CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org 

VOCAL-NY COMMENDS CITY COUNCIL FOR OVERRIDING ADAMS’ VETO OF CRITICAL LEGISLATION TO HELP KEEP HOMELESS NEW YORKERS HOUSED

Int. 1372: Crucially Caps CityFHEPS Required Renter Contribution at Thirty Percent 

NEW YORK —- Today, City Council again demonstrated true leadership over a Mayor that continues to wage war on homeless New Yorkers by overriding Mayor Adams’ veto of Int. 1372 – legislation to permanently limit the mandatory rent contribution to no greater than 30% of a household’s income for recipients of CityFHEPS (Family Homelessness and Evictions Prevention Supplement). In response, VOCAL-NY released the following statement attributable to Milton Perez, leader with VOCAL-NY’s Homelessness Union: 

“My experience, from being able to get this voucher years back, to seeing the organizations and electeds keep fighting to make it what it is now – I’m proud it’s helped tens of thousands of people get out of shelter. This is about getting people housed, but also us staying housed. It’s all about helping people get somewhere that can actually be thought of as home.

This veto override is the sensible, smart thing to do. Mayor Adam’s proposal of raising the rent contribution didn’t make sense to me. It would have put people at risk. The voucher program is working, and I’m glad to know these solutions are staying.” 

BACKGROUND:

On October 9, the City Council passed Int. 1372 to permanently cap rent contributions for CityFHEPS recipients at no more than 30% of a household’s income. This legislation was a direct response to the Adams administration’s September 13 rule change, which required income-earning CityFHEPS households enrolled in the program for five years or more to pay 40% of their income toward rent — a change that would have pushed many formerly homeless, low-income New Yorkers into rent burden.

On his way out of office — and in what many see as a vendetta against both the City Council and homeless New Yorkers — Mayor Adams vetoed Int. 1372 on November 10.

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