New York City's Affordable Housing Crisis Threatened by Bureaucratic Halt on Life-Saving Program
In a move that has left many in the affordable housing community reeling, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced in May 2025 that it would be halting the processing of new applications for Section 610, a policy designed to preserve affordability in rent-stabilized buildings. The pause threatens not only the continued viability of these properties but also the very fabric of the city's affordable housing ecosystem.
Section 610, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in December 2022, has been hailed as a rare moment of policy innovation that benefits both building owners and tenants. By allowing owners to collect the full amount of federal and local housing vouchers, even when that amount exceeds the building's registered legal rent, Section 610 provides a vital lifeline to struggling buildings. Tenants continue to pay only 30 percent of their income toward rent, while building owners receive additional income to cover rising operating costs and repairs.
However, HPD's decision to halt new applications for the program, citing federal funding uncertainty, has sent shockwaves through the community. Critics argue that this move is misguided and ignores the very real financial challenges facing affordable housing providers. Insurance costs have skyrocketed, property taxes continue to climb, and labor and material costs for maintenance have surged.
The consequences of inaction will be dire. Insufficient cash flow means deferred maintenance, which leads to building deterioration. Deterioration results in tenant displacement and the loss of affordable units from the city's housing stock. This is a story that has played out countless times across the five boroughs.
HPD's justification for halting the program rings hollow. Federal funding uncertainty is not new, and existing commitments should be prioritized over arbitrary shutdowns. Moreover, the timing couldn't be worse. New York is in the midst of implementing its most ambitious housing agenda in decades, with a focus on creating new affordable units across all neighborhoods.
Despite concerns about profitability, Section 610's design includes safeguards to prioritize affordability over profit maximization. Regulatory agencies assess project financials to prioritize buildings with the greatest need, and rent stabilization protections remain in place. If a tenant loses their voucher, rents must drop back to the legal regulated amount.
HPD claims that it will continue processing authorizations for certain programs, but this carve-out is insufficient. CityFHEPS and HASA vouchers serve thousands of New Yorkers, including families with children and individuals experiencing homelessness. Excluding these programs from Section 610 means that buildings serving our most vulnerable residents are left without financial support.
The city should reverse course and reopen Section 610 applications with prioritization criteria based on demonstrated financial need. If federal budget constraints genuinely require limiting the program's scope, a transparent waitlist and approval process would be more suitable than an arbitrary shutdown.
Most importantly, preserving existing affordable housing is just as critical as building new units, often at a lower cost. Every dollar spent propping up struggling affordable buildings through Section 610 saves the much larger investment required to replace those units once they're lost.
New York cannot afford to let bureaucratic caution and budgetary pessimism undermine smart housing policy. Section 610 works. It should be expanded, not abandoned. The affordable housing crisis demands bold action, not timid retreat.
In a move that has left many in the affordable housing community reeling, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced in May 2025 that it would be halting the processing of new applications for Section 610, a policy designed to preserve affordability in rent-stabilized buildings. The pause threatens not only the continued viability of these properties but also the very fabric of the city's affordable housing ecosystem.
Section 610, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in December 2022, has been hailed as a rare moment of policy innovation that benefits both building owners and tenants. By allowing owners to collect the full amount of federal and local housing vouchers, even when that amount exceeds the building's registered legal rent, Section 610 provides a vital lifeline to struggling buildings. Tenants continue to pay only 30 percent of their income toward rent, while building owners receive additional income to cover rising operating costs and repairs.
However, HPD's decision to halt new applications for the program, citing federal funding uncertainty, has sent shockwaves through the community. Critics argue that this move is misguided and ignores the very real financial challenges facing affordable housing providers. Insurance costs have skyrocketed, property taxes continue to climb, and labor and material costs for maintenance have surged.
The consequences of inaction will be dire. Insufficient cash flow means deferred maintenance, which leads to building deterioration. Deterioration results in tenant displacement and the loss of affordable units from the city's housing stock. This is a story that has played out countless times across the five boroughs.
