Abstract

In New York City, informality exists in every borough. Informal housing in particular can occur in basements with limited windows, sharing a room with multiple people, or a home with multiple families, through contracts agreed upon with landlords. This article will look into the experiences of two mixed-status Spanish and English speaking immigrant families residing in Queens, New York, who had previously come from Latin American countries. With the rise of unlawful practices that violate human rights and due process in the United States, it is crucial that people, regardless of their status, feel protected and safe in their own home. Additionally, minimal research has been done on informal housing and landlord-tenant relations in New York City, let alone Queens. In order to protect and keep our communities safe, it is important to understand the struggles and power dynamics between landlords and Latin American undocumented tenants, as well as the experiences of the children who essentially become language brokers, translating and interpreting necessary information. Their stories are necessary to shift the immigrant narrative not told by them and highlight the advocacy occurring through community mobilization and organizations. 

Keywords: New York City (Queens), immigrants, informal housing, landlords and tenants, language brokering