Family Homelessness Coalition Urges City to Offer In-Person Option for CityFHEPS Hearing

NEW YORK, NY (05/14/2025) (readMedia)-- On Monday, the Family Homelessness Coalition 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 provide an in-person option for their public CityFHEPS hearing - set to be held exclusively online - currently scheduled for May 30th.

Under Mayor Adams, DSS is seeking to implement a new policy that would require thousands of low income tenants to pay up to 40% of their income toward rent in their sixth year of eligibility - up from 30%. But studies show that homelessness rates surge in communities once housing costs reach 32% of household income. With the proposed increase, thousands of CityFHEPS recipients are likely to find themselves at risk of losing their homes.

In their letter, the coalition raises concerns that the agencies' planned remote hearing would pose an added obstacle for current and potential CityFHEPS voucher holders, many of whom lack adequate digital access: "Half of New York's lowest income residents (those whose annual incomes are $25,000 or less) do not have a wireline broadband subscription and half lack a computer. For many people experiencing homelessness, this is even starker: a 2020 study at family shelters in Manhattan and the Bronx found that only 6% of residents were able to access the internet, while 67% wanted but lacked regular internet access."

Read the full letter here and below.

"For nearly 52,000 formerly homeless New Yorkers, CityFHEPS is the last line of defense keeping them housed. It's negligent to hold a public hearing for a segment of our city that's already facing a deep digital divide, not to mention disparities in housing access. As a grandmother who lost my own CityFHEPS voucher at the height of the pandemic, it's essential that all community members have a chance to weigh in on the new policy proposal. We urge DPS and HPD to meet residents where they are by holding this hearing both in-person and online," said Rhonda Jackson, former CityFHEPS recipient and Senior Fellow at the Family Homelessness Coalition.

Letter

To Commissioner Park and Acting Commissioner Tigani:

On May 30, your agencies are scheduled to hold a remote hearing on proposed changes to CityFHEPS vouchers which would raise some recipients' rent contributions from 30% to 40% of their monthly income. We write to urge you to please plan an in-person hearing on this important topic so that more impacted people will have additional opportunity to voice their opinion.

The digital divide continues to persist in our state: 1.6 million households lack access to a computer and 2 million lack high-speed internet service. Half of New York's lowest income residents (those whose annual incomes are $25,000 or less) do not have a wireline broadband subscription and half lack a computer. For many people experiencing homelessness, this is even starker: a 2020 study at family shelters in Manhattan and the Bronx found that only 6% of residents were able to access the internet, while 67% wanted but lacked regular internet access.

Some shelters do not have reliable internet access and public libraries can be crowded, with long waits to use a shared computer. We fear that holding this hearing exclusively via Zoom significantly limits who can participate.

Nearly 52,000 formerly homeless New Yorkers rely on CityFHEPS vouchers to keep their families housed and out of shelter - many of whom additionally face technological barriers. 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.

All current, or potential, CityFHEPS recipients deserve the chance to weigh in on the proposed amendment; internet access shouldn't be a potential obstacle.

Thank you for your attention to this issue and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

The Family Homelessness Coalition

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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