Kingston, NY – Despite initial reporting that the Housing Access Voucher Program was dead in state budget negotiations for the fourth year in a row under Governor Hochul, a push from the Assembly has succeeded in creating a four-year pilot program that will fund vouchers to keep some of the most housing-insecure New Yorkers in stable homes.

“Our state is experiencing a major crisis in homelessness, with over 150,000 New Yorkers reported to be without a home, and another 175,000 households at the risk of eviction,” said Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, who has been pushing for the Housing Access Voucher Program since getting into office in 2023, “Here in Ulster County, the number of homeless people has increased by 51%, and families, even those with young children, have had to live in unsafe conditions or in motels for two years or more, in places that tend to be far from basic needs like public transit, groceries, and schools. To curb homelessness immediately, and to save money in the process, we need to be able to move people from emergency shelters to stable homes, and help those facing an imminent risk of homelessness to remain housed.

Last month, Ulster County Comptroller Gallagher reported that the county’s emergency housing costs have skyrocketed, and by 2024, residents spent a staggering 129,170 nights in emergency housing, an increase of 149%2020. The Housing Access Voucher Program will save us money in two ways: by helping people stay in lower market rate homes instead of costly emergency shelters, and by lowering indirect costs such as the cost of juvenile detention that is linked to the displacement or homelessness of youth. Under the program, which has passed in the budget as a four-year pilot, the tenants are responsible for paying 30% of the monthly adjusted income of the household, will need to re-certify their income on an annual basis, and will be protected from unjust evictions.

An initial funding of $50 million is appropriated to the program—$20 million from the Assembly, and $30 million from the Governor. The program will go into effect on March 1st, 2026, and an annual report is required beginning November 1st of 2026 to provide information such as how much money each county spent, the number of households who applied, the number of households on waiting lists, and more.

According to a recent report, fully funding the program at $250 million would have reduced homelessness in the Mid-Hudson region by 47% and saved us $14.8 million, helping us to move almost 3,000 individuals from shelters to stable homes, and preventing eviction for over 1,500 individuals. This estimated impact will now be reduced to a fifth, but we hope the pilot will illustrate its effectiveness so that we can fund it fully in the coming years and tackle statewide homelessness more effectively. In the longer term, we need to create a social housing state authority to build, rehab, and preserve permanently affordable homes for a wide range of incomes and keep our communities intact.”

“I am thrilled that the Governor and Legislature have reached agreement in this year’s State Budget to pilot a Housing Access Voucher Program, an initiative I’ve strongly supported to help struggling residents in a time of sky-rocketing housing costs,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “Too many people in our county are barely scraping by to pay the rent, with nearly 30% of renters considered ‘severely cost burdened.’ This is not just an urban problem, it’s a rural problem as well, and I want to thank Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha, Assembly and Senate leaders, and Governor Hochul for working to get the HAVP over the finish line.”

Laura Nordstrom, Ulster County Director of Housing and Homelessness, added, "The lack of units that are affordable for individuals and families to transition to from emergency housing has had a dramatic impact on the length of stays in emergency housing. At a time when HUD is reducing Section 8, a state piloted subsidy is crucial. The Housing Access Voucher Program will provide real opportunity for people to obtain stable housing across our communities."

“Between 2020 and 2024 Ulster County’s emergency housing costs have skyrocketed from $3.8 million to $13.3 million,” said Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher. “These dollars represent traumatic and difficult impacts on homeless individuals and families who find themselves priced out of the housing market. Although it is a fraction of what is needed, I am encouraged that the Governor and State Legislature have been able to include in the budget a pilot project of the desperately needed Housing Access Voucher Program. Up front investments in this program will save public funds needed in the future for emergency housing, healthcare, mental health, and food security. Especially considering probable federal funding cuts, it is imperative for New York to provide compassionate and innovative leadership to find programs that address our biggest problems.”

Additionally, Congressional representatives Patrick Ryan and Josh Riley, who represent parts of the Mid-Hudson Valley region, were among the New York delegation to sign a letter, dated April 25th 2025, urging the state to pass and fund the Housing Access Voucher Program.

Voting on the state budget started yesterday and is ongoing.