Sen. Cleare Advocates for Expansions to SCRIE and DRIE

Here is a Summary of Sen. Cordell Cleare's remarks at the 'Fix the Freeze' press conference to support bills that will expand the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption Program (DRIE). 

Good Afternoon and thank you to my legislative partners, Chair Kavanagh, Chair Seawright and others for coming together around a package of bills that are not only about affordable housing and quality of life, but every other issue area in between.

That is because—Housing is a Human Right, and one of the essential pillars that makes all other rights possible.

The SCRIE & DRIE Programs are absolute lifelines for housing permanency, stability and quality of life. These programs are measured and rational and one of the greatest tools we have to freeze rents and ensure a firewall against the displacing nature of future rent increases.

I am proud to have two bills that are a part of this package, and to have passed many of the other proposals through the Senate Aging Committee, which I proudly Chair.

The time has come to expand the scope and reach of these initiatives to meet the greatest demand of our times—permanently affordable housing that allows communities to grow.

Let’s bring all these bills to the floor and give the people what they need—Affordable Housing.