Opinion: Tenant protections can't wait another year

New Yorkers are facing a record affordability crisis. Rents are setting new records every day, forcing families to make hard choices about whether they can even afford to stay in our state. 

This year, New York’s elected leaders have a chance to address the crisis by passing “good cause” eviction, which will provide necessary tenant protections while challenging the unjust practices of landlords who continue to drive out tenants with rent hikes and intimidation tactics. 

As the leader of New York’s largest labor union, I have seen how hard the housing crisis has hit and the impact it has had on our members. Our more than 300,000 members – working-class New Yorkers who provide care for New York’s sick and vulnerable – are increasingly struggling to keep up.

We fight hard for fair compensation and decent working conditions for our members on the streets and at the bargaining table. But the gains that we have won are steadily being eroded by the skyrocketing cost of housing. 

Over 40% of New Yorkers are renters, including many of our 1199SEIU members. Rental prices in New York are reaching new peaks – and the costs are pushing more and more people on to the streets. Just last week, the price of rent in Manhattan shattered records for the second month in a row, according to a report from brokerage Douglas Elliman. The same trends are happening across Brooklyn and Queens.

But nowhere is the crisis hitting harder than in the Bronx, the epicenter of New York’s eviction crisis and home to many of our members. For the past three years, the Bronx has led New York in eviction filings. Today, nearly one in 10 residents of the Bronx are facing eviction. 

These figures are a stunning indictment of our broken tenant protection laws, which simply aren’t working for working class New Yorkers. Today, if you’re one of the four million New Yorkers living in unregulated housing, your landlord can raise your rent as much as they want at the end of a lease without giving any reason – or kick you out of your home altogether. 

Unjust evictions leave tenants with limited time to find safe and affordable housing in an increasingly costly housing market. Evictions aren’t just about losing a roof over one’s head. This displacement can force New Yorkers into motels, shelters and other subpar living conditions or housing that is far from their jobs and families. When workers have to miss too many days of work because they have to appear in eviction court, they can be subject to discipline or even lose their jobs.

And housing impacts workers’ health, as well. Permanent housing is an important social determinant of health and evictions can directly worsen health outcomes. Those who face evictions are subject to increased hospitalization rates and increased depression and anxiety among both children and adults. 

To truly stand up for workers and our communities, we also need to stand up for their right to an affordable roof over their heads. 

“Good cause” eviction would help workers stay in their homes and afford the rent by limiting annual rent hikes to 3% or 1.5 times the inflation rate (whichever is higher) and requiring landlords to have a valid reason for evicting tenants. Tenants who face rent increases above that cap or believe their eviction to be unlawful could take their landlord to court. 

Many of our members are also small homeowners of color who are building generational wealth through property ownership, or who earn needed extra income through their home. “Good cause” respects the rights of such owners by ensuring landlords can still evict tenants for just reasons – like nonpayment of rent, disturbing neighbors, or damaging property. Landlords could also raise rent above the limit set in the bill if they have a valid reason for it, such as a significant capital investment or a needed repair. And the smallest homeowners – those who live in buildings with four units or less that they own and rent out – would be fully exempt from the bill. 

In reality, “good cause” strikes a good balance between protecting the rights of tenants and landlords. It’s one reason why it’s wildly popular in New York. Nearly two in three likely voters in New York support “good cause,” with similar levels of support even in more conservative areas of the state like Long Island and Western New York. Dozens of elected officials, members of Congress, faith leaders and even landlords back the bill. 

We can’t wait until next year to pass “good cause” eviction. Tenants are at a breaking point and in need of relief now. “Good cause” would deliver that relief and help our members and your constituents remain in their homes. Albany must pass it now.