Problem

There are 158,000+ New Yorkers without a home and 192,000+ households facing eviction statewide.[1][2] With federal aid and eviction protections from the pandemic having lapsed and thousands of asylum seekers arriving in New York, even more people across the state are at risk of becoming homeless. Housing vouchers are one of the best and most cost-effective tools we have for fighting homelessness — but they remain inaccessible to far too many New Yorkers.

Solution

New York State must expand the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) to $250 million and make the program permanent in the state budget. HAVP is a flexible, statewide rental voucher designed to help low-income New Yorkers experiencing or at risk of homelessness find and keep permanent housing, stabilizing approximately 10,000 households across the state. Cities and towns across the state will be able to use these vouchers to help people experiencing homelessness find permanent homes or issue them to low-income New Yorkers at risk of becoming homeless. Although HAVP largely mirrors Section 8, it is more inclusive as it is available to people regardless of immigration status or criminal record.

Impact

In FY25, the number of families with children in New York City who exited shelter with a subsidy increased by 40% compared to FY24 — and the number of subsidized exits was almost triple that of unsubsidized exits.[3] Long-term rent subsidies, like those offered by HAVP, are proven to reduce homelessness, increase housing stability, and promote beneficial outcomes for family well-being, including halving intimate partner violence, and reducing adult psychological distress and behavior problems for children. Federal Housing Choice Vouchers also reduce the poverty rate for recipients by 43%.[4]

Solving our housing crisis will require short- and long-term solutions. HAVP is an immediate solution that can deliver instant assistance while also saving the State money in the long run. It will save millions in reduced shelter costs for New York State, and, crucially, ensure that families avoid the trauma of eviction and homelessness. Additionally, HAVP will provide financial stability to building owners, ensuring a steady stream of rental income from low-income tenants.

As the shelter census and associated costs continue to rise, the State must take action to alleviate the homelessness crisis. We know that HAVP is a cost-effective tool that could significantly reduce homelessness in our state. We urge state leadership to expand and make HAVP permanent. Families throughout New York State need and deserve this vital lifeline.

[1] Thomas DiNapoli, "New Yorkers in Need: Homelessness in New York State," Economic and Policy Insights, January 2025.https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/reports/pdf/new-yorkers-in-need-homelessness-nys.pdf

[2] NYS Unified Court System, "State Wide Eviction Information," 2025.https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiZGE3NzljYmItYTBmZC00OGI2LTliYTgtYzY5ZjI0N2U0MWYxIiwidCI6IjM0NTZmZTkyLWNiZDEtNDA2ZC1iNWEzLTUzNjRiZWMwYTgzMyJ9

[3] Analysis of data from Mayor's Management Report 2025, NYC.gov.https://www.nyc.gov/assets/operations/downloads/pdf/mmr2025/2025_mmr.pdf

[4] Sophie Collyer et al., "Housing Vouchers and Tax Credits," Center for Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University Population Research Center. https://povertycenter.columbia.edu/sites/povertycenter.columbia.edu/files/content/Publications/Housing-Vouchers-and-Tax-Credits-CPSP-08-03-2023.pdf