Mayor Eric Adams announced the city will be expanding its CITY FHEP's voucher program across the state. The vouchers allow New Yorkers in the shelter system to find affordable housing outside of the city.
The initiative comes as the city continues to deal with a mounting shelter population due to both the housing and migrant crisis.
The vouchers are offered to unhoused New Yorkers under the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement program, commonly referred to as CITY FHEP's. Up until now, the vouchers were only able to be used within the five boroughs, but now their reach will be statewide.
Adams says 113,000 individuals are under the city's care with hundreds of migrants arriving each day. The city's goal is for the expanded policy to free up needed shelter space and move New Yorkers into permanent housing.
The city will says they will adjust the vouchers based on the fair market rent rate in each region wherever they're used.
"This policy will help New Yorkers find permanent, affordable homes from Buffalo Avenue in Brooklyn to the City of Buffalo in Western New York. At the same time, it will provide stable income for landlords across the state," said Christine C. Quinn, President and CEO of shelter provider WIN.
As for how many people will decided to back their bags and leave the city, that is still to be seen.