by Olivia Young
Our Bronx, the nonprofit championing a controversial affordable housing bill called the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, announced its support for a new piece of legislation targeting negligent landlords.
The Stability, Accountability and Fair Enforcement for Residents, SAFER, Homes Act and COPA — which gives nonprofits the first chance to purchase a building if its owner decides to sell — are part of Our Bronx’s greater effort to prevent displacement in a borough that has the highest eviction rate in the city.
The SAFER Homes Act is sponsored by Kingsbridge Heights City Council member Pierina Sanchez. It aims to make changes to the Third Party Transfer Program, a city initiative frozen in 2019 that transfers ownership of distressed buildings to nonprofit organizations or developers, who rehabilitate the building to keep it affordable.
The transfer program has faced scrutiny for discrimination, after the U.S. Court of Appeals found in 2021 it disproportionately seized property from smaller, low-income homeowners of color. Sanchez’s bill would focus the definition of “distressed” so larger landlords with a higher number of violations are targeted.
Our Bronx, formerly known as Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, voiced its support at its 52nd annual meeting, during which more than 200 members gathered at Lehman College Feb. 28 to set this year’s agenda.
The group’s backing comes at a time when stakeholders are amending COPA after it was challenged by the city’s Law Department last month, who raised concern the bill could unlawfully restrict property owner’s rights.
Todd Baker, community development project manager at Our Bronx who has worked closely on amending the bill, said sponsor Council member Sandy Nurse is committed to reintroducing COPA this legislative session.
Our Bronx is part of the New York City Community Land Initiative, a coalition of housing justice organizations. The initiative is helping to make changes to the bill, some of which include an option to appeal if a property owner doesn’t believe COPA should apply to their building, and a confidentiality agreement for potential buyers.
COPA was the most contested bill at city council’s last meeting of 2025, with several members arguing it would harm small property owners, stall sales and worsen building conditions. Former mayor Eric Adams vetoed the bill on his final day in office, sending it back to a council that has 11 new members.
Our Bronx has targeted several areas across the borough that are suitable for COPA — one being an apartment building on Giles Place in Kingsbridge Heights. Edward Garcia, organizing co-director and development director at the nonprofit, said a tenant association has been established and meetings are occurring regularly.
Keywords
Our Bronx nonprofit,
SAFER Homes Act NYC,
Community Opportunity to Purchase Act COPA,
Bronx housing legislation,
Pierina Sanchez SAFER Homes Act,
Sandy Nurse COPA bill,
Bronx eviction rates