Mayor Adams’ Statement Following CityFHEPS Council Vote

July 13, 2023

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement following the New York City Council’s vote to override a vetoed package of City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Support (CityFHEPS) bills:

“The good news is that our efforts to house more New Yorkers, even in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, are working. On Tuesday, we announced that since lifting the 90-day rule a few weeks ago, 500 households have become immediately eligible for CityFHEPS. Thanks to training and staffing improvements at the New York City Department of Social Services, we have also connected a record number of households to permanent housing using CityFHEPS vouchers last fiscal year and placements from shelter to permanent housing increased 17 percent. Unlike the council, we do not, however, believe that New Yorkers should spend $17 billion on a package of bills that would put New Yorkers in shelter at the back of the line for a CityFHEPS voucher and make it harder for them to find permanent housing. We will continue to do all that we can to build more housing and tackle decades of exclusionary zoning policies that have prevented our city from building an adequate housing supply. We are reviewing our options and next steps.”