NYC Voucher Delays Keep Families in Shelters

The process for New York City residents to leave shelters and secure housing vouchers remains slow and complex.

Roxy Shweky, a specialist at the housing nonprofit Anthos Home, recently guided an inspector through a Brooklyn apartment that had already failed twice. During the tour, the inspector identified a smoke detector in the wrong position and an ungrounded electrical outlet. The review ended when he found a metal bracket on a kitchen window frame missing one of two required screws. The apartment failed a third time, delaying the move for the waiting family.

Chris Mann, vice president of public policy at WIN, the city’s largest family shelter provider, noted that while the goal is safe housing, the current process is overly complex. Housing advocates argue that minor issues, such as a typo on a form or a burned-out bulb, can add weeks to a family’s stay in a shelter. The application package often requires 70 to 100 pages of documentation, including income verification, shelter letters, and lease agreements. A single error, such as listing an apartment number as both 1A and A1, can force applicants to resubmit the entire package.

The Mamdani administration has implemented changes to accelerate the approval timeline. Nicholas Jacobelli, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services, stated that the city reduced the rate of returned applications from 94% to 58%. The average time to approve or deny an application has dropped to 24 days from 28 days. City officials launched a pilot program to coordinate directly with landlords to speed up move-ins. However, providers say more work is needed, especially as the number of New Yorkers in shelters hits record highs while the availability of affordable units remains low.

City Council members have introduced bills to streamline the system, including a proposal to require a decision on applications within 15 days. Jackie Mallon, chief operating officer at Anthos Home, compared the current process to a board game where players frequently reset. Erin Dalton, the commissioner of social services, said the agency must balance speed with safety. She noted that once a person is eligible, it takes an average of 236 days for a family to move into a unit. About 14,200 people currently hold authorized vouchers and are searching for apartments. The city has only 1.4% of its apartments empty, which prolongs the search.

The CityFHEPS program serves more than 74,000 households, with recipients paying no more than 30% of their income toward rent. The city covers the remaining cost. Federal cuts to rental assistance have made these vouchers the primary path out of shelters. The administration earlier this year aimed to save $500 million by reviewing payments to landlords and brokers. In April, officials began checking for overpayments, a move that increased review times. Jade Vasquez, director of policy at WIN, reported that a process that once took two days now averages 53 days. In September, the city moved the rent review to after move-in for rent-stabilized units, but market-rate units still face delays.

Inspections represent a major bottleneck. Nonprofit partners handle many reviews, while the Department of Social Services conducts more complex checks. The checklist is strict, requiring water temperatures to be between 120 and 128 degrees Fahrenheit. A 44% failure rate for city-conducted inspections is common, driven by issues with water temperature, electrical outlets, and window guards. Laura Lazarus, CEO of Anthos Home, described the need for exact compliance. Landlord Iser Shepherd said long delays leave units vacant and frustrate property managers who want to accept vouchers if the process is simple.

Administrative inconsistencies also affect applicants. If a household’s income changes by more than $125 per month, they must resubmit pay stubs for a budget recalculation. Mario Vega, program director of operations at Anthos Home, noted that hourly workers often trigger this requirement due to fluctuating shifts. Shelters are budgeted for one housing specialist per 40 residents, though not all have one. Kelvin Wallace, 65, spent 11 months in a shelter while working with three different case managers. He had to submit his application multiple times before Anthos Home helped him secure an apartment in four months.