NYC Mayor Extends Emergency Order for Humanitarian Response Centers

Order provides plan to phase out temporary housing facilities operated under previous emergency declarations.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams has issued Emergency Executive Order 2.9, extending a previous order that allowed the city to operate Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers to provide temporary housing in response to a substantial increase in arrivals in recent years. The new order requires the Department of Social Services and the Department of Homeless Services to develop and implement a plan to phase out the continued use of these facilities that have been operated under suspensions and modifications of laws and rules.

Why it matters

The ongoing state of emergency and need for temporary housing facilities highlights the challenges the city has faced in addressing a rise in new arrivals, likely due to factors such as the pandemic, economic conditions, and geopolitical events. The mayor's order aims to create a path forward to transition away from the temporary measures and return to normal operations.

The details

Emergency Executive Order 2.9 extends the previous Emergency Executive Order 2.8 for an additional 5 days. It requires the Department of Social Services and the Department of Homeless Services, in consultation with the Law Department, to regularly update the mayor on the implementation of an action plan to phase out the continued use of the temporary housing facilities that have been operated under the suspensions and modifications of laws and rules.

  • Emergency Executive Order No. 224 was first issued on October 7, 2022.
  • Emergency Executive Order No. 2.8 was issued on February 14, 2026.
  • Emergency Executive Order No. 2.9 was issued on February 20, 2026 and will remain in effect for 5 days.

The players

Eric Adams

The current mayor of New York City who issued the emergency executive orders.

Department of Social Services

A New York City agency that will be involved in developing and implementing the plan to phase out the temporary housing facilities.

Department of Homeless Services

A New York City agency that will be involved in developing and implementing the plan to phase out the temporary housing facilities.

Law Department

The legal counsel for New York City that will be consulted on the implementation plan.

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What’s next

The Department of Social Services and the Department of Homeless Services will regularly update the mayor on the implementation of the action plan to phase out the continued use of the temporary housing facilities.

The takeaway

The mayor's order aims to create a clear path forward to transition the city away from the temporary emergency measures for housing that have been in place, while ensuring a coordinated and lawful approach to addressing the ongoing needs.