Court’s decision on CityFHEPS housing voucher ‘a devastating blow’: Immigration advocates

Two immigrant advocacy groups in New York on Thursday strongly condemned as “a devastating blow” to Caribbean and other immigrants and low-income families a Manhattan Supreme Court decision striking down a lawsuit that would have compelled the Eric Adams administration and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to implement the CityFHEPS housing voucher package that was passed in May 2023 by the City Council.

The City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program is a local housing voucher for New Yorkers on the brink of or experiencing homelessness. 

On Thursday, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Lyle Frank struck down the legislation to expand eligibility for CityFHEPS housing vouchers for low-income New Yorkers facing eviction or homelessness. 

“Too many New Yorkers are struggling to keep a roof over their heads as housing costs continue to rise. This expansion of CityFHEPS vouchers would have been a lifeline to vulnerable families stuck in the shelter system and at risk of eviction,” Murad Awawdeh, president and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella immigrant advocacy group in New York State of over 200 immigrant group, told Caribbean Life. 

“By expanding opportunities to live in safe, stable housing, we build a city where New Yorkers can put down roots to invest and grow in their communities,” he added. “This court decision is a devastating blow to low-income families, and any of us who may fall on hard times in the future. 

“We stand with the City Council in appealing this decision, and implore the mayor to start implementing real solutions to the problems faced by so many New Yorkers,” Awawdeh continued. 

Jennifer Hernandez, lead organizer at Make the Road NY, another immigrant advocacy group, said: “At a time when New York City is facing an unprecedented affordability crisis and working-class communities of color are struggling to pay ever-increasing rents, it is outrageous that Mayor Adams would continue to stand in the way of common-sense changes to the program that could have been a lifeline for many tenants in eviction processes. 

“Instead of fighting against the interests of low-income New Yorkers, the mayor should spend his time and energy making sure that everyone in this city has safe, stable and affordable housing,” she said. 

Rendy Desamours, a spokesperson for the City Council, confirmed on Thursday that the Council will appeal the court’s decision. 

“We disagree with the court’s ruling and will be pursuing an immediate appeal,” Desamours said. “It’s unfortunate that Mayor Adams’ administration has fought to delay help to New Yorkers that can prevent them from evictions and homelessness amidst a housing crisis.” 

The mayor said that while he is happy that the court agrees with his administration’s position that these laws went beyond the City Council’s legislative authority, “we are hopeful that our partners in the Council will join us in remaining committed to working to connect New Yorkers in need with safe, affordable, permanent housing.” 

In February, the non-profit Legal Aid Society had filed a class action lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court against Mayor Adams and the city to compel the administration to fully implement the recently enacted package of legislation that reforms and expands CityFHEPS. 

The  Legal Aid Society said the lawsuit was filed on behalf of New Yorkers who would be eligible for CityFHEPS under the new laws but who are barred from accessing the rent subsidy because the Adams administration has “refused to implement the reforms.” 

On Thursday, Robert Desir, a lawyer at the Society, said that Judge Frank’s ruling “will cost the city millions of dollars on shelter costs”, agreeing that the decision will also have “a devastating impact on thousands of New Yorkers on the brink of eviction or already experiencing homelessness.”