The Committees on Housing and Buildings and Public Housing held their respective FY26 Executive Budget hearings today, receiving testimony from NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), and members of the public about the housing needs of New Yorkers.
On May 14, 2025, the New York City Council’s Committees on Housing and Buildings and Public Housing held a joint hearing on the FY2026 Executive Budget, focusing on the city’s growing housing crisis. Testimonies from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), and housing advocates highlighted critical issues including underfunded affordable housing programs, a $60 billion capital need at NYCHA, and a troubling decline in emergency housing transfers for domestic violence survivors. The Council expressed deep concern over proposed budget cuts that could severely impact housing development and tenant services.
Advocates and Council members called for significant increases in investment—over $3.6 billion for affordable housing creation and preservation, restoration of Department of Buildings staffing, and expansion of rental assistance programs like CityFHEPS. The hearings also spotlighted the “City for All” initiative, which includes $5 billion in housing-related commitments aimed at producing 80,000 new homes. With public housing deteriorating and affordable housing increasingly scarce, the Council emphasized that bold, immediate action is necessary to ensure housing stability for New Yorkers in FY2026 and beyond.
Sources: BigNY.com , New York City Council
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