Family Homelessness Coalition, Lawmakers, and Advocates Rally Against Rent Increase for CityFHEPS Recipients

NEW YORK, NY (05/30/2025) (readMedia)-- Today, ahead of the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Housing, Preservation, and Development (HPD) hearing on CityFHEPS, the Family Homelessness Coalition, lawmakers, and advocates rallied against the Adams administration's proposed rule changes which would increase rents for some recipients. The hearing took place exclusively over zoom, denying anyone who is experiencing homelessness the chance to testify in front of the Agency chairs in person.

WATCH the press conference here.

CityFHEPS is a rental assistance program that helps New Yorkers stay in housing. Right now, all CityFHEPS recipients contribute 30% of their income towards rent, while DSS subsidizes the difference. The city's proposal would up the tenant portion of the rent to 40% for certain working New Yorkers who have been on the program for 5 years or more. Research shows that homelessness begins to surge once housing costs reach 32% of household income. CityFHEPS vouchers are a quicker way to get more people into housing from shelters: Cumulatively, 47,080 households have exited shelter with CityFHEPS vouchers between fiscal years 2019 and 2024.

Now, nearly 52,000 formerly homeless New Yorkers rely on CityFHEPS vouchers to keep their families housed and out of shelter. With a homelessness rate of 8 per 1,000 people - the highest rate per capita in the nation - CityFHEPS stands as one of the few lifelines keeping families stable and off the streets. More than 130,000 residents are already experiencing homelessness, and our city has one of the lowest vacancy rates in history.

"For nearly 52,000 formerly homeless New Yorkers, CityFHEPS is the last line of defense keeping them housed. As a mother who lost my own CityFHEPS voucher at the height of the pandemic, I know how crucial this program is for families who are struggling. HPD and DDS must do everything in their power to protect and expand access to CityFHEPS - not cut corners or put up more barriers," said Rhonda Jackson, former CityFHEPS recipient and Senior Fellow at Family Homelessness Coalition.

"Across New York, thousands of domestic violence survivors and their families rely on CityFHEPS vouchers to move into a safe and stable home free from violence and abuse. If the City moves forward with its plan to increase the rent CityFHEPS voucher holders must pay, many of these survivors could be forced back into our overcrowded shelters or even back with their abuser," said Gabriela Sandoval Requena, VP of External Affairs of New Destiny Housing. "New York must work to put CityFHEPS on solid financial footing without sacrificing the well-being of tens of thousands of New Yorkers - anything else is unacceptable."

"As a steadfast advocate for affordable housing, I strongly oppose the Adams administration's proposed changes to CityFHEPS that would force struggling New Yorkers to sustain rent increases they cannot afford. Increasing rent burdens on working families who have relied on this lifeline for years is not only cruel - it risks pushing them back into homelessness. We should be expanding support for our most vulnerable neighbors, not placing new barriers in their path to stability," said New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala.

"Housing affordability remains the top issue in our city, and CityFHEPS has been one of the most effective tools to help move families out of shelters and into housing. Raising the rent burden for working New Yorkers who are already struggling to make ends meet will only push more people into instability and homelessness. At a time when nearly a third of renters are spending over half their income on rent, we should be expanding access and relief, not creating more challenges. I will continue fighting alongside colleagues and neighbors to demand the Adams administration reverse harmful proposals and take steps to make housing affordable for all New Yorkers," said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02).

"The Mayor's planned rent hike for CityFHEPS recipients is an attack on low-income New Yorkers who are already rent-burdened. Over 43% of District 26 residents pay 30% or more of their income on rent. Requiring long-term CityFHEPs recipients to pay 40% of their income will exacerbate housing instability and homelessness in our city," said Council Member Julie Won (D-26). "Instead of putting the onus on renters, the City must work to modernize the CityFHEPS process and overhaul the bureaucratic application process that prevents many New Yorkers from receiving vouchers. I stand with the Family Homeless Coalition and CityFHEPS recipients to demand that the Administration maintain the current guidelines for the CityFHEPS program."

"New York City is facing a housing crisis-and with the federal administration on the cusp of devastating cuts to critical housing programs, including Section 8, more New Yorkers are at risk of eviction," said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings. "Now more than ever, we need strong local programs like CityFHEPS to help keep families in their homes. Raising the required contribution from 30% to 40% of income places another burden on hardworking New Yorkers who are already struggling to make ends meet. CityFHEPS was created to move people out of shelters and into permanent housing-not to create new barriers that push them closer to eviction. I remain committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable housing, and I proudly stand with tenants, advocates, and legal service providers in opposing the Adams administration's proposal to increase contribution rates."

"It is deeply alarming that the city is choosing to raise the rents on housing voucher recipients during an affordability crisis," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. "I am absolutely opposed to the Adams Administration's proposal to increase the rent share of some CityFHEPS voucher holders from 30% to 40%. At a time when Congressional Republicans are waging a war against our country's social safety net programs, the city should be making it easier, not harder, for people to stay housed. That is why I wrote to the Mayor urging him to reverse course on this nonsensical policy, and why I will continue to rally alongside advocates against any cuts to much-needed housing vouchers in New York."

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.