Mayor Adams opens Bronx affordable housing, advancing shelter-to-home effort

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park celebrated the opening of a new Affordable Housing Services (AHS) site in the Bronx on December 23, 2024, signaling another step in the city’s progress toward permanently housing homeless New Yorkers.

The new building, which offers 63 high-quality homes for individuals with CityFHEPS vouchers, is part of the Adams administration’s ongoing initiative to reduce homelessness and provide long-term housing solutions.

The Bronx project is one of several being fast-tracked through the AHS initiative, which aims to create nearly 900 deeply affordable homes for New Yorkers currently in shelter. The city’s efforts in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) led to a record 18,500 households moving from shelters to permanent homes, a 24 percent increase from the previous year. This success comes as the city has seen unprecedented use of CityFHEPS vouchers, designed to provide housing subsidies for vulnerable individuals.

Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of stable housing, stating, “A home is more than just a place for a family to rest their heads at night — it’s the skeleton key to unlocking the American Dream of stable, secure housing and a pathway to the middle class. With today’s announcement, we are taking unhoused New Yorkers from the streets and shelters and placing them into stable housing, bringing them one step closer to turning that American Dream into a reality.”

The Bronx site, developed in collaboration with The Doe Fund, is the latest in a series of AHS projects aimed at providing permanent housing solutions for those most in need. The Doe Fund, a nonprofit with four decades of experience in supporting vulnerable New Yorkers, will operate the site. Its signature “Ready, Willing, and Able” program helps individuals facing barriers such as justice involvement and substance use challenges to secure stable housing and employment.

“A robust shelter system is necessary for supporting New Yorkers in crisis, but it’s no substitute for permanent housing,” noted DSS Commissioner Wasow Park. “We have been laser-focused on expediting and expanding pathways to housing for New Yorkers in need, and the results speak for themselves.”

The 63-unit building represents part of a broader effort to open nearly 400 new units of affordable housing in 2024, with more units planned for the coming year. These homes are being made available to individuals holding CityFHEPS vouchers, who have struggled to find housing due to the city’s severe housing shortage. The AHS initiative provides a sustainable model by enabling nonprofits to purchase long-term leases for buildings and creating affordable housing with tenant protections for voucher holders.

“Through this initiative, we are not only providing homes but also ensuring long-term affordability and stability,” said Commissioner Wasow Park. “With the opening of these homes, we are demonstrating that change can happen quickly when we collaborate effectively.”

As part of broader efforts to address the city’s housing crisis, the Adams administration has secured funding and support for several innovative housing initiatives, including the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” zoning proposal and a $26 billion investment in housing capital. These initiatives aim to create tens of thousands of new homes over the next 15 years and provide critical updates to the city’s infrastructure.

In a statement, Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar praised the new AHS site as part of the city’s groundbreaking work to address homelessness. “This work included almost 400 new deeply affordable homes and a record number of CityFHEPS voucher users. Through our determination, we will give all New Yorkers the help and support they need.”

The new development reflects a broader commitment to tackling homelessness with innovative housing solutions. Jennifer Mitchell, President and CEO of The Doe Fund, noted, “This innovative development provides a pathway to stability for 63 individuals and families with histories of homelessness. We thank Mayor Eric Adams, Commissioner Wasow Park, and all those involved in making this ambitious vision a reality.”