The Real Estate Board of New York to The City Council Committee on Public Housing regarding Emergency Housing Vouchers and the Housing Access Voucher Program

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The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is the City's leading real estate trade association representing commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers, salespeople, and other organizations and individuals active in New York City real estate. REBNY appreciates the opportunity to express our support for Resolution 0495-2026 calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign into law, A10992 (Rosenthal)/S9430-A (Kavanagh), which aims to protect thousands of New Yorkers from losing rental assistance as funding for the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program is exhausted.

The EHV program has served as a critical lifeline for households experiencing or at risk of homelessness throughout the five boroughs. Today, however, many of those households face uncertainty given the impending loss of NYCHA-administered EHVs. Over 5,000 New York City households currently rely on EHVs, and without a replacement source of rental assistance, many of these households will face housing instability, displacement, or homelessness.

This challenge comes at a time when New York City continues to grapple with an unprecedented housing shortage and sustained pressure on its shelter system. Preventing households from losing their homes is far more effective and less costly than attempting to rehouse them after they enter shelter. Ensuring continuity of rental assistance for vulnerable households should therefore remain a central goal of the City's efforts to address the housing crisis.

REBNY has long supported the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) as a valuable tool to address housing instability and prevent homelessness. As thousands of New Yorkers face the potential loss of EHV assistance, HAVP provides an existing framework through which eligible households can continue receiving rental assistance and remain stably housed. A10992 (Rosenthal)/S9430-A (Kavanagh) strengthens this framework by expanding priority access to HAVP for households at risk of losing federal assistance due to program termination, funding reductions, or changes in eligibility requirements. By creating a clear pathway for EHV recipients to transition into ongoing rental assistance, this legislation would help prevent unnecessary displacement and reduce the likelihood that vulnerable households enter the shelter system.

This bill also includes important administrative improvements that would help ensure assistance can be deployed efficiently. Allowing local program administrators to conduct inspections when assistance contracts are established will reduce administrative burdens, accelerate voucher utilization, and facilitate smoother transitions between rental assistance programs. Together, these reforms will help preserve housing stability for thousands of New Yorkers while maximizing the effectiveness of the State's investment in HAVP.

At a time when New York City faces both a housing affordability crisis and historically low vacancy rates, every effort should be made to keep households stably housed and prevent homelessness. For these reasons, REBNY urges the Council to adopt this resolution and calls on the State Legislature and Governor to enact this legislation in the upcoming 2027 legislative session.

Thank you for your consideration of these points.

CONTACT:
Kate Goldmann
Senior Housing and Planning Analyst
Real Estate Board of New York
[email protected]