NEW YORK — Today, the New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus and Black, Latino and Asian Caucus stood with community members to call for the immediate expansion of CityFHEPS—a lifeline for New Yorkers facing homelessness. VOCAL-NY, WIN, Legal Aid Society, Make the Road NY, and a broad coalition of advocates called on the City to include funding in the FY27 budget for the program’s expansion, and for Mayor Mamdani to drop the lawsuit that began with Eric Adams’ refusal to implement the law.
“With tens of thousands of New Yorkers at risk of eviction and our shelter system under immense strain, we need to focus on solutions that work,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “CityFHEPS has proven to be a more effective and fiscally responsible way to keep families housed. It’s beyond time to move forward with expanding the program so we can deliver real relief and stability for New Yorkers.”
“New Yorkers deserve stable, dignified housing—and CityFHEPS is one of the most effective tools we have to deliver that,” said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings and lead-sponsor of Local Laws 101 and 102 of 2023. “Every day this appeal continues, families are harmed. Since the Council passed these laws, more than 42,000 evictions have taken place—an estimated 25,000 of which could have been prevented—while thousands remain in shelter, unable to access a permanent home. The data is clear: we are spending over $4 billion a year on shelter, while CityFHEPS serves more people at a fraction of the cost and stabilizes families. This is not just inefficient—it is indefensible. In communities like mine, where most families are one income shock away from losing their homes, housing stability is the foundation of safety, health, and opportunity. When we fail to keep people housed, we see the consequences in our schools, in our health system, and in our neighborhoods. The status quo is unacceptable. The Mayor must drop the appeal, come to an agreement, and fund the expansion of CityFHEPS in the FY27 budget. New Yorkers cannot wait.”
“After five years, I stopped counting how long I had been in the shelter system. Without CityFHEPS, I might still be there. That’s why we’re calling on Mayor Mamdani to fulfill his promise to homeless New Yorkers by dropping the lawsuit and urging the Council to include expansion in this year’s budget,” said Milton Perez, Homelessness Union Leader at VOCAL-NY. “Every day this fight continues, more New Yorkers face eviction, more households are stuck in shelters, and our city spends more on keeping people homeless than it would cost to house them. The longer this fight drags on, the more New Yorkers pay the price for a broken promise.”
“The City Council passed the CityFHEPS expansion because of the clear and pressing need to protect families that are at risk of losing their homes. Over the last three years, 25,000 families have experienced preventable evictions. Now is the time to resolve the lawsuit and find a path forward to protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers and deliver on a critical part of affordability,” said Majority Leader Shaun Abreu.
“When a family is evicted from their home, New York City pays twice. We first pay a higher cost to keep these families in shelters than what a voucher to keep that family housed might have cost. But even more, we pay a moral price when we allow thousands of men, women, and children to go through the intense trauma of housing displacement when we have the resources to prevent it. CityFHEPS must be expanded because it is both fiscally sound policy and the right thing to do,” said Deputy Whip Elsie Encarnación.
“Expanding CityFHEPS is one of the clearest, most humane, and most fiscally responsible steps this City can take to confront homelessness”, said Council Member Christopher Marte, Co-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus (BLAC). “It costs New York City far more to keep families in shelters than to help them secure permanent housing, yet tens of thousands of New Yorkers remain locked out of the very program that could keep them housed. A commitment was made to implement these reforms, and now the administration must follow through by dropping the lawsuit and fully funding CityFHEPS expansion in the FY27 Budget. New Yorkers need stable homes, not more delays.”
“CityFHEPS is one of the City’s most important tools for helping families move out of shelter and stay housed, but it only works if the system is efficient. That’s why I introduced Intro 0098 to streamline inspections so minor issues don’t delay move-ins, Intro 0101 to require timely responses to applications, Intro 0099 to improve transparency about where families with children are placed, and Intro 0100 to report on how long it actually takes voucher holders to get the keys to an apartment. At the same time, the Administration should move forward with implementing the 2023 CityFHEPS expansion laws that the Council enacted and defended in court. Expanding eligibility and fixing delays in the process are both necessary if we are serious about helping New Yorkers secure stable housing,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer.
“For far too many New Yorkers, the difference between stability and homelessness comes down to whether we act, and right now, we’re falling short,” said Council Member Harvey Epstein. “Since 2023, tens of thousands of families have been evicted, many in situations that could have been prevented. 1523 families in my district filed a non-payment eviction filing. Expanding CityFHEPS is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent eviction, move people out of shelter, and make our city more affordable. That means including the funding in this year’s budget and ending the legal delays that are keeping New Yorkers from the support they need.”
“I am a Chinese immigrant, representing a majority-Asian district that is chronically underserved, including a lack of affordable housing. We are especially in need of housing for our older adults. Our community should be supported in getting the help it needs, not used for profit. But that’s not what’s happening. Instead of expanding CityFHEPS, which helps people at risk of or experiencing homelessness find permanent homes, the Mayor is supporting a homeless shelter in our district, at a site that was recently issued a stop order for asbestos contamination. We must prioritize what works: investing in vouchers to keep people housed, strengthening support systems for families on the brink of homelessness, and accelerating the creation of affordable housing across our city,” said Council Member Susan Zhuang.
