CONTACT : Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org 

VOCAL-NY SLAMS COURT DECISION TO HALT CITYFHEPS EXPANSION; SUPPORTS APPEAL

Decision Comes Same Day as Report by Coalition for the Homeless Shows 350,000 People in NYC are Without Homes

NEW YORK — Today, a New York State Court rejected a lawsuit to force Mayor Adams to enact CityFHEPS reforms passed by the New York City Council. In response, VOCAL-NY release the following statement, attributable to Milton Perez, a leader with VOCAL-NY:

“This decision is shocking because expanding the CityFHEPs program is the most effective, common-sense solution there is to the wildly expensive problem of homelessness. I spent 5 years in the shelter system and it was only with CityFHEPs in hand that I could actually search for housing. 

Part of the equation to ending homelessness is not only ensuring that those without a home have one, but guaranteeing that those who are housed can remain in their homes. Mayor Adams must fully commit to endorsing and fighting for the Housing Access Voucher Program.”

BACKGROUND:

In June 2023, Mayor Adams vetoed Int. 229-A, Int. 878-A, Int. 894-A and Int. 893-A, which together would address critical reforms needed for the CityFHEPS program to work properly — only to have the New York City Council override his veto in July 2023. Mayor Adams has refused to implement Local Laws 100, 101, 102. 

If NYC alone cannot solve this crisis via CityFHEPS expansion, Mayor Adams must support the Housing Access Voucher Program – a statewide solution to support those at risk of eviction and those currently not eligible for rental assistance. For households that are severely rent burdened, CityFHEPS expansion would have established a safety net for those at risk of becoming homeless. The Mayor’s Rent Guidelines Board also could have frozen/rolled back rents instead of raising them on severely rent-burdened households and blocking CityFHEPS expansion efforts. 

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