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AARP New York Hails COPA Passage as Critical Step to Combat Housing Insecurity

AARP

Published October 26, 2026

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AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel issued the following statement in support of The New York City Council’s passage of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (Intro 905-A), or COPA, legislation designed to stabilize and expand the supply of permanently affordable, community-controlled homes.

“Older New Yorkers are the fastest growing age group in New York City, and they are more likely than others to be housing cost-burdened. Three in five (61.7%) older adult households in NYC pay more than 30% of their incomes in rent, compared to 51.9% for all households. Forty percent of older adult homeowners are housing cost-burdened.

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Older adults built this city, and they should not be priced out of the neighborhoods they have called home for decades. At a time when rising housing costs are putting increasing pressure on household budgets, community land trusts serve a critical role in preserving affordable homes, combating displacement and giving people the stability they need to remain in their communities as they age.

By passing the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, the New York City Council has taken meaningful action to ensure older adults can remain in their communities as they age. Housing affordability is an aging issue, and ensuring that older adults have safe, stable and affordable places to live is essential to making New York a place where people can age with dignity and security.

AARP New York applauds the City Council for passing COPA and taking an important step toward a more affordable and livable New York City for people of all ages, and we urge the Mayor to sign this bill into law.”