Here’s What We Know So Far About New York’s New Housing Voucher Program

A person or family regardless of their immigration status could be eligible for the voucher if they don t have a home or are about to lose their housing and if they make less than percent of the Area Median Income for a family of four in New York City An apartment building in the Bronx Photo by Adi Talwar After years of calls for a statewide rent voucher activity for people experiencing or at pitfall of homelessness Gov Kathy Hochul reported her commitment to launching a pilot activity for the Housing Voucher Access Effort HAVP last week While the State and Assembly s budget proposals sought million for HAVP this year the state budget deal included just million to cover the first year of the four-year effort which would run from March and end on May Funding for the remaining three years will be negotiated in future budgets executives revealed State Sen Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal who chair their respective houses housing committees sponsored a version of the HAVP bill for the last limited years which shaped the final language included in the budget Here s what we know about how HAVP would work so far and what is yet to be determined Who will be eligible A person or family regardless of their immigration status could be eligible for the voucher if they don t have a home or are about to lose their housing They also need to earn no more than percent of the Area Median Income AMI In New York City that would be less than for a family of four as defined by the U S Department of Housing and Urban Improvement HUD Both Rosenthal and Kavanagh s offices reported it has not yet been determined how much money will go to New York City and other localities but reported the amount may be calculated based on the proportion of severely rent-burdened households in each area Priority shall be given to applicants who are homeless reads the budget bill establishing the venture s perimeters The state Department of Housing and Neighborhood Renewal HCR commissioner has the discretion to establish further priorities as appropriate the bill notes There were more than people in New York City s shelter system in January including around asylum seekers and immigrants according to facts tracked by City Limits Who will be in charge HCR will run the pilot effort and will define the specifics and documentation needed to apply Rosenthal explained that of the million available percent will go to administrative costs such as outreach staff scheme design and other materials HCR will also coordinate with society housing agencies and local administrators in the state to distribute the vouchers In the city it could be the Housing Authority NYCHA and the Department of Housing and Enhancement HPD City Limits demanded all three agencies for more details about the pilot scheme but did not receive additional information beyond what was included in the budget bill I spoke to HPD and they re very eager to get started Rosenthal announced How will the vouchers work Voucher holders will contribute about percent of their household s monthly adjusted income on rent and the voucher will cover the rest Its value will be set between and percent of the fair industry rent for the rental area The vouchers will remain valid as long as funding is available Rosenthal explained The New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council estimates that such a voucher scheme could help reduce poverty across the state Like federal Section vouchers the HAVP administrator will issue payments directly to the owner of the unit under contract While the Section voucher was used as a model for HAVP having one of these vouchers excludes having the other so people can only have one New York City also has its own voucher undertaking called the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement CityFHEPS to help families move out of shelters and into permanent housing More than households are receiving CityFHEPS vouchers at present and the city is projected to spend billion on the operation this fiscal year significantly more than the million allocated for the statewide HAVP Hochul who until this year had resisted the proposal declared last month that the state would be moderating the cost and keeping an eye on the operation This has possible to escalate a great deal she stated reporters at the time CityFHEPS works similarly to Section though has been criticized for lack of consistency in making payments something state lawmakers are mindful of in launching the new venture I think HCR is going to learn the lessons that are blatant through the city s lack of finesse in administering CityFHEPS Rosenthal declared There are reporting requirements that weren t in the initial bill that we insisted be attached so we can get more records and tailor it See where it s working see where it requirements improvement What s next Vouchers should be available for use starting March The first annual account on voucher pilot implementation should be available on Nov It will detail the amount of funding allocated for each county number of voucher applicants number of people on waiting lists number of voucher beneficiaries and details about the homeless population receiving vouchers among other evidence points A statement will be published every year until the pilot initiative ends To reach the reporter behind this story contact Daniel citylimits org To reach the editor contact Jeanmarie citylimits org Want to republish this story Find City Limits reprint strategy here The post Here s What We Know So Far About New York s New Housing Voucher Operation appeared first on City Limits