No family should have to choose between affordable and healthy housing. All tenants are entitled to safe, decent and sanitary housing, which prevents disease and injury. In New York City, substandard or poor housing tends to cluster in neighborhoods. Homes that are deteriorating or dilapidated, or homes near buildings with broken or boarded-up windows, disproportionately tend to be in low-income neighborhoods, although the differences for these indicators have decreased.

Maintenance issues aren't about the need to tidy up - they stem from long-term structural neglict by landlords and owners. Maintenance deficiencies are associated with:

• Increased likelihood of pest infestations, which can worsen asthma
• Exposure to lead where lead paint is present, which may cause serious health problems
• Mold growth, which may cause allergic reactions

All building owners are required by law to provide essential services such as heat and hot water, make timely repairs, and maintain a pest-free building.