NEW YORK – Today, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, New Destiny Housing, and Enterprise Community Partners issued the following statement on New York’s Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget:

“We are deeply disappointed that Governor Hochul and state legislators failed to enact and fund the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) in this year’s state budget. With broad support from real estate trade organizations, faith-based groups, affordable housing and childhood well-being advocates, and social justice campaigners, HAVP was the urgent solution New York families experiencing or at risk of homelessness desperately needed.

New York’s failure to support HAVP will be acutely felt by the more than 90,000 New Yorkers living in shelters and on the streets and nearly 600,000 households behind on rent. By not funding this critical tool, state leaders are contributing to New York’s worsening housing crisis. HAVP is a fiscally responsible policy that would reduce the need for the overcrowded shelter system and allow families on the brink of homelessness to secure stable housing. We hope to work with Governor Hochul and legislators over the coming months to secure a meaningful commitment to address the devastating housing crisis facing New York’s families.”