NEW YORK, N.Y. After over a year of legal battles, proponents of the City Council’s CityFHEPS expansion laws may finally get a moment of relief. An appellate division of the Supreme Court of New York issued a decision yesterday ruling that the expansion laws were within the City Council’s power, rejecting Mayor Adams’ argument that such laws are supposed to be legislated at the state level.
Background:
Acknowledging the growing housing affordability crisis, rising eviction rates, and limited shelter capacity, the City Council passed four laws that would allow for City FHEPS (a local rental assistance program) to expand its eligibility list and reduce barriers such as shelter residency requirements, so that more households can benefit from the program.
In response to Mayor Adams’ refusal to enforce City FHEPS expansion laws, the Legal Aid Society began a lawsuit on behalf of impacted families, sparking an ongoing legal fight around housing instability, the increased need for rental assistance, and the City Council’s power to address the issues within their districts.
“New Yorkers of all races, immigration statuses, religions, etc. are suffering from unaffordable rents and housing costs, and we cannot continue to miss opportunities that can save people’s lives,” said Sosseh Prom, Housing Justice Director at African Communities Together. “The expansion of CityFHEPS is the exact kind of direct problem-solving that is needed if we are going to address New York’s housing crisis. We must continue to implement policies such as this that support the basic principle that housing is a human right. We implore Mayor Adams to abide by this principle, act in the best interest of all New Yorkers, and enforce the laws as they were designed.”
African Communities Together would like to sincerely thank the City Council for pushing this vital legislation forward and the New Yorkers who advocate every day for the rights of our most vulnerable residents.