City to Hold CityFHEPS Hearing In-Person, Thanks To Family Homelessness Coalition

NEW YORK, NY (05/15/2025) (readMedia)-- This week, the Family Homelessness Coalition (FHC) and CityFHEPS recipients sent a letter to the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Housing, Preservation, and Development (HPD) urging both agencies to offer an in-person option for their upcoming CityFHEPS hearing on May 30th. Following the coalition's open letter, both agencies have since reversed their decision, electing to host impacted residents in-person and online to voice their opinions about Mayor Adams' newest policy proposal to reform the voucher program. The in-person hearing will take place at the Oberia D. Dempsey Center: 127 West 127th Street, New York, NY 10027.

The public hearing will give formerly homeless New Yorkers and current CityFHEPS recipients an opportunity to comment on the DSS proposal, which would require thousands of low income tenants to contribute 40% of their income toward rent in their sixth year of eligibility. Under existing policy, DSS subsidizes the difference between 30% of a tenant's income and their rent, but research shows that homelessness begins to surge once housing costs reach 32% of household income.

The Family Homelessness Coalition issued the following statement in response: "We commend Commissioner Molly Park and Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani for their decision to offer an in-person option for the CityFHEPS hearing on May 30th. With persistent tech access issues for homeless New Yorkers, and thousands of residents already rent-burdened, it's essential that our City provides all recipients a chance to weigh in on the latest proposal, face to face with city officials. Families are at risk of losing their homes – they deserve the space to express their concerns and have them taken seriously. We hope that this hearing will allow city officials to listen to residents' lived experience, keep New Yorkers in their homes and open the door to housing for many more."

About the Family Homelessness Coalition:

The Family Homelessness Coalition is comprised of formerly homeless mothers and 20 organizations representing service and housing providers and children's advocacy organizations united by the goal of launching a coordinated, collaborative, multi-agency effort focused on preventing family homelessness, improving the well-being of children and families in shelters, and supporting the long-term stability of families with children who leave shelter.

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