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North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

18 FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Mayor Adams Launches Program

to create 1,500 Permanent Affordable

Homes for New Yorkers In Shelter

New Approach to Nonprofit Partnerships Will Ensure Long-Term Affordability and Stability for Tenants

OUR BUREAU New Yorkers to permanent housing
using CityFHEPS vouchers than in
NEW YORK, NY
any other year in the program’s histo-
ew York City Mayor Eric Ad- ry — building on a series of reforms
ams and New York City De- the Adams administration has imple-
Npartment of Social Services mented to expand access to vouchers,
(DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow eliminate the 90-day length-of-stay re-
Park today launched the Affordable quirement for New Yorkers in shelter
Housing Services (AHS) initiative to be eligible for the vouchers, expand
— a new effort that will create 1,500 their use so voucher holders can ob-
permanent affordable homes for New tain permanent housing anywhere in
Yorkers in the shelter system with New York State, and further stream-
City Fighting Homelessness and Evic- line the program with technological
tion Prevention Supplement (CityF- improvements for voucher holders.
HEPS) vouchers. Through an emer- “For nearly 20 years, Acacia Net-
gency declaration issued today, DSS work has been proud to partner with
will fast-track 1,000 of those units the City of New York to address some
With 10,600 households with of our most pressing quality-of-life is-
CityFHEPS vouchers currently in the sues — from homelessness and hous-
city’s shelter system unable to find will continue to advance our historic er. “This effort builds on the increases ing affordability to the more recent
housing due to the city’s severe hous- ‘City of Yes’ proposal to build housing in permanent housing placements this COVID-19 and migrant crises,” said
ing shortage, the program will create in every neighborhood and advocate administration has already facilitated Lymaris Albors, CEO, Acacia Net-
a new, much-needed, and scalable for Albany to truly meet the need.” and serves as an example of our ongo- work. “This announcement by Mayor
pathway out of shelter. Through the “Throughout this administration, ing commitment to secure affordable Adams and the Department of Social
Affordable Housing Services program, we have reaffirmed that every New housing for New Yorkers.” Services is a testament to the power
the city will help nonprofits purchase Yorker deserves a permanent home, In total, the city’s pipeline for of multi-sector collaboration and the
or enter long-term, building-wide and we continue to take consistent, in- the program will create 1,500 units value that non-profit providers bring
leases on affordable housing sites — novative steps to make that aim a re- of subsidized housing for households to the table, and we look forward to
locking in long-term affordability with ality,” said Deputy Mayor for Health with CityFHEPS vouchers. DSS has continuing to work together by con-
strong tenant protections for CityF- and Human Services Anne Wil- already finalized contracts with vari- necting homeless individuals and fam-
HEPS voucher holders. The new ini- liams-Isom. “Today’s announcement ous nonprofit providers to create sub- ilies to safe, permanent housing.”
tiative represents another major step of the Affordable Housing Services sidized housing for nearly 700 house- “Housing is the bedrock of fam-
in the Adams administration’s efforts initiative will help 1,500 individuals holds in shelter that are eligible for ilies, individuals, and community
to create affordable homes across the and families transition more quickly CityFHEPS vouchers. More than 150 well-being,” said Debbian Fletch-
entire city. from shelter to stable housing and will households have already been placed er-Blake, CEO, VIP Community
“Time and time again, our admin- give nonprofit providers new tools to in permanent housing made available Services. “We applaud Mayor Ad-
istration has taken action to help New secure leases to further assist their cli- through the program in 2023. The ams and Commissioner Park for their
Yorkers in our shelter system move ents as they transition from shelter to program also includes the first-of-its- vision to invest in 1,500 affordable
into permanent affordable homes, housing. Thank you to DSS for their kind project, done in partnership with housing units for shelter residents
and our strategies have proven effec- steadfast commitment and creative Riseboro Community Partnership, to through DSS’s Affordable Housing
tive,” said Mayor Adams. “As 10,000 solutions as we all work together to convert the former JFK Hilton Hotel Services program. This innovative
households eligible for CityFHEPS help every New Yorker in need of a to affordable housing. program represents a significant step
are currently living in shelters, the Af- permanent home.” The new initiative represents in addressing homelessness in New
fordable Housing Services initiative “The Affordable Housing Services another major step in the Adams York City. It will provide a direct path-
will create over 1,500 much-needed initiative is an important avenue for administration’s efforts to create af- way to equitable opportunities for
permanent affordable homes for New accelerating pathways to housing for fordable homes across the entire city, low-income individuals. We are excit-
Yorkers experiencing homelessness. shelter residents,” said Deputy Mayor especially for families exiting the shel- ed at the prospect of improving access
And as we act now to connect New for Housing, Economic Development, ter system. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, to permanent and stable affordable
Yorkers to the homes they need, we and Workforce Maria Torres-Spring- the administration connected more housing in New York City.”

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