The End of Black Landlords if Intro 632-Fair Chance at Housing Act is Passed
I am a black homeowner, black landlord, and black board member! We aren’t unicorns; we do exist in New York. Our existence is being excluded from this narrative of landlords and property owners opposed to Intro 632, widely known as the Fair Chance at Housing Act. We also have tenants and properties we desire to protect.
Native to New York, I am a first-generation American. I am a proud descendant of a Nigerian father and a Guyanese mother. Although homeownership was evasive for them in this gilded city, we were closely networked with African Americans and African & Caribbean immigrant New Yorkers that were homeowners. To supplement sustaining their homes many rented out rooms and units and many transitioned into the rental business acquiring more properties.
I accomplished homeownership at the youthful age of 26. Being able to have an asset that would accrue equity for me has been a stabilizing factor. I owe my stability to Fordham Hill Owners Corporation. In fact, Fordham Hill Owners Corporation has been a vehicle of black homeownership since its incorporation in 1982 by black visionary E.T. Williams. I’ve seen many right here in Fordham Hill use the equity in their units to purchase one additional unit, other outside properties, pay off loans and send their children to college.
As a landlord, the rent that I charge is lower than government-subsidized affordable housing in my neighborhood. I’m willing to compromise on profit, but not safety. I’m also passionate about ensuring that the single mom of color is safe and that her neighbors will not harm her or her child. The same goes for a senior tenant that is even more vulnerable.
Important to sustaining Black property ownership, is our ability to ensure the safety and quality of life of tenants and shareholders. According to New York City Housing and Vacancy Surveys, Black homeowner households have dropped roughly 13.5%, from 209,524 in 2002 to 181,695 in 2017.
A bill like Intro 632, sponsored by white liberal Council Member Keith Powers, representing District 4, which is high-income earning and disproportionately White, is ignoring how this irresponsibly written legislation single-handedly puts the nail in the coffin of black homeownership in this city. To cite that most of the criminally convicted in the city are Black and Latino, majority male, and that white and Asian landlords don’t want to rent to them is divisive and disingenuous. It also conveniently leaves out that black landlords would like to know who we are renting and living next to also. New Yorkers deserve to know!
In spite of the many high-profile Black elected officials in this city with Mayor Eric Adams at the forefront, nearly 60% of the homeless households are also Black. Homelessness is not a function of housing discrimination, but instead lopsided economic development. As of May 2022, Blacks in New York City also have the highest unemployment – at 10.2%. I call on my fellow black elected officials to be creative. The focus should be on real wealth-building through homeownership programs carved out specifically for Black New Yorkers.
Significant recidivism is a proven fact regardless of housing prospects. Black and brown neighborhoods, where black landlords and shareholders, are passionately dedicated to residing and investing in, deserve a chance to keep emerging in our communities. Our voice will not be silenced. BLACK LANDLORDS MATTER! BLACK SHAREHOLDERS MATTER!
