Tenants in New York City are gearing up for a legal fight against Mayor Eric Adams regarding rental assistance laws.
In an attempt to keep low-income New Yorkers out of shelters, a set of laws was passed by the New York City Council last year. The laws aimed to expand the rent supplement program known as CityFHEPS. However, even after the Council overrode Adams’ veto, the mayor refused to put the laws into effect.
His office released a statement defending the decision, stating:
“The Adams administration has invested heavily in CityFHEPS — increasing funding, implementing reforms, and significantly expanding eligibility and access for the most at-risk New Yorkers. We have wide-ranging tools to help New Yorkers stay housed and avoid shelter, including CityFHEPS vouchers, which nearly 9,000 New Yorkers used to avoid shelter in the 2023 fiscal year.”
According to a representative from the Law Department, they still believe that the four local laws concerning CityFHEPS imposed by the Council are preempted. This is because the legal authority to establish eligibility criteria for DSS’s CityFHEPS rental assistance program is granted to DSS by the State law, not the City Council.
The mayor is being sued by attorneys from the Legal Aid Society as they hold a different opinion.
Staff attorney Robert Desir expressed disappointment that the laws were not ready to take effect as planned in January.
The lawsuit now has the City Council as one of its participants. On July 22, a New York State Supreme Court hearing will take place, and a judge will make a ruling.
Desir expressed optimism that a positive decision would be made soon, citing the numerous individuals eagerly awaiting the much-needed relief.
Former Queens truck driver says he needs CityFHEPS to pay rent
Arnaldo Fernandez was concerned about his job as a truck driver when he began experiencing vision problems.
He admitted that he was losing his eyesight rapidly, but he was hesitant to come to terms with it. “Losing my eyesight was a difficult reality to accept,” he shared.
Unfortunately, his worst fears became a reality as he lost his peripheral vision due to glaucoma. As a result, he can no longer maintain the income needed to pay rent for his family’s home in Bayside, where they have resided for the past 15 years.
“He said that he was in a tight spot with rent and was seeking assistance,” he explained.
Fernandez is facing the possibility of ending up at a shelter located in the Bronx due to overcrowding concerns. He expressed that seeking assistance is his final option.
As he shared his aspirations, he expressed his first priority: finding a roof over his head. “Once I secure a place to stay, my next goal is to become a grandpa. I can’t wait to meet that little bundle of joy,” he stated with a smile.
