Mayor Adams offers to nix 90-day homeless shelter rule as he eyes veto on NYC housing legislation
New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, is proposing to suspend the city’s rule that requires homeless individuals to spend at least 90 days in city shelters before qualifying for a housing voucher. This proposal is believed to be part of City Hall’s effort to secure enough votes on the City Council to veto a larger package of legislation that not only gets rid of the 90-day rule but also expands the eligibility for the program. The Adams administration has been accused of trying to find ways to circumvent the City Council and the law. Councilwoman Diana Ayala, who chairs the committee overseeing the city’s response to homelessness, has said that “the entire package needs to be signed into law”.
The package of four bills was passed in late May by the lawmakers with a veto-proof majority, which not only shortens shelter stays but also makes it easier for New Yorkers facing eviction to apply for a voucher. This package increases the income cut-offs for the program, and landlords cannot deduct the cost of utilities from the city-issued rent check. The Adams administration protested the package, accusing the lawmakers of trying to foist a tax increase on city residents. The legislative clock on Adams started ticking when the council took action, giving him 30 days to decide between accepting the legislation and trying to round up the votes to sustain a veto. City Hall said that the package of bills would make it “harder for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness to exit shelter to permanent housing”.
City officials reached out to top social service nonprofits over the weekend to brief them on Adams’ plan to make the administrative rule changes. The officials declined to comment on the fate of the entire package in those conversations, but supporters of the legislation described it as an apparent attempt to lock down enough votes to uphold a veto. City Hall refused to confirm a coming announcement but attacked the council’s package again in a statement responding to The Post’s questions. City Hall press secretary Fabien Levy said that “No announcement is confirmed until we make it, but since day one of this administration, Mayor Adams has worked to shelter New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and connect our city’s residents with more permanent housing”.
FAQs:
1. What is the 90-day rule?
The 90-day rule requires homeless individuals to spend at least 90 days in city shelters before qualifying for a housing voucher.
2. What did the package of four bills passed by the lawmakers include?
The package of four bills not only gets rid of the 90-day rule to shorten shelter stays but also makes it easier for New Yorkers facing eviction to apply for a voucher. It increases the income cut-offs for the program and bars landlords from deducting the cost of utilities from the city-issued rent check.
3. What is the Adams administration proposing?
The Adams administration is proposing to suspend the city’s rule that requires homeless individuals to spend at least 90 days in city shelters before qualifying for a housing voucher.
4. Why is the Adams administration proposing to suspend the 90-day rule?
The Adams administration is proposing to suspend the 90-day rule as part of City Hall’s effort to secure enough votes on the City Council to veto a larger package of legislation that not only gets rid of the 90-day rule but also expands the eligibility for the program.
5. What is the legislative clock on Adams?
The legislative clock on Adams started ticking when the council took action, giving him 30 days to decide between accepting the legislation and trying to round up the votes to sustain a veto.
Mayor Adams Proposes Abolishing 90-Day Homeless Shelter Regulation and Considers Vetoing NYC Housing Bill
The administration of New York Mayor Eric Adams has proposed suspending a controversial rule which requires the city’s homeless population spend at least 90 days in a shelter before becoming eligible for a housing voucher. Sources close to the matter claim that Adams hopes the compromise will appease lawmakers and ensure their support for a veto of a larger package of legislation, which not only cancels the 90-day rule but extends the eligibility criteria of the program. However, Councilwoman Diana Ayala, who chairs the committee overseeing the city’s response to homelessness, remains opposed to the suspension, saying: “The entire package needs to be signed into law.” Four bills relating to homelessness in the city were passed in May, and included provisions to make it easier for New Yorkers facing eviction to claim housing vouchers, to increase income eligibility limits and to prevent landlords from adding costs of utilities to city-issued rent checks.