Judge blocks City Council lawsuit seeking to expand rental assistance: What to know

NEW YORK (PIX11) – A judge struck down a City Council-backed lawsuit attempting to force Mayor Eric Adams to expand a housing voucher program known as CityFHEPS.

FHEPS helps families with children who are evicted or facing eviction, lost housing due to a domestic violence situation or lost housing for health or safety reasons. To be eligible for the program, you must already receive cash assistance and have a child under the age of 18, an 18-year-old who is a full-time student or be pregnant.

The program either pays back rent to help a family avoid eviction, even if they're not in court, or pay for the rent for a new apartment if you were evicted.

The lawsuit sought the implementation of legislature passed by the Council that increases access to city-funded rental assistance. The Council overrode Adams' veto of the measure last year.

A Manhattan Supreme Court judge sided with Adams' office, ruling that the Council lacks the authority to expand the program due to state social service laws.

The mayor's office responded to the ruling, saying that it helped over 10,000 New Yorkers from going into homeless shelters last year through FHEPS vouchers. It also helped another 13,000 peo...