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

“We are encouraged by several important investments highlighted by Mayor Adams in his Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget address. The Mayor called attention to the City’s efforts to address the needs of migrants, prioritize converting office space into affordable housing, and invest in shelter-based mental health staff and community coordinators to support the educational needs of children.

While we look forward to learning more about the mayor’s budget, it’s never been clearer that we must take urgent action to combat the devastating family homelessness crisis in New York City. Specifically, the City needs to expedite filling city staffing vacancies and invest equitably in the contract human service workforce, take critical steps to prevent entrance into shelter, and expedite the move to permanent housing by ending the CityFHEPS rule requiring families to stay in shelter for 90 days before they can be eligible for a desperately needed voucher. Additionally, as office to residential conversions are completed and more affordable housing becomes available, we must prioritize domestic violence survivors, homeless youth, and at-risk families.”

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This statement is from the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Enterprise Community Partners and New Destiny Housing on behalf of the Family Homelessness Coalition.

ABOUT

The Family Homelessness Coalition (FHC) is composed of 16 organizations representing service and housing providers and children’s advocacy organizations. FHC is united by the goal of launching a coordinated, collaborative, multi-agency effort focused on preventing family homelessness, improving the well-being of children and families in shelters, and supporting the long-term stability of families with children who leave shelters.