Additional Coverage:
- Holocaust survivor, 86, priced out of NYC says Mamdani skipped scheduled housing meeting (foxnews.com)
Holocaust Survivor Struggles to Find Safe, Affordable Housing in New York City Amid Rising Costs
At 86 years old, Sami Steigmann, a Holocaust survivor who endured Nazi medical experiments as a toddler, now faces a new challenge: securing safe and affordable housing in New York City. Despite city leaders’ promises to address the housing crisis, Steigmann’s situation highlights the growing difficulties many residents encounter as rental prices soar.
Steigmann has lived in New York since the 1980s, currently residing in a second-story apartment in Harlem that has become increasingly difficult for him to navigate due to mobility issues. Earlier this year, he sought a private meeting with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who campaigned on lowering housing costs. Although the meeting was initially scheduled, Steigmann says the mayor never followed through.
“Promises made, not kept,” Steigmann told Fox News Digital. “His claim to fame was affordable housing.
I’m not disappointed because I didn’t expect him to keep his word. It is what it is.”
He added with a wry smile, “It would have been nice, but you know politicians.”
With monthly rents for a one-bedroom apartment in New York reaching around $6,000, Steigmann’s fixed income of $1,649 falls far short of what is needed for safe, accessible housing close to public transportation. The physical challenges he faces only compound the problem.
Born in Romania in 1939, Steigmann was deported as a toddler to a Nazi labor camp where he was subjected to medical experiments for years before liberation. Now, his age and the lasting effects of those traumas make walking and stair-climbing increasingly difficult.
Although relocating to a more affordable city might seem like a solution, Steigmann is reluctant to leave New York. “Here I have agencies that are helping me,” he explained.
“I don’t know what it would be like in other cities because I don’t have those connections there.” He also values the neighborhood’s sense of safety and community, emphasizing that neighbors look out for him.
A nursing home is a last resort for Steigmann, who remains active and independent. “If I have to go to a nursing home, basically it’s the way to die because there is no life there,” he said. “I can still do a lot of things on my own.”
To support Steigmann, the Chicago Jewish Alliance recently launched “Project Ahava,” a fundraising campaign aimed at raising $132,000 to cover five years of housing costs. The group has raised approximately $18,000 so far.
Susan Haggard, president of the Alliance, said, “Sami has never asked for a dime, and he has given back to so many people. That’s why we want to ensure he has safe housing and can remain close to public transit and maintain his independence.”
Steigmann’s commitment to independence is evident in his volunteer work aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid and his efforts educating schoolchildren about the Holocaust. “This is my life. Without it, there’s nothing for me, no reason to live,” he reflected.
As New York City grapples with affordability challenges, stories like Steigmann’s underscore the urgent need for solutions that address the needs of vulnerable seniors and long-time residents.