“I stand in strong support of the growing movement to expand CityFHEPS and ensure that every New Yorker has access to stable, affordable housing. At a time when tens of thousands of families have already been displaced and many more remain at risk, we cannot afford delays or legal barriers that prevent life-saving assistance from reaching those who need it most,” said Council Member Farah N. Louis. “Expanding CityFHEPS is not only a moral obligation, but a proven and cost-effective solution to prevent eviction, reduce homelessness, and stabilize our communities. I urge the Administration to drop the lawsuit immediately and call on the Council to fully fund this expansion in the FY27 budget so we can meet this moment with urgency and protect working families across our city.”
“We all agree on protecting vulnerable New Yorkers while being fiscally responsible, but that means strengthening solutions, not fighting them in court. CityFHEPS is a lifeline for families on the brink. I urge the Mayor to drop this lawsuit and work with the Council on real affordability solutions that tackle housing inequality and build pathways to economic mobility,” said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry.
“Solving the housing crisis demands an all-of-the-above approach, and that includes expanding housing vouchers,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse. “Monthly shelter costs are nearly five times more expensive than permanent housing, while filling our vacant NYCHA, supportive housing, and housing lottery units is a painstakingly slow process. We can balance the budget and expand vouchers to get families into safe, stable, permanent housing.”
“CityFHEPS is one of the most effective tools we have to keep New Yorkers in their homes and out of the shelter system,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “Across Brooklyn, I hear from families who are doing everything right and still facing eviction: a parent working multiple jobs but falling behind, a student commuting from a shelter while trying to stay in school. The Council expanded CityFHEPS to meet this moment. We need full funding in the FY27 Budget, and the administration should move to implement it and drop the lawsuit so families can access this support. Preventing eviction and keeping people housed has to be the priority. This program is a lifeline, and we need to make sure it reaches everyone who needs it.”
“CityFHEPS is one of the most effective tools we have to keep New Yorkers housed and prevent families from entering shelter in the first place. At a time when the City is spending billions, we should be investing in proven solutions that stabilize families and reduce long-term costs. The longer this lawsuit continues, the longer New Yorkers are kept out of stable housing. We must remain focused on preventing eviction, reducing pressure on the shelter system, and delivering real housing stability for New Yorkers,” said Council Member Virginia Maloney.
“For generations, the labor movement has fought for the basic dignity and security that every working person deserves – fair wages, a safe workplace, and a chance to build a stable life for themselves and their families. Today, working families are struggling to make ends meet and stay in their homes in the face of unaffordable housing. Our fight must also include the right to stay housed. Thousands of New Yorkers are depending on their city to step up and deliver real solutions to the housing crisis. The solution is not building more shelters. CityFHEPS is about keeping families housed, keeping families in their communities, and stable housing. That’s why we’re calling on the Mayor to drop the lawsuit and for the Council to fund the expansion in the FY27 budget for CityFHEPS! We owe it to our communities to fight for policies that keep people housed and give every New Yorker the chance to thrive!” said Council Member Shirley Aldebol
“Across New York City, 25,000 families have faced preventable evictions, and in the Bronx, these are not abstract numbers. They are our neighbors, our seniors, our working families, and our children. My office continues to work with partners to support residents facing non-payment filings, but local intervention alone cannot meet the scale of this crisis. We are urging the administration to drop the expansion lawsuit and work with us toward implementation, because when we have a tool that can help keep families housed, we have a responsibility to use it. Prioritizing CityFHEPS expansion in the FY27 budget is how we move from managing displacement to preventing it,” said Council Member Amanda Farías
“The math is simple: it costs the City five times more to keep a family in shelter than to keep them in their home. Since July 2023, 42,000 families have been evicted; 25,000 of those evictions could have been prevented. Even though Mayor Mamdani campaigned on dropping this lawsuit, tonight 100,000 New Yorkers will sleep in shelters while we wait for the mayor to act,” said Council Member Julie Won. “The Council did its job. The courts did their job. The only thing standing between working-class families and stable housing right now is a political decision. Now the Mayor needs to do his job; drop the lawsuit and fund the CityFHEPs expansion in FY27 Budget.”
“New York City continues to have the highest level of homelessness of any city in the United States, including tens of thousands of children who go back and forth from a shelter to school every day,” said Dr. Jeffrey Ginsburg, President and CEO of Volunteers of America-Greater New York. “Meanwhile, as many as two-thirds of our shelter residents remain locked out of the rental assistance they need to transition to permanent housing. This is an untenable status quo. We urge Speaker Menin to work with the Mayor to deliver visionary, generational change and implement the CityFHEPS expansion laws, ensuring a pathway to housing stability for all New Yorkers.
