11/25/2025
It’s heart breaking how even with such strong rent protections tenants can still be evicted.
After her husband stopped paying rent and refused to go to court, Maria kept showing up for her kids. She’s lived in Bushwick since 2005 and has been trying for almost two years to get the back rent covered. But because the lease only listed her husband, HRA hasn’t been able to approve her for a one shot deal. The judge even said his hands were tied. Without the landlord acknowledging her as a tenant, HRA cannot release funds, even though Maria has been the one holding that home down.
This is the risk so many families face. Complicated cases, tangled family situations, and a system that leaves tenants and their advocates at the mercy of landlords choosing to “have a change of heart.” Maria should have protections under rent stabilization. But with no lease in her name, and a partner who was still in the home at the time making it unsafe to ask him to leave, succession was not possible. She’s been paying rent every month on her own since he left, but she still needs the landlord to simply acknowledge what everyone knows: this is her home.
Today we showed up to the landlord’s office to urge him to change his stance and give her a good faith letter, which HRA has already confirmed they will accept to pay the back rent. The landlords ran out the building, but we made noise. And at least Maria does not feel alone anymore.
Thank you to everyone who signed on, stood with us, and pushed for basic decency, including our council members, tenant unions, and organizing groups across Brooklyn and beyond. Your solidarity matters.
![🚨 🗓️ SAVE THE DATE 3/26 / GUARDE LE FECHA 26/3 📍 Where/Donde: 311 Central Ave, Bklyn[english] For our March meeting we ...](https://img5.ngos1.com/238/671/1064494762386710.jpg)
