Appeals recently adopted the analysis of an amicus brief that was filed by Proskauer on behalf of the Coalition for the Homeless. The amicus brief supported the City of New York’s defense of a proposed project to convert a midtown Manhattan hotel into a residential facility for homeless adults seeking employment opportunities.
The decision, Matter of West 58th Street Coalition, Inc. v. City of New York, addressed what is known as a “NIMBY” (an acronym for “Not In My Backyard”) challenge filed by residents living near the conversion site at issue. The Department of Buildings (“DOB”) had granted the building a temporary certificate of occupancy, finding that it conformed to the applicable regulations for its proposed use. The Appellate Division agreed that the DOB’s determination had a rational basis, but nevertheless remanded the case to the trial court, finding that
The bill would raise the value of city-backed housing subsidies for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. The voucher values currently trail actual market rents, making it hard for families to find a landlord willing to accept them.