HPD's justification for halting the program rings hollow. Federal funding uncertainty is not new, and existing commitments should be prioritized over arbitrary shutdowns. Moreover, the timing couldn't be worse. New York is in the midst of implementing its most ambitious housing agenda in decades, with a focus on creating new affordable units across all neighborhoods.
Despite concerns about profitability, Section 610's design includes safeguards to prioritize affordability over profit maximization. Regulatory agencies assess project financials to prioritize buildings with the greatest need, and rent stabilization protections remain in place. If a tenant loses their voucher, rents must drop back to the legal regulated amount.
HPD claims that it will continue processing authorizations for certain programs, but this carve-out is insufficient. CityFHEPS and HASA vouchers serve thousands of New Yorkers, including families with children and individuals experiencing homelessness. Excluding these programs from Section 610 means that buildings serving our most vulnerable residents are left without financial support.
The city should reverse course and reopen Section 610 applications with prioritization criteria based on demonstrated financial need. If federal budget constraints genuinely require limiting the program's scope, a transparent waitlist and approval process would be more suitable than an arbitrary shutdown.
Most importantly, preserving existing affordable housing is just as critical as building new units, often at a lower cost. Every dollar spent propping up struggling affordable buildings through Section 610 saves the much larger investment required to replace those units once they're lost.
New York cannot afford to let bureaucratic caution and budgetary pessimism undermine smart housing policy. Section 610 works. It should be expanded, not abandoned. The affordable housing crisis demands bold action, not timid retreat.
. We need concrete solutions now, not bureaucratic delays that just make things worse for tenants who are already struggling to stay in their homes 
. Section 610 was a beacon of hope and we can't let it get derailed by funding uncertainty 
. The city should be investing more, not less, in programs like this that actually work 
. We need bold action, not timid retreat 
.
... who needs affordable housing when there's "ambitious" new plans to create units across neighborhoods? 
sounds like a nice way of saying they're gonna make more rich people happy while the rest of us struggle 
, because nothing says "bold action" like halting a life-saving program due to "federal funding uncertainty". give me a break 
...
this is just great, another bureaucratic move that's gonna hurt the people who need help the most... think they can just shut down a program that's actually making things work and wait for something better to come along? come on 
we've been over this before in our city, affordable housing is a crisis and it needs some real solutions, not more delay tactics 
We can't let bureaucratic red tape ruin the progress we've made on building more affordable units. It's all about balance, you know? Affordable housing for everyone is not a zero-sum game. Let's find a way to keep Section 610 alive and kicking! 
. Halting new applications is just gonna push the problem further down the line 
. Let's not forget, affordable housing is key to keeping our communities strong 
I mean, come on, if the program is really that awesome for both landlords and tenants, why fix it? 
It's like they're trying to create a monopoly on affordability or something. The real issue here is the lack of oversight and accountability in housing policy. If the city can't even be bothered to properly manage this program, how do we trust them to tackle the bigger issues? 
I'm all for making housing more affordable, but let's not get too caught up in feel-good policies that only benefit the chosen few. 
HPD needs to get its act together and figure out a better solution ASAP 
It's just not right.
, but now they're just sitting on it because of bureaucratic red tape 
. I think they need to take a step back and rethink their approach. This pause is like throwing a blanket over the entire affordable housing ecosystem 
.
.
instead of playing it safe with some half-baked plan. We can't afford to wait around for more uncertainty 
, we need solutions now! 
. It feels like we're taking two steps back 
It feels like we're putting profits over people and I don't think that's right 
.
. Every dollar saved by propping up struggling buildings is like, crucial for the long game 
#Section610Matters #AffordableHousingNow #NYC #SaveOurBuildings
. Insurance costs are skyrocketing, property taxes are climbing... it's like they're expecting building owners to magically make money appear 
.
. Deferred maintenance means crumbling buildings that displace tenants & destroy affordable units 
.
. The city needs to reverse course & prioritize affordable housing 
. We can't let bureaucratic caution dictate our housing policy 
. Like, literally can't even find an apartment without breaking the bank 
.