Problem

There are 150,000+ New Yorkers without a home and 175,000 households at risk of eviction.[1][2][3] 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 include $250 million in the budget for the NYS Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) to create a flexible, statewide Section 8-like voucher to be used by people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

HAVP can combat the homelessness crisis, providing up to 13,000 vouchers and helping as many as 30,000 New Yorkers avoid the trauma of homelessness. 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 the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, it will be more inclusive as it will be available to people regardless of immigration status or criminal record.

Impact

In FY23, 16% of families with children who exited shelter without a subsidy returned within one year, compared to less than 1% of families who exited with a subsidy.[4] 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.

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 pass HAVP now. Families throughout New York State need and deserve this vital lifeline.

[1]Tanya de Sousa, Alyssa Andrichik, Marissa Cuellar, Jhenelle Marson, Ed Prestera, and Katherine Rush, Abt Associates, “The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, Part 1: Point-in-time Estimates of Homelessness,” The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

[2] “NYS Eviction Crisis Monitor,” Right to Counsel: NYC Coalition, (March 19, 2023). https://www.righttocounselnyc.org/evictioncrisismonitor

[3] https://www.nyc.gov/assets/operations/downloads/pdf/temporary_housing_report.pdf

[4] Mayor Eric L. Adams, “Preliminary Mayor’s Management,” The City of New York, Report, (January 2023), 207. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/operations/downloads/pdf/pmmr2023/2023_pmmr.pdf.