A new initiative aims to help senior citizens struggling to pay for housing.

Councilman Peter Koo joined elected officials and community leaders to kick off Flushing Senior Housing Month Thursday.

Beginning May 5, the Department of Finance will hold several events in Flushing to register eligible senior citizens and people with disabilities for rent freeze programs.

The programs are open to those living in rent controlled or rent stabilized apartments.

"This is a very important program that's a right that seniors have to help them maintain affordable housing and to keep their rents at a reasonable level." said Michael Hyman with the city's Department of Finance

The Department of Finance estimates that there could be as many as 94,000 people eligible to have their rents frozen citywide.