Over 20 years ago, my sister and I were fortunate enough to buy a home in Harlem. But over the course of time the roof began to leak, the bathrooms needed repairs, and the sidewalk needed to be replaced. Even with stable jobs, we needed extra income to cover these costs. We decided not to rely on borrowing from traditional financial institutions, and decided instead on renting our home short-term to afford ongoing repairs. It wasn’t just helpful, it was essential. But now, strict short-term rental rules, while introduced with the well-intended goal of addressing the city’s housing crisis, have had unintended consequences that threaten the economic security of homeowners like me. Worse, they risk displacing families already on the verge of defaulting on their mortgages.
As a civil rights leader and president of the New York Urban League, I have seen firsthand the challenges that Black and Brown homeowners face in maintaining their properties and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. For many of us, homeownership is not just about having a place to live – it is about securing a future for our families, creating financial stability, and contributing to our communities.
My story is the story of many of the families we serve at the NYUL. In neighborhoods across the outer boroughs, and even right here in Harlem, Black and Brown homeowners have long relied on short-term rentals to make ends meet. Short-term rentals have provided a vital financial lifeline, whether helping to cover mortgage payments, keeping up with rising property taxes, or helping to send a child to college. We are not large investors exploiting the system. We are long time residents trying to hold on to the homes we’ve worked hard to keep.
Over a year and a half since the city implemented severe short-term rental rules, and with New York City rents continuing to reach record highs, everyday New Yorkers, including these homeowners, are facing financial uncertainty. They are being forced to make difficult choices – cutting back on essential expenses, taking on additional jobs, and, in some cases, we’ve heard of homeowners considering selling homes that have been in their families for generations. The communities that have historically been locked out of wealth-building opportunities are once again being pushed to the margins with no evidence that these policies have eased the city’s housing challenges.
That is why I’m joining other homeowners to urge the New York City Council to reform strict short-term rental rules. The proposed amendments would let us rent responsibly while protecting housing stock for renters. They would make hosting more practical and family-friendly, including allowing hosts to welcome up to four guests and their children; letting homeowners share their homes while traveling for work or leisure; and permitting hosts to lock their private bedrooms or spaces when renting part of their home. By passing these reforms, the city would extend relief to hardworking New Yorkers who are simply trying to keep the roofs over their heads. These changes would allow homeowners to share their properties responsibly, providing a more balanced approach that protects both renters and homeowners.
New York City is indeed facing a housing crisis, and we all need every means that we can get in order to stay in the city we love. We must find fair solutions that address affordability while supporting the economic mobility of those who have fought to secure a piece of this city for themselves and their families. I urge the New York City Council to act swiftly to support amendments that achieve this balance and ensure that homeownership remains a viable path to stability and generational wealth for all New Yorkers.
Arva Rice is President & CEO of the New York Urban League, an organization with a rich legacy of serving New Yorkers. Its mission is to empower African Americans and other underserved communities to achieve educational excellence, economic self-reliance, and civil rights through programs, services, and advocacy.
