Mayor Adams Prepares To Send NYC Homeless Upstate After Migrant Refusal

Martin Dover

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New York City is taking action to assist its homeless and low-income residents by allowing them to relocate upstate, as numerous northern municipalities have declined to accept some of the city’s asylum seekers.

Under the newly unveiled plan, CityFHEPS housing-assistance vouchers can now be used for housing outside of the five boroughs, where rents are typically more affordable and living spaces are more readily available. This marks the first time such vouchers can be utilized in this manner.

This initiative follows months of appeals from New York City Mayor Eric Adams to other parts of the state to accept some of the tens of thousands of migrants who have arrived in the city, straining its shelter system. Mayor Adams even attempted to enlist Governor Kathy Hochul to address the issue, but without success. Consequently, these areas might now receive the city’s homeless population as a result of changes to the voucher program.

Mayor Adams expressed his hope that municipalities across the state would welcome these long-time New Yorkers with open arms and offer them good job opportunities.

He added that these reforms would provide long-time residents of New York City with the opportunity to leave the city’s shelter system for areas of the state with more affordable housing options. Simultaneously, this would free up space in the city’s shelter system, which currently houses more than 113,000 individuals, nearly 60,000 of whom are asylum seekers.

New York City’s voucher program permits recipients to contribute 30% of their income toward rent, with the city covering the remaining cost. The change to the voucher program is expected to go into effect next week.

Commissioner Molly of the New York City Department of Social Services highlighted that this statewide expansion of housing opportunities for CityFHEPS voucher-holders would enable them to pursue stable housing and employment prospects anywhere in New York State, while also aligning the city-funded rental assistance program with federal rental assistance standards.

Although it is unclear how many individuals in the city’s shelter system will be eligible for the program, it should be noted that asylum seekers cannot receive this assistance. Earlier this year, the City Council relaxed some restrictions on the program, eliminating the 90-day requirement for shelter system residents to become eligible for a voucher.