“HSU and our members advocated to strengthen and expand CityFHEPS because we see every day what works, and what does not. CityFHEPS is one of the City’s most effective tools for preventing homelessness and helping families and individuals leave shelter for permanent housing. The expansion was debated, negotiated, and enacted through the legislative process. It is now the law,” said Kristin Miller, Executive Director of Homeless Services United. “We applaud Councilmember Sanchez and members of the Progressive Caucus and the Black, Latino, Asian Caucus for standing strong behind the expansion – and urge their colleagues do the same in calling on the mayor to drop the appeal and move the expansion forward immediately.”
“Everyday without an agreement on CityFHEPS expansion is another day of trauma for families stuck in shelter – and another day of soaring shelter costs for the City. We have been clear: CityFHEPS vouchers are not just a lifeline for families looking to transition out of shelter and into permanent homes, they are the most cost effective means of housing families at the City’s disposal. As the family homelessness crisis continues to rage on, we urge the Mayor and the Council to get back to the bargaining table and to see meaningful CityFHEPS expansion across the finish line,” said Christine C. Quinn, President & CEO of Win.
“Thousands of low-income New Yorkers are desperately waiting for relief that the City Council already enacted years ago,” said Robert Desir, Staff Attorney with the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “The legislation reforming and expanding CityFHEPS was designed to prevent homelessness and stabilize families, yet implementation continues to be delayed as more New Yorkers face eviction and deepening housing insecurity. The Council has long recognized the importance of these reforms, and we hope that Speaker Julie Menin and the rest of the Council will ensure that these laws are finally implemented. CityFHEPS is already helping tens of thousands of households stay housed, and expanding the program is both the humane choice and a responsible investment in preventing homelessness before it begins.”
We cannot balance the city’s budget on the backs of unhoused folks and rent-burdened tenants. This is a matter of life and death. We are not expendable.” said Calvin Michael, member-leader of the Safety Net Activists at the Urban Justice Center. “Fully implementing the CityFHEPS expansion laws would save lives. It’s not just the compassionate choice – it is also the most cost effective. It costs the city far more to keep someone in shelter for years on end than to help them live in an apartment. We cannot delay CityFHEPs expansion any longer.”
“When Mayor Mamdani talks about affordability, his plan must include New Yorkers who are unhoused,” said Valerie Reyes‑Jiménez, City Organizer for Housing Works. “People in shelters and transitional housing, including those returning from incarceration, deserve access to CityFHEPS and a real path to stability. Blocking this expansion breaks a public commitment to affordable housing and keeps New Yorkers stuck in homelessness instead of allowing them to reenter their communities with dignity.”
“At a time when immigrant communities and other disenfranchised groups are being threatened, persecuted, and destabilized, this move from Mayor Mamdani feels like a gut punch.” said Sosseh Prom, Housing Justice Director at African Communities Together. “It’s been years of the same conversation over and over again. Our communities do not have the time or luxury to keep having these circular conversations in lieu of access to housing stability. They needed housing yesterday, and we truly hope the Mamdani administration and Speaker Menin will work closely with us in good faith to implement the expansion laws as soon as possible.”
BACKGROUND:
Mayor Mamdani, while running for office, pledged to drop Mayor Adams’ lawsuit and implement the 2023 CityFHEPS expansion laws. Homeless New Yorkers were deeply disappointed in the Mayor’s reversal and abandonment of campaign promises when he filed an appeal on March 24th to the New York Court of Appeals, continuing the legal action and preventing the program’s expansion to those who need it most. The implementation of CityFHEPS expansion is a crucial tool in realizing Mayor Mamdani’s goal of a more affordable New York for working-class and low-income New Yorkers.
The 2023 CityFHEPS reforms expanded the program to households at risk of eviction in the community, increased the income limit for homeless households, removed work requirements, and extended eligibility to homeless households in non-DHS shelters.
VOCAL-NY, alongside coalition partners, organized to pass these reforms, overrode Mayor Adams’ veto, and supported the Council and the Legal Aid Society in their 2-year-long litigation for implementation.
The Fiscal and Human Cost of Homelessness in NYC:
- According to the Mayor’s Management Report and the latest NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS), it costs the City $8,106 per month to house a single family in a shelter, while the median citywide rent was $1,641 per month. It costs the City, on average, 5 times more to keep people in shelters rather than supporting them with permanent housing.
- In FY27 alone, NYC DSS is projected to spend $4.14 billion on shelter contracts for 86,037 individuals or approximately 44,235 households. By contrast, as of October 2025, CityFHEPS had served145,382 individuals or approximately 65,000 households at a cost of $1.2 billion—serving nearly twice as many individuals atone third of the cost.
- Over 4,500 individuals were sleeping unsheltered on the streets and subways of New York City on the night of January 28, 2025.
- Although one third of extremely low-income households live in rent-regulated housing, 73% are severely rent-burdened, making them vulnerable to unexpected events such as job loss or a family illness.
- 150,000 DOE students live in shelter—and have 63% rate of chronic absenteeism, double the citywide rate.
Data presented during press conference:
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