Basement apartments serve as a crucial refuge for low-income and immigrant New Yorkers, who struggle to find affordable housing in the city. Efforts like pilot programs to legalize these units are underway, but many tenants still feel overlooked. The story highlights Sherri Singh, a landlord, and her tenant, Hannah, who face the challenges of high rent prices. Hannah pays $1,500 for a basement unit, significantly lower than typical two-bedroom rents in Queens, illustrating the need for these informal arrangements as families seek stability and home.
"For the rent price of an upstairs apartment, we could probably just afford a one bedroom, but with two kids, we couldn't have a one bedroom."
"For many low-income and immigrant New Yorkers, an unregulated basement or cellar unit is all they can afford."
"Basement apartments aren't unique to the house Singh built with her husband...after years of watching a stream of new faces park walk by."
"But with this space, we made it a home," her 16-year-old daughter added.
Collection
[
|
...
]