The Legal Aid Society, along with the New York City Council, today announced a settlement with the Mamdani Administration resolving a lawsuit over the implementation of the CityFHEPS rental assistance program. 

“Today’s settlement is a major victory for New Yorkers in shelters and those facing eviction and homelessness, bringing an end to years of unnecessary litigation and clearing the way for more families to access life-saving rental assistance,” said Robert Desir, an attorney with the Civil Law Reform Unit at Legal Aid. “We are especially grateful to Speaker Julie Menin, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings, Council Member Pierina Sanchez, and the other members of the City Council who stood firm in defending these reforms and ensuring that expanding rental assistance remained a budget priority.”

“This agreement secures a $175 million appropriation, modernizes the City’s rental assistance framework, and brings this needless litigation to a close,” he continued. “More New Yorkers will now be able to access the support they need before losing their homes, reaffirming what we’ve long known: investing in rental assistance is both the humane choice and the fiscally responsible one.”