05.18.23

Luck & Lotto: The Scarcity of Low Income and Affordable Housing in NYC

Bheard_TH_Feb-23-2023-c-Toby-Tenenbaum3973_2
Time
Doors at 6:30PM | Discussion 7:00 – 8:30PM
Cost
FREE w/ RSVP

Event Info

Luck & Lotto: The Scarcity of Low Income and Affordable Housing in NYC ,” presented by BRIC TV in partnership with The City, will bring together experts and leaders to discuss the housing crisis facing communities throughout Brooklyn and the impact of limited affordable housing options and housing lotteries.

New York City has one of the highest costs of living in the world and NYC Housing Connect is ideally supposed to level the playing field by helping low income and working class families find adequate and affordable housing proportionate to their incomes. However, with a 1 in 592 chance of landing that housing, the odds are not in their favor.  Then, even if they’re lucky enough to win the lottery, they undergo a lengthy income verification and credit check process.

What happened to the low income and working class enclaves that were once a stalwart of the NYC topography and what needs to change to ensure New Yorkers have housing options that don’t require winning an unreasonable game of chance? In this #BHeard Town Hall we ask why it’s so difficult to find affordable housing in NYC?

 

#BHEARD TOWN HALL PANELISTS

 

Associate Editor, The City | Rachel Holliday Smith
Pronouns: She/ Her

Rachel is an associate editor for THE CITY where she leads explanatory and service journalism. Formerly, Rachel covered Manhattan for THE CITY. She is proud to have previously worked for WNYC, DNAinfo and NY1 — and to call Queens home.

 

First Deputy Commissioner, Housing Preservation Development (HPD) | Ahmed Tigani
Pronouns: He/ Him

Ahmed Tigani is HPD’s First Deputy Commissioner and oversees HPD’s Office of Neighborhood Strategies and Division of Tenant Resources. An experienced urban planner and policy manager, Ahmed first joined HPD as the Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Neighborhood Strategies. Prior to joining HPD, Ahmed most recently served as Chief of Staff to the Commissioner for the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). Before joining DOB, Ahmed was Senior Advisor for Housing, Economic Development, and Labor in the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He also served as Director of Housing Policy and Advocacy and then Legislative Director for the Office of NYC Council Member Helen Rosenthal. Ahmed started his career in City government as Director of Donations for Materials for the Arts at the Department of Cultural Affairs. Ahmed holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Urban Planning from Hunter College. Instagam/Twitter: @nychousing  Website: NYC.gov/HPD

 

Professor Emeritus, Pratt Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment, Ronald Shiffman
Pronouns: He/ Him

Ronald Shiffman is a Brooklyn-based city planner, architect, professor, and author. In 1964, Ron Shiffman co-founded the Pratt Institute Center for Community and Environmental Development [PICCED] now known as the Pratt Center for Community Development. [PCCD] – the nation’s largest, public interest architectural, planning and community development office in the country.

 

Affordable Housing Advocate, Grisel Cardona
Pronouns: She/ Her

Single mom of three children, affordable housing advocate and educator.

 

NYS Senator, District 20 , Zellnor Myrie 
Pronouns: He/ Him

Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie is a Brooklyn native, attorney, and affordable housing advocate serving the 20th Senate District. Since joining the Senate in 2019, Senator Myrie has served in leadership roles and won several major legislative victories, including New York’s strongest affordable housing and tenant protection laws in generations along with sweeping reforms to New York’s criminal legal system.

 

Executive Director, IMPACCT Brooklyn, Bernell Grier
Pronouns: She/ Her

Bernell K. Grier leads IMPACCT Brooklyn, celebrating its 60th year, IMPACCT Brooklyn is a comprehensive community and housing development with the mission to create and preserve income targeted housing, promoting businesses development, and resident leadership.  As a community development professional, Ms. Grier previously served as the Director and Vice President of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY) Affordable Housing Program where she effectively oversaw the project management, operations and roll out of the $30 million grant program amongst FHLBNY members and project sponsors.

 

bric-house-venue

647 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Venue Info

BRIC House is Brooklyn’s cultural living room: a 40,000 square foot multi-disciplinary arts and media complex where emerging and established artists can create work that deepens their practice and engages the diverse communities of the borough.

COVID-19 policy: Attendees of any BRIC House programming do not have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter the building. Masks are encouraged but not required in all BRIC operated spaces. To learn more, visit:

BRIC IS COMMITTED TO WELCOMING PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES

The main floor of BRIC House has an accessible entrance on Rockwell Place, in addition to an accessible, all-gender bathroom. The BRIC Media Center, located on the 2nd floor, is accessible via elevator. The Gallery level is accessible via a wheelchair lift. Portable FM assistive listening devices are available for programs on the Stoop and in the Ballroom upon request. To make a specific access request, or to let us know other ways we can provide you with a welcoming experience, please contact Benno Orlinsky at [email protected] or (718) 683-5637.

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