Councilmember Bill de Blasio, the Legal Aid Society, and Russian community leaders held a press conference on Friday to introduce a new hotline that provides legal assistance to victims of housing discrimination. The hotline number is 212-577-3639. Here’s an excerpt from his press release.

"As the cost of living continues to skyrocket in New York City, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find an affordable, safe place to live," said Councilmember Bill de Blasio. "Landlords who refuse tenants based on their source of income are breaking the law, and we must do everything possible to combat this blatant discrimination."

Immediately after the legislation passed, Councilmember de Blasio’s office was flooded with calls from tenants who were being told they could not use Section 8 vouchers or other lawful sources of income, like Social Security, to rent apartments. In response, Councilmember de Blasio teamed up with Legal Aid, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and AARSA (American Association of Russian Speaking Attorneys) to form a hotline that people can call if they believe they have been discriminated against. The hotline number is 212-577-3639