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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 326-03
November 13, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION INCREASING RENT SUBSIDIES FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Law

“The next bill before me is Introductory Number 539, sponsored by Council Member Baez, Speaker Miller and Council Members Weprin, Oddo, Dilan, Comrie, Nelson, Brewer, Gennaro, Seabrook, Rivera, Barron, Serrano, Lopez, Provenzano, Recchia, Gallagher, Avella, Sears, Espada, Gerson, Katz, Addabbo, Gonzalez, Felder, Fidler, Foster, Perkins, Clarke, Gioia, Jackson, Jennings, Koppell, Liu, Martinez, McMahon, Monserrate, Moskowitz, Quinn, Reed, Reyna, Sanders, Stewart, Vallone, Vann, Yassky, Gentile, DeBlasio and The Public Advocate.  This legislation raises the maximum annual income level to qualify for exemption from rent increases under the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program (SCRIE).

“In order to qualify for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program (SCRIE), an applicant must be sixty-two years of age or older, have an annual household income of not more than $20,000, and must be paying one-third or more of his or her income in rent.  Eligible tenants are exempted from paying that portion of rent increases that would bring their rental payments to a level exceeding one-third of their annual income.

“On August 19, 2003, Governor Pataki signed enabling legislation that authorized cities to increase the maximum annual income eligibility level for SCRIE from $20,000 to $24,000. The last SCRIE income ceiling increase occurred in 1996, when it was increased to the present level of $20,000.  This legislation will allow our eligible seniors to remain in apartments in their communities that provide familiarity, safety, security and support at a time in their lives where these are most needed.  This increase in the household income ceiling will enable thousands of senior households, not previously eligible, to participate in the SCRIE program.    

“On both pieces of legislation, I would like to thank the Chair of the Aging Committee, Council Member Maria Baez and her counsel, Cheree Buggs, for moving this legislation quickly so that the Department of Finance, the Department for the Aging and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development can begin processing new applications and allow this benefit to reach needy seniors in a timely manner.”







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