A coalition of housing advocates, tenants and elected officials rallied March 9 in support of the Safer Homes Act, which would allow the city to take control of the most distressed privately-owned properties and, in some cases, transfer ownership to the tenants themselves. 

The bill is sponsored by Bronx Council Member Pierina Sanchez and overhauls the city’s Third Party Transfer Act, creating new guardrails to ensure a fair process for both owners and residents.