New York City is grappling with a severe shortage of affordable housing while thousands of public housing units sit empty for over a year. City lawmakers are investigating the slow process of filling these units as the overall vacancy rate for affordable rentals remains below 1%. With more than 175,000 families on waiting lists, only 500 shelter residents secured vacant NYCHA apartments in 2024, prompting scrutiny on delays attributed to aging infrastructure and extensive maintenance required for the units. Public safety and increased pressure on homeless shelters are additional concerns linked to these vacancies.
Advocates and low-income New Yorkers have criticized NYCHA's slow transfer process, which can take months or even years to complete.
The Coalition for the Homeless found that only 500 shelter residents were moved to vacant NYCHA units in 2024, a significant drop from 1,500 in 2021.
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