New York is in the midst of an unprecedented housing crisis. Over 90,000 New Yorkers are experiencing homelessness, and residential evictions are surging at alarming rates.

In more than one million unregulated apartments across the city, landlords can kick tenants out or drastically hike the rent without justification. This puts millions of New Yorkers, especially low-income communities and communities of color, at risk of losing their homes at any moment.

The “Good Cause” eviction protections currently under consideration in the state legislature are an essential tool to protect tenants and keep New Yorkers in their homes. The legislation would require landlords to legally justify rent increases above three percent and allow tenants to challenge arbitrary or discriminatory evictions. These protections can help limit predatory rent hikes and evictions, keeping communities stable and safe.

With so many New Yorkers—especially young people—confronting housing instability, leaders must take decisive action. That's why BYD's Board of Directors has voted to call on the state legislature and the Governor to include Good Cause eviction protections in this year’s budget, to pass legislation that increases affordable housing construction, and to reject any rollbacks to existing tenant protections.

By doing so, they can demonstrate that the maxim “housing is a human right” is not merely a political slogan, but a commitment to the dignity of every New Yorker.