Sami Steigman, an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor, is facing significant challenges in finding safe housing in New York City. Since the 1980s, Steigman has made the city his home, but the rising costs are becoming unmanageable. He currently lives in a second-floor apartment in Harlem and struggles with mobility. Earlier this year, he sought a meeting with Mayor Zoran Mamdani to discuss housing affordability, but the meeting never occurred, and Steigman has since lost interest in pursuing it.
“Promises were made and not kept,” Steigman reflected, acknowledging the disappointment yet accepting the reality of the situation. His frustration is understandable amid rising rents in the city, where a one-bedroom apartment can cost around $6,000 a month, a price well beyond his fixed monthly income of $1,649.
Adding to his hardships is the physical strain of living in his apartment. Steigman, who was born in Romania in 1939 and endured Nazi medical experiments as a child, now finds it increasingly difficult to walk or navigate stairs. Despite considering relocating to a more affordable area, he feels a strong connection to New York, citing the support he receives from local agencies.
Steigman appreciates the safety of his neighborhood and the familiarity he shares with his neighbors. However, he is wary of nursing homes, viewing them as a last resort devoid of quality of life. “If you go to a nursing home, it’s basically a way to die because there’s no life there,” he said.
Fortunately, his situation has garnered support. The Jewish Federation of Chicago has initiated a fundraiser, Project Ahava, aimed at securing Steigman’s housing needs. With a monthly shortfall of approximately $2,200, the goal is to raise $132,000 for five years of housing. Although around $18,000 has been collected so far, Steigman remains a figure of resilience and advocacy. He volunteers on the USS Intrepid, sharing his experiences of the Holocaust with school groups across the nation, which he describes as his life’s purpose.
“This is my life. Without it, I have nothing and no reason to live,” he stated, highlighting his commitment to ensuring that the horrors of history are not forgotten.
