Categories: New York State
05.06.2026
On May 5th the Network joined Urban Pathways and Care for the Homeless for the RISE UP (Rights, Inclusion, Safety, and Equality for Unhoused Persons) Campaign’s Lobby Day at the State Capitol. Together, advocates met with legislators to advance legislative solutions to enshrine legal protections for people experiencing homelessness, mandate data collection to ensure monitoring and accountability, and combat the stigma and systemic discrimination that perpetuate homelessness.
Throughout the day tenant advocates led meetings advocating for two pieces of legislation that the campaign is advocating for:
- The Homeless Protection Act (HPA) -- A.1565/S.5816: Increases protections for people targeted based on their perceived housing status by designating such offenses as hate crimes. It also creates a first every accountability mechanism to report and document attacks against New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
- Homelessness Non-Discrimination Act (HONDA) – A.8913/S.8444: Prohibits discrimination based on housing status in employment and internships, education, housing, public accommodations, and credit and financial services.
During meetings with legislators, tenant advocates shared personal experiences of violence and discrimination, while highlighting the broader impact of these issues. Advocates noted that nationally, an estimated 66–82% of unhoused individuals experience victimization each year, compared to less than 1% of housed individuals. They also shared findings from a New York City study showing that 81% of unhoused individuals surveyed experienced homelessness-based discrimination within a single year
The Network's Director of Programs and Engagement Joelle Ballam-Schwan emphasized the Network is a strong supporter of the RISE UP campaign because of the importance of these bills in advancing the rights, safety, and dignity of people experiencing homelessness. She also highlighted the critical role of centering people with lived experience in policymaking, noting that these legislative priorities emerged directly from concerns identified by those most impacted. She stressed that supporting these measures is an opportunity to actually center and uplift priorities of people with lived experience of homelessness and ensure their voices are reflected in policy.
The campaign's legislative sponsors, Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal and Senator Luis Sepúlveda, joined advocates during a lunchtime program and spoke about the importance of advancing these measures and addressing discrimination and violence experienced by New Yorkers facing homelessness.
Learn more about the campaign and find ways to get involved HERE.