NEW YORK, NY (March 21, 2022)  –  On March 21, THE CITY, an independent, nonprofit newsroom dedicated to serving the people of New York, hosted its latest Open Newsroom session to address the current rent crisis in New York City. The off-the-record community conversation explored New Yorkers’ difficulties affording rent, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and local resources available to them. The session was moderated by THE CITY’s explanatory and service journalism reporter, Rachel Holliday Smith. 

The discussion also included Leah Goodridge, managing attorney for housing policy at Mobilization for Justice; Nakeeb Siddique, director for housing at the Legal Aid Society’s Brooklyn office; and Lakisha Morris, director of operations at Catholic Charities. The led breakout discussions with attendees to share guidance and resources available to address a range of rent and housing concerns. 

“The rising cost of rent and the backlog with ERAP is making many in this city anxious and uneasy about their ability to afford a quality place to live,” said Richard Kim, editor in chief of THE CITY. “These types of community conversations that address issues that matter to everyday New Yorkers are a core pillar of our approach to journalism and engagement. For us, local news is a two-way process that firmly embeds the communities we cover in our reporting process.”

The Open Newsroom was launched in 2019 as a series of neighborhood convenings to help THE CITY’s newsroom explore ways of making local news more collaborative with the communities they cover. Since then, The Open Newsroom has evolved as a source of vital information for New Yorkers looking for regular updates on how to navigate government policies and resources, especially when paired with our Civic Newsroom series of explanatory articles. Open Newsroom topics have ranged from child care to rent, housing, employment, and jobs. 

###

ABOUT THE CITY: THE CITY (thecity.nyc) is a nonprofit digital news platform whose mission is to produce free-to-read, local reporting that serves the people of New York City. Launched in 2019 to fill critical local reporting gaps, THE CITY covers New York’s uncovered neighborhoods, holds the powerful to account, and helps make sense of the greatest city in the world. THE CITY Scoop, its flagship newsletter, is delivered weekdays and Sunday, while additional newsletters serve New Yorkers with news they can use on housing, jobs and civic engagement.