The New York City Council Committee on Public Housing, chaired by Councilmember Chris Banks, held an oversight hearing on June 17, 2026, to examine the premature termination of the federal Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program and to consider Resolution 495, which calls on the state to expand the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP). The hearing focused on the impact on nearly 5,000 NYCHA-administered and 2,000 HPD-administered EHV households facing loss of rental assistance by the end of 2026, and the transition plans to alternative subsidies.
Good morning and welcome to today's New York City Council hearing on committee on public housing. At this time during today's hearing, no one may approach the dais. Please silence any electronic devices that you might have. Chair, you may begin. Thank you. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the hearing on a committee of public housing for the New York City Council. I'm Councilmember Chris Banks, the committee chair, and I would like to thank my colleagues who have joined us here today, Councilman Marty. Um today uh the committee is holding an oversight hearing on the premature end of the federal emergency housing voucher program, which we call the EHV program. The efforts by NYCHA and HP in progress. Should I begin? Should I repeat? Okay. I'll start over again, let's get back in my trend. Today the committee's holding an oversight hearing on the premature end of the federal emergency housing voucher program. Uh the efforts by NYCHA and HBD to transition nearly 5,002 New York City households that currently rely on these vouchers to remain stable housed. We will hear uh we will also hear uh resolution 495, which I sponsored, uh calling on the uh New York State Legislature to pass and the governor to sign uh this legislation would strengthen the state's housing access voucher program by improving unit inspection requirements and prioritizing applicants uh with the greatest housing needs. Uh during COVID-19 uh pandemic, Congress created the emergency housing voucher program uh to provide rental assistance uh to some of the nation's most vulnerable households, including individuals and families experiencing experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Uh survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and uh human trafficking, and families with children. The program was originally funded uh through September 2030 and resulted in approximately 70,000 vouchers being issued nationwide. New York City received nearly 8,000 of those vouchers and continues to administer more emergency housing vouchers than any other city in the nation. However, in March of last year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it would end the program four years ahead of the schedule, cutting off funding at the end of 2026. Now let me be clear, this decision uh has created an urgent and unacceptable situation. More than 5,000 households in New York City now face the very real possibility of losing rental assistance that keeps a roof over their heads. But in case of anyone, if in case of everyone forgot, uh behind every voucher is a person, a family, a senior, a veteran, a survivor who depends on this assistance to remain housed. Today the committee will ask many questions, but the most important one is simple. What is the plan? Uh with this with less than five months remaining uh before funding expires. We need more than general assurances. We need concrete answers. Those questions which we will ask. Uh, how many households have already been transitioned to alternative housing assistance program? How many remain at risk? Uh what barriers still exist, what resources are needed, and what specific actions NYCHA HPD or the state, our federal partners are taking right now to ensure that these families do not fall through the cracks. Last September, this committee held an oversight hearing on the administration of Section 8 and the emergency housing voucher program. And at that time, NYCHA testified it anticipated transitioning and affected affected households to alternative, alternative forms of assistance, including Section 8, uh Section 9, and the home tenant-based rental assistance program. Now, nine months later, the committee expects a detailed update on the progress that has been made. The luxury of time is not on our side. And every delay increases the risk that thousands of New Yorkers could face housing instability or homelessness. The people relying on these vouchers did everything we asked them. They followed the rules, secured housing, built stability for themselves and their families, and it is now the administration's responsibility to ensure stability is not taken away. We need a clear pathway forward, meaningful coordination across all levels of government, and a commitment, a commitment that no household currently receiving the emergency housing voucher assistance will be left behind. That is why resolution 495 is so important. This legislation would expand eligibility for New York State's housing access voucher program to prioritize households currently receiving emergency housing vouchers and help create a safety net for those at risk of losing federal assistance. Housing stability should not depend on whether the federal program is extended or allowed to expire. Our neighbors deserve certainty. They deserve dignity and they deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing they will not lose their homes. You know, I look forward to this hearing, hearing from the authority, HPD, and the other agency partners, advocates, members of the public about the immediate steps uh that must be taken to protect these these households and ensure that every available tool is being used to keep New Yorkers housed. I would like to uh thank my chief of staff, Michael Lambert, along with the committee staff, Samia, Jose, Charles Spencer, uh Reese, uh James, Chowdery, Noah, and the hard work for their hard work for preparing today's hearing. We will uh now go to a prepanel uh where we will have uh affected, impacted residents uh give their testimony.