The Legal Aid Society has won an appeal that will force Mayor Eric Adams and the City to begin implementation of a package of legislation that reforms and expands the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program, a local housing voucher for New Yorkers on the brink of or experiencing homelessness.

The Court’s order directs the Adams administration to present the City Council’s subsidy expansion package for approval by the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), the first step in making the expanded subsidies a reality for vulnerable New Yorkers. The ruling also reaffirms the City Council’s role in continuing to define social services policies – a role that Mayor Adams sought to deny.

The lawsuit was initially filed in February of 2024, on behalf of New Yorkers who would be eligible for CityFHEPS under the new laws but who were barred – until now – from accessing the rent subsidy because the Adams Administration had refused to implement the reforms.

“Today’s unanimous appellate decision is a critical moment for thousands of New Yorkers struggling with housing insecurity,” said Robert Desir, an attorney in the Civil Law Reform Unit at Legal Aid. “This ruling reinforces the City Council’s authority to implement policies that provide much-needed relief to vulnerable residents, ensuring they can remain in and access stable housing.

“At a time when affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges in New York City, this decision marks a significant step toward a housing system that is accessible and fair for all,” he continued. “We call on the Mayor to act with the urgency this issue demands and to expeditiously seek State approval for these essential subsidies. We further urge the State to approve the expansion promptly to prevent thousands of additional, needless evictions.”