Mamdani Backtracks on CityFHEPS Expansion Promise, Citing Budget Concerns

Advocates criticize the mayor's decision to pursue a settlement over the expansion of the city's housing voucher program.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani pledged to expand eligibility for the city's CityFHEPS housing voucher program during his campaign, but is now backtracking on that promise due to budget constraints. Advocates are disappointed by the reversal, arguing that the expansion is crucial to preventing homelessness and providing support for vulnerable New Yorkers.

Why it matters

The CityFHEPS program is the second largest housing voucher program in the country, serving over 65,000 households. Expanding the program was seen as a key way to address the city's persistent homelessness crisis, but the Mamdani administration is now citing budget concerns as it pursues a settlement in the legal case over the expansion.

The details

In 2023, the City Council passed a law to expand CityFHEPS eligibility, but former Mayor Eric Adams refused to implement it. The Council then sued, and Mamdani pledged to drop the suit during his campaign. However, now facing a $7 billion budget deficit, the Mamdani administration says it is pursuing a settlement in the case rather than dropping it. Advocates argue that the expansion would actually save the city money by offsetting shelter costs, but the administration is concerned about the potential $6-$20 billion increase to the budget deficit over the next five years.

  • In 2023, the City Council passed a law to expand CityFHEPS eligibility.
  • Former Mayor Eric Adams refused to implement the CityFHEPS expansion.
  • The City Council then sued over the failure to implement the expansion.
  • During his campaign, Mamdani pledged to drop the lawsuit over the CityFHEPS expansion.
  • In February 2026, the Mamdani administration announced it is now pursuing a settlement in the case rather than dropping it.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City who pledged to expand the CityFHEPS program during his campaign but is now backtracking on that promise.

Eric Adams

The former mayor of New York City who refused to implement the CityFHEPS expansion passed by the City Council.

Adolfo Abreu

The housing campaigns director at VOCAL-NY, a group that organizes with people in shelters.

Christine Quinn

The CEO of Women in Need (WIN), which operates homeless shelters for families with children.

Crystal Hudson

A member of the City Council's Progressive Caucus.

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What they’re saying

“We got the promise of how this is going to be a new era in City Hall and in New York City, but it feels like the mayor is replicating similar failures from previous administrations in not really being bold and centering solutions … that can actually help us put a dent on the mass homelessness crisis.”

— Adolfo Abreu, Housing campaigns director at VOCAL-NY (City Limits)

“CityFHEPS is a proven program that has allowed thousands of New Yorkers to leave shelter for good. Amid a persistent homelessness crisis, we are asking Mayor Mamdani to honor his promise to drop the City's legal challenge to CityFHEPS expansion and to provide a clear timeline for seeing this expansion through.”

— Christine Quinn, CEO of Women in Need (WIN) (City Limits)

“I am deeply disappointed by the Mayor's reversal on implementing City law to expand CityFHEPS eligibility. Affordability was a central campaign promise for the mayor, and expanding housing vouchers is one of the clearest ways to make good on that promise.”

— Crystal Hudson, Member of the City Council's Progressive Caucus (City Limits)

What’s next

It's unclear what a settlement in the CityFHEPS expansion case might look like, and what it means for the cost of the program and those potentially eligible. The Legal Aid Society, which is working on the Council's lawsuit, says Mamdani's decision will only lead to further delays in providing support for people facing eviction.

The takeaway

Mamdani's decision to backtrack on his campaign promise to expand the CityFHEPS program has disappointed advocates who see the expansion as crucial to preventing homelessness and supporting vulnerable New Yorkers. The mayor is facing tough budget constraints, but advocates argue that the expansion would ultimately save the city money by offsetting shelter costs.