Speaker Heastie, Assemblymember Cook Announce $5 Million for Rochdale Village, Inc. to Help Maintain Affordable Rents for Families

Speaker Carl Heastie today joined Assemblymember Vivian E. Cook in Rochdale Village in Queens to announce $5 million in funding to help the housing cooperative avoid raising rent on residents by 57 percent.

“The COVID-19 pandemic had long lasting and far reaching effects on families and on our city, and too many New Yorkers have struggled with rising rents,” Speaker Heastie said. “I’m so glad I could be here with my friend and colleague Assemblymember Cook to announce this funding that will help mitigate those financial difficulties so families are not faced with their rent more than doubling or having to leave their homes. We will continue working to make our city and state a better, more affordable place to live.”

“Thank you to Speaker Heastie for being here today. This funding is vital to Rochdale Village and everyone that call it home,” Assemblymember Cook said. “Too many families struggle with rising rents and an increased cost of living over the last few years. Seniors and families here feared having to choose between paying rent and groceries or other bills. This funding will help ease that burden.”

Rochdale Village is a housing cooperative that serves 25,000 residents, including seniors and families. Due to financial setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are at risk of having to raise rent by 57 percent. The $5 million in funding that Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Cook announced will help to mitigate the financial difficulties and avoid dramatically increasing resident’s rent.