The NYC Rent Freeze Program is dedicated to helping elderly and disabled people who can't pay rent when it goes up.

The Rent Freeze Program includes the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE).

Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) is a program that helps tenants like Ronald Pickett stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent.

Pickett has lived at his Soundview apartment building with his grandmother for most of his life.

She eventually passed away and with Pickett having kidney failure, he started looking for programs that could help him pay his rent that's when he found DRIE.

Since then, Pickett hasn't had to pay an increase in rent for years, and he says this program has been life changing.

"I'd probably be homeless.. but this is great. I have my own space and it helps me maintain," says Pickett.

Taxpayer advocate Robin Lee explains how the program works and why it so beneficial for New Yorkers.

"If your rent increases, the tenant continues to pay that frozen amount and the city provides a property tax credit to your landlord to help cover the difference," says Lee.

There are a few eligibility requirements that one needs to meet to be fit for this program.

To learn more, click here.