Press & sources
In print
Articles that feature her directly, the press record of the organization she helped found, and every source behind this site.
Featuring her
9 itemsNearly 8K NYC households could lose rent aid as federal program runs out of money
Quoted as an Emergency Housing Voucher recipient: “All of our legislators, now this is the time to really act.”
NYC Eliminates Hurdle to Accessing Affordable Housing, Removing Unnecessary Credit Checks
Quoted in the City’s own announcement, billed as Founder, The Eviction Fund of New York City. The change opened access for roughly 4,000 families a year.
Meet housing justice advocate Velvet A. Ross, Brooklyn finalist for The David Prize
Full profile — the eviction, the move to Brooklyn, Unlock NYC, and her work with the Adams administration.
Meet One of Brooklyn’s Finalists for The David Prize
Profile by Kimberlean Donis, on her founding role at Unlock NYC and her plan for an eviction fund.
The Stigma Attached to Housing Vouchers
The Times on what voucher holders meet in the New York rental market.
Economic Update: Housing — Human Right vs. System Failure
Guest of Richard D. Wolff, billed as an activist, artist, women’s historian and writer. On the economics: it costs more to shelter someone for a night than to give them an apartment — and 39 percent of people experiencing homelessness are Black.
Ghosting: Landlords discriminate against renters who use housing vouchers
On broker conduct: “There are issues where [brokers] will just not show up for meetings if they see that the applicant has vouchers.”
Press conference demands the city take action on flawed housing voucher programs
Releasing Unlock NYC’s source-of-income findings as a member leader: housing is “still a dream; it’s still an illusion of inclusion.”
Bronx Arts Ensemble presents 2nd festival
As a singer, actress and award-winning playwright: winner of the 2008 BRIO Award for vocal performance, headlining the Bronx Council on the Arts’ twentieth-anniversary concert.
Also cited
2 itemsHousing Advocates’ Report Details Alleged Discrimination Against New Yorkers With Rental Assistance
CBS New York’s exclusive on the same Unlock NYC findings she presented at the February press conference.
WNYC
She lists a WNYC citation on her CV. The specific segment is not yet linked here.
Primary documents
1 itemTestimony of Velvet A. Johnson Ross, Leader, Neighbors Together
Her testimony to the New York State Legislature on the Housing Access Voucher Program. Read it in full on this site →
Coverage of Unlock NYC
38 itemsSources for this site
- Testimony of Velvet A. Johnson Ross, Leader, Neighbors Together — New York State Assembly Executive Budget Hearing on Social Services, February 9, 2021. Primary source.
- Velvet Ross, 2022 Finalist — The David Prize.
- Meet housing justice advocate Velvet A. Ross, Brooklyn finalist for The David Prize — Brooklyn Paper, September 27, 2022.
- Meet One of Brooklyn’s Finalists for The David Prize — BKReader, September 23, 2022.
- Nearly 8K NYC households could lose rent aid as federal program runs out of money — Gothamist, March 24, 2025.
- About Unlock NYC — organizational leadership and advisors listing.
- Lawmakers and Advocates Celebrate Official Launch of the Housing Access Voucher Program — New York State Senate, 2026.
- Unlock NYC press index — source for the organizational coverage list above.