$95M Of Rental Relief Freed Up For NYCHA Tenants: City, State

NEW YORK CITY — Close to $95 million from the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program is coming to help New York City Housing Authority tenants address unpaid rent balances, Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams said at a joint announcement Monday.

The funds will help about 15,000 tenants stay in their homes and are beginning to register in residents' NYCHA accounts, Adams said. The state’s fiscal year budget includes $350 million to supplement federal ERAP funding for public and subsidized housing residents, including those living in NYCHA.

“Tenants who live in public or subsidized housing deserve safe, livable and affordable homes," said Hochul, adding she is “committed to working with NYCHA to ensure every eligible tenant gets the support they need."

Under the Cuomo administration, NYCHA was effectively shut out of ERAP, as legislation required that tenants of subsidized housing could not be paid until all other applications had been processed.

"For months, our administration partnered with residents and elected officials to advocate for the support they needed, and I'm proud that we are delivering for them today," Adams said Monday.

This money will also give the cash-strapped NYCHA the ability to cover operational costs and deal with some needed repairs, officials said.

But paying off the rental debts tenants accrued during the pandemic years and beyond would cost way more than the $95 million announced Monday, residents and housing advocates say.

NYCHA has seen rent arrears more than quadruple in recent years, with 73,000 households currently behind on rent, officials said. And tenants in the city’s public housing system collectively owe $533 million in unpaid rent, Adams' office said.

A report from The City said the average amount of back rent owed by NYCHA tenants is $7,200. And thousands of New Yorkers who live in public or subsidized housing did not apply for ERAP, per a report from City Limits.

Read the full announcement here.