Testimony: SAFER Homes Act
Oksana Mironova
Thank you to the Council’s Committee on Housing and Buildings, and Chair Sanchez, for holding this critical hearing on the SAFER Homes Act (Intro 657). This bill will provide the city with a powerful tool to hold bad actors accountable and stabilize the most distressed buildings.
Since 1843, the Community Service Society of New York (CSS) has promoted economic opportunity and well-being for low-income New Yorkers through research, policy advocacy, and direct services. We have been at the forefront of advocacy for better housing conditions since the beginning, from the city’s first tenement laws in the 1800's to contemporary organizing for strong tenants’ rights.
Our 2025 Annual Survey of Housing and Economic Security showed wide housing quality issues across the rental market. We found the greatest among low-income tenants and housing voucher-holders. Additionally, we know that there are specific landlords who have spent years deferring maintenance in their buildings, making conditions essentially unlivable for their tenants, without recourse.
New York City needs stronger tools to stabilize buildings in financial and physical distress, and to hold bad landlords accountable.
Dovetailing with broader tax lien sale reform, the SAFER Homes Act would create such a tool. It would improve the Third Party Transfer program’s targeting and increase outreach to building owners. The revamped program will focus on buildings in most severe physical and financial distress, while clearly communicating with owners and residents alike throughout the process.
In particular, SAFER Homes will offer an expanded pathway for tenants to create new co-ops, creating a pathway for new social housing creation.
CSS offers our full support to the SAFER Homes Act.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. If you have any questions, please contact me at omironova@cssny.org.