New York City launched a new initiative that will create 1,500 permanent affordable homes for New Yorkers in the shelter system for persons experiencing homelessness. Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park introduced the Affordable Housing Services (AHS) initiative on February 8, and DSS will fast-track 1,000 of these units.
The city has been experiencing a housing shortage, with only 10,600 households with CityFHEPS vouchers. The new initiative will mitigate this and create a pathway out of the shelter system. Already, over 150 households have been successfully placed in permanent housing provided by the program in 2023.
“As 10,000 households eligible for CityFHEPS are currently living in shelters, the Affordable Housing Services initiative will create over 1,500 much-needed permanent affordable homes for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness,” said Adams.
The AHS initiative marks another stride in the Adams administration to establish affordable homes citywide, and in 2023, the administration facilitated the connection of more New Yorkers to permanent housing through CityFHEPS vouchers than in any previous year in the program’s history.
“With more people in shelter and housing more expensive than ever, we need new, creative solutions to help people move into housing they can afford,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
“Props to DSS Commissioner Molly Wasow Park and the Adams administration for coming up with this innovative and urgently needed program — and for working with us to ensure it makes wise use of public dollars, addresses the short-term crisis but also builds toward longer-term solutions, and helps homeless New Yorkers find their way home.”
