Advocates and housing authorities press for $250M to scale Housing Access Voucher pilot statewide
February 25, 2026 | 2026 Legislature NY, New York
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Housing advocates, public housing authorities and tenant groups used the budget hearing to press for a full statewide expansion of the governor’s Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), arguing the $50 million pilot in the executive budget is too small to meet need.
Commissioner Ruth Ann Vysnauskas told the committees that HAVP was set to begin March 1, that HCR has contracted local administrators for rest-of-state operations, and that the city of New York will run its own process with HPD. "We have already begun issuing vouchers," she said, adding HCR and local partners have worked to create a separate technology platform and referral pipelines with counties and local administrators.
Speakers from housing authorities and advocacy groups urged a larger, permanent program. The New York State Public Housing Authority Directors Association asked lawmakers to include $250 million for HAVP in the FY27 budget, saying federal uncertainty and rent pressures require a state safety net. Tenant groups and Housing Justice for All argued the program’s national evidence base shows vouchers reduce homelessness and downstream costs; they urged making HAVP permanent and fully funded so localities can use it at scale.
"Funding the housing access voucher program at $250,000,000 would reduce homelessness by 12.5 percent and save taxpayers money by reducing external costs," testified Genevieve Brand for Housing Justice for All, citing coalition analyses. Public housing authority representatives said marketplace rent pressures and federal funding uncertainties make a strong state commitment necessary to prevent displacement and maintain voucher availability.
Lawmakers asked for implementation details such as the projected NYC/rest-of-state split and administrative timelines; the commissioner described an approximately two‑thirds (NYC) / one‑third (rest of state) split on vouchers and repeated that the city and HCR are coordinating rollout.
Commissioner Ruth Ann Vysnauskas told the committees that HAVP was set to begin March 1, that HCR has contracted local administrators for rest-of-state operations, and that the city of New York will run its own process with HPD. "We have already begun issuing vouchers," she said, adding HCR and local partners have worked to create a separate technology platform and referral pipelines with counties and local administrators.
Speakers from housing authorities and advocacy groups urged a larger, permanent program. The New York State Public Housing Authority Directors Association asked lawmakers to include $250 million for HAVP in the FY27 budget, saying federal uncertainty and rent pressures require a state safety net. Tenant groups and Housing Justice for All argued the program’s national evidence base shows vouchers reduce homelessness and downstream costs; they urged making HAVP permanent and fully funded so localities can use it at scale.
"Funding the housing access voucher program at $250,000,000 would reduce homelessness by 12.5 percent and save taxpayers money by reducing external costs," testified Genevieve Brand for Housing Justice for All, citing coalition analyses. Public housing authority representatives said marketplace rent pressures and federal funding uncertainties make a strong state commitment necessary to prevent displacement and maintain voucher availability.
Lawmakers asked for implementation details such as the projected NYC/rest-of-state split and administrative timelines; the commissioner described an approximately two‑thirds (NYC) / one‑third (rest of state) split on vouchers and repeated that the city and HCR are coordinating rollout.
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