State audit faults oversight of homeless program vouchers amNewYork

"A New York State Comptroller audit of New York City's program to provide vouchers to help people in danger of eviction obtain housing found poor conditions, high rents and failure to qualify some seeking help. The audit by the state comptroller's office of the program that pays landlords rent subsidies for those at risk of homelessness said weak oversight and administrative lapses resulted in rising costs and placing some vulnerable families in unsafe housing."

"New York City in 2018 created the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program, overseen by the New York City Department of Social Services. Designed to help low-income New Yorkers avoid homelessness and find permanent housing, the program cost $834 million in fiscal 2025 and is projected to cost the City $1.2 billion in fiscal 2025, up from $176 million in 2019 as the number it serves increases. This has become increasingly important with more than 100,000 as of June 2025 sleeping in city shelters, thousands more in public spaces and 200,000 in others' homes, according to the audit."

"DSS, in its response to the audit, said New York City, with a 1.4% apartment vacancy rate, relies on this program as one way to battle homelessness. Run through DSS's New York City Human Resources Administration and the New York City Department of Homeless Services, the program is currently helping 60,000 households pay for housing, including 14,000 placed in fiscal 2024, the largest number to date."

CityFHEPS was created in 2018 to provide rent subsidy vouchers to low-income New Yorkers at risk of eviction and homelessness. The program expanded rapidly, costing $834 million and projected at $1.2 billion in fiscal 2025, up from $176 million in 2019, while serving a growing number of households. More than 100,000 people slept in city shelters as of June 2025, with many more in public spaces or others' homes. Auditors identified poor housing conditions, high rents, failures to qualify some applicants, weak oversight, and administrative lapses that drove rising costs and unsafe placements. DSS cited a 1.4% vacancy rate and reliance on the program and emphasized the need for proper oversight and monitoring controls.

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