De Blasio Vows to Punish Landlords Who Reject Homeless Vouchers

Mayor de Blasio visited a homeless shelter in Brooklyn on Wednesday, the same shelter where Shakira Crawford lives with her three children after fleeing domestic violence. Crawford, featured in a 3-part series on WNYC last week, works full time and has a city voucher that will pay three-quarters of her rent. But she's been unable to find an apartment for 10 months.

The mayor — who last week removed his homeless services commissioner and promised to reorganize the agency — blamed Crawford's problem squarely on the landlords.

"A housing voucher should be treated like you showed up with a stack of cash or a platinum card. It has to be respected," he said. "Any form of discrimination against those who have valid government support is illegal in this city and we will very aggressively enforce that law."

The city's Human Rights Commission is investigating 85 landlords. The mayor said that will send a message.

"We are going to make examples of people," he said. "A landlord who thinks they can get away with it then sees another landlord suddenly hit with a huge fine will wake up real quick."

That tough talk is not sitting well with some of the city's landlords. Mitchell Posilkin, general counsel of the Rent Stabilization Association, said the city should do a better job educating landlords about their obligations.

"I think they would accomplish a lot more that way than by targeting owners and seeking to make examples of them," he said. "To me, that represents the worst of what city government has to offer."

Steve Banks, the commissoner conducting the overhaul of homeless services, was careful to also praise landlords who have been following the law, crediting them with helping the city move 22,000 people out of shelter.

And for those facing investigation, Banks said, stay tuned.