
Housing
The Housing Policy Advocacy section contains Legislative Memos, Letters, Comments and Testimony. You will also find news items, articles and reports that relate to our policy work in housing.
Legislative Memos
Memorandum of Support: Amend Social Services Law § 106 to Protect the Homes of Welfare Recipients
New York is one of only two states in the nation that takes deeds and mortgages against the homes of welfare recipients to recover the public assistance paid to these homeowners. This bill would exempt persons who own and reside in one, two or three family homes from this archaic provision. If the goal of New York’s public assistance policy is to restore individuals to self-sufficiency, then it is time to pass this bill! Read More
Empire Justice Memo on Federal Policy Recommendations to Help New York Homeowners
Subprime mortgage lending triggered the foreclosure crisis. Subsequent declines in the economy and in home values are increasing the risk of mortgage default and foreclosure. Following is a summary of the present outlook and most current proposed solutions taken from industry analysts, regulators, scholars and the media. Read More
Empire Justice Memo of Support - Establish the Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention and Safe Housing Act
This bill will require that primary prevention plans be put into place to ensure that the highest risk areas of the state are inspected for lead-paint hazards. Read More
Policy Letters
Empire Justice Center and Other Civil Rights Organizations Urge GSE Reform That Protects Access to Affordable Loans and Housing
Sixteen civil rights organizations sign letter to House Financial Services Committee urging members to abandon piece meal approach to GSE reform. Read More
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Comments
Empire Justice and Organizations Want Consumers Protected When Shopping for a Mortgage
Empire Justice Center was one of several organizations that sent a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last month urging the CFPB to strengthen its proposed regulations around mortgage pricing and real estate closings so that consumers are better informed. Read More
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Testimony
Empire Justice Testimony Regarding New York’s State’s Draft Child Care Development Fund Plan for FFY 2014-2015
Our testimony on New York's draft CCDF PLan for 2014 - 2015, including comments on access to quality child care, the effects of lead poisoning on minority communities, immigrant access to quality child care and access to language services at local district offices. Read More
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Policy Related News
National, State Advocates Push to Preserve Foreclosure Assistance (The Washington Informen)
A broad coalition of state and national organizations is pushing to preserve a key federal program that has helped more than 1.1 million troubled homeowners and reduced mortgage payments by a median savings of $546 each month.
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Plan loads home loans (Times Union)
Federal agency asks to add big fee to mortgages, citing state's foreclosure shields.
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More Policy Related News >>
Policy Related Articles
ADVANCE COPY OF HEALTH LAW JOURNAL ARTICLE ON THE USE OF LOCAL LAWS TO PREVENT LEAD POISONING AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD UNTIL JUNE 5 :
The July 2013 issue of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law will include a important study of how local laws have been used across the country to fill gaps in state and federal laws intended to protect children from being poisoned by lead.
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Empire Justice Center 2013 State Legislative Priorities :
Empire Justice budget and substantive legislative priorities for 2013.
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Resources for those Affected by Hurricane Sandy :
Here are some helpful resources and links as you and your clients deal with the aftermath of Sandy. We’ll do our best to keep updating it.
Read More
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Policy Related Reports
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Paying More for the American Dream VI This report examines systemic inequities in the mortgage market, as reflected in neighborhood lending patterns based on race and ethnicity. The authors analyzed 2010 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, and compared conventional and government-backed prime mortgage lending in seven U.S. cities, based on borrowers’ race and ethnicity and the racial and ethnic composition of neighborhoods. Read More |
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