Shelter Should Not be the Default: VOA-GNY on Mayor’s Appeal to Block CityFHEPS Expansion
NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 25, 2026) – Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) released the following statement in response to Mayor Mamdani’s decision to appeal the CityFHEPS expansion laws:
“We are profoundly disappointed by the Mayor’s decision to appeal, rather than implement, CityFHEPS expansion laws. At a time when New Yorkers are experiencing homelessness and housing instability at persistently high levels, this action delays progress toward a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Shelter should not be the default.
CityFHEPS is the most effective tool we have to move people into permanent housing, but at any given time, about two-thirds of VOA-GNY shelter residents are not eligible. Expansion would allow more New Yorkers to access rental assistance before facing eviction and homelessness, while also creating clearer pathways out of shelter for those already in the system, including domestic violence survivors and youth.
“The expansion of CityFHEPS would mean families would not have to endure the trauma of displacement just to qualify for help,” says Dr. Jeffrey Ginsburg, President & CEO of VOA-GNY. “Expansion would give people the flexibility to build financial stability and improve their overall well-being without losing their housing, enabling them to more actively participate in the economic and civic life of our city.”
For three years while we’ve waited for expansion, 25,000 people have gone through preventable evictions, and countless others have spent years in shelters with no way out—upending lives and costing the city far more than keeping people housed.
Not long ago, there was a shared sense of possibility around tackling New York’s affordability challenges. The Mayor’s vision inspired hope across the city, and it remains within reach. We urge the Mayor to reconsider this course and follow through on his promise to advance these reforms so the City can move closer to a more stable, equitable housing system for all New Yorkers.”