Categories: New York City
04.02.2024
On April 1st, 2024 the City Council released its response to the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget and Preliminary Mayor’s Management Plan (the Response). Overall, the Response built upon the Council's contention that the Administration has overestimated costs and underestimated revenues. The Council asserts that there is an additional $6.15 billion available for Fiscal 2025 in a combination of additional revenue and potential underspending. The Response puts forth a series of proposals for this previously unidentified funding.
We are encouraged to see the Council response identify areas of expansion for supportive housing, including:
- $50 million in additional capital commitment funding for 490 more supportive housing units. The Council supports expanding supportive housing beyond the prior Administration's target, emphasizing serving special populations like those exiting the justice system, foster care, and nursing homes.
- $19.6 million towards the NYC 15/15 Supportive Housing Initiative to help reach its goal of 15,000 units, improve scattered site units and align service and operating rates to 110% of fair market rent, and committing to a dedicated Supportive Housing Preservation Program. Additionally, the response specifically mentions collaborating with the Supportive Housing Network of New York and affordable housing partners to develop an Affordable Housing Overlay Pilot in city funded affordable housing developments.
- $6.4 million for Justice Involved Supportive Housing (JISH), to fulfill the commitment of providing 500 supportive housing units for individuals leaving Rikers. The funding would increase service funding rates and bring more units into operation, addressing the current funding gap and establishing a separate budget line-item for JISH.
The Network will be working with the Council on these recommendations to better understand their calculations.
The Response effectively serves as a starting point to the Council’s negotiations with the Mayor as they work towards the Adoption of the Fiscal 2025 budget. It is very encouraging to be mentioned this prominently in the Response but it is not a guarantee of funding in the final Adopted Budget. Continued advocacy to build on this momentum is necessary to turn these proposals into budgetary reality.
See the full response HERE.