To: The New York State House, The New York State Senate, and Governor Andrew Cuomo
Unrealistic housing income guidelines for the disabled.
Governor Cuomo, existing New York State law provides housing for anyone who requests it, providing they meet a certain income threshold. While this law helps many NY families, it ends up putting the disabled at a disadvantage - because Social Security Disability income payments fall just below this minimum income threshold and the disabled have no additional income source to secure market-rate housing. Please change New York State law to accommodate New Yorkers with disabilities some preferential treatment.
Why is this important?
In 2010,I was ruled disabled by the Social Security Administration and am collecting Social Security Disability.
On January 3, 2012, I was placed into the NYC shelter system because of my lack of housing. Since this time I have applied for numerous apartments. The response is always that do not have enough income to meet the minimum income guideline requirements., although, I have been told that I receive a substantial amount for disability. Because of this hindrance, I have been in the Shelter System for almost 2 years with no way out. I feel as though I am a prisoner doing time for a crime that I did not commit.
I hope that by changing this law, it will afford people with disabilities and limited income a chance for decent affordable housing.
On January 3, 2012, I was placed into the NYC shelter system because of my lack of housing. Since this time I have applied for numerous apartments. The response is always that do not have enough income to meet the minimum income guideline requirements., although, I have been told that I receive a substantial amount for disability. Because of this hindrance, I have been in the Shelter System for almost 2 years with no way out. I feel as though I am a prisoner doing time for a crime that I did not commit.
I hope that by changing this law, it will afford people with disabilities and limited income a chance for decent affordable housing.