Low-income New Yorkers face unsafe housing conditions, pollution and preventable health problems.
Our communities suffer from preventable health problems connected to unsafe housing conditions and pollution, including asthma which is the number one cause of school absences in the city. Green spaces in our neighborhoods are not as plentiful and well-kept as they should be, depriving our children of places to play and grow. Our members regularly experience housing discrimination — based on gender identity, sexual orientation, family makeup, or immigration status. Tenants face difficulties obtaining much-needed repairs from landlords, some of whom aim to push out lower-income tenants and hike up the rent.
Organizing tenants for a cleaner, greener New York.
Make the Road New York organizes and builds the leadership of community members who are eager to fight for housing equality and environmental justice. Members meet weekly to discuss troubles with landlords and their rights as tenants, and to organize for safe, affordable housing for our families. Our work spurred the creation of the Alternative Enforcement Program, which ensures repairs in 250 of New York City’s worst buildings every year.
Each year, our attorneys represent hundreds of families in housing court cases involving evictions, hazardous conditions, and housing discrimination. We routinely support evicted tenants in obtaining waivers of back rent and time to find new apartments to avoid homelessness. Make the Road’s trained Community Health Workers conduct home visits and counseling to support children with asthma. In addition, we work to expand rent regulation and stabilization across the city, which is critical to preserving affordable housing for over a million working class New Yorkers.
- After a ten-year fight, we helped pass the Asthma-Free Housing Act which requires landlords to inspect for and address asthma triggers annually.
- Our trained Community Health Workers conduct 300 home visits each year to help families control their children’s asthma.
- We fought for the toughest anti-lead law in the US, resulting in a 56% reduction in childhood lead poisoning.
- Our work spurred massive investment in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and saved it from harmful development.
For several years, Maria Castillo’s landlord tried to drive her family out. He forced them to endure unsafe living conditions. They spent winters without heat and hot water. Maria obtained MRNY legal support, and as part of our housing committee, she fought alongside others facing similar harassment. She led rallies, spoke at press conferences, and met with her city council member. Her landlord saw that she wasn’t going away and the harassment finally let up.
Today, Maria and her family continue to live in their home. She is a MRNY leader for tenant rights. “Now I can honestly say that we live with more dignity,” Maria says. “But to live with dignity, you always have to fight for it.”
Help us build a safe, affordable, greener city for all New Yorkers.
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