NYC All Time High Jobs, DHS Operation, Affordable Housing Projects, Homeownership Assistance

Editor’s note: Last week’s rundown from the Mayor’s Office featured stories about Holocaust Remembrance Day and EBT Benefit theft, where stolen benefits are not being replaced by the federal funding that was there until last year. 

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES NEW ALL-TIME HIGH TOTAL JOBS RECORD, AGAIN

Adams Administration Has Broken All-Time Jobs Record Eight Times Since Start of Administration, Unemployment Down Across All Demographic Groups

Milestone Follows Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City Commitment to Make New York City Best, Most Affordable Place to Raise a Family

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today celebrated that New York City has, once again, set another record for an all-time high total number of jobs in the city’s history, with 4,770,981 total jobs, according to new data released by the New York State Department of Labor. This is the eighth time the Adams administration has broken the all-time high jobs record since Mayor Adams entered office. Included in the all-time high jobs number is an all-time high private-sector job record with 4,197,501 jobs.

“Today, our administration did my favorite thing: break records. For the eighth time since I’ve entered office, we have broken the all-time jobs records in our city,” Mayor Adams. “Since day one, our administration has been committed to making our city more affordable; to ensuring opportunity reaches every borough, block, and neighborhood; and to giving working-class New Yorkers access to good-paying, fulfilling jobs. We’re building a pipeline to ensure our young people and disadvantaged communities are on pathways to training opportunities and sustainable, full-time jobs. We know that our city’s shared economic prosperity must hit every zip code and that no New Yorker should be left behind. That’s why we are closing the gap and bringing jobs directly to the communities still facing unemployment. Finally, New York City will continue to lead the way in being a hub for new, emerging sectors — from life sciences and health care to tech and AI — our city will create the jobs of tomorrow, starting today because a job is more than a paycheck — it’s the bedrock of financial and economic security and allows New Yorkers to find their passion. Together, our administration is going to help put New Yorkers back to work, continue to grow our economy, and ensure that prosperity touches every zip code as we make New York City the best place to raise a family.”

In October 2023, the Adams administration first broke records for the most jobs in city history — one year ahead of schedule. Since breaking that first record, the administration has gone even further to help create jobs, including by connecting nearly 8,500 job seekers to employment, free training, and workforce development through its “JobsNYC” initiative. The Adams administration also unveiled the Green Economy Action Plan to support nearly 400,000 “green-collar” jobs by 2040 and secured the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final and other matches for the New York-New Jersey region that will have an economic impact of $2 billion and help create over 14,000 jobs. To ensure that every New Yorker has the chance to compete for city business, the Adams administration awarded a record $6.4 billion in minority-or women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) contracts in Fiscal Year 2024 and ensured the highest agency utilization of M/WBEs in city history.

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Under the Adams administration, New York City has a record 183,000 small businesses, with one in five current small business formed since the start of the Adams administration. The administration’s Small Business Opportunity Fund has awarded more than $85 million in capital to over 1,000 small businesses since launching in 2023, while storefront vacancy rates have dropped for four consecutive quarters.

In June 2024, Mayor Adams celebrated the passage of his “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity” proposal, a set of citywide zoning changes the Adams administration introduced that will further fuel New York City’s economic recovery and pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for New York businesses. Together, the proposed set of changes will help businesses find space and grow, support entrepreneurs and freelancers, boost growing industries, and enable more vibrant streetscapes and commercial corridors — all helping contribute to more jobs in New York City.

As of November of 2024, the Adams administration had connected young New Yorkers to over 15,000 apprenticeship opportunities, more than halfway to the administration’s moonshot goal of 30,000 apprenticeships by 2030 ahead of schedule. Additionally, in 2024, more than 100,000 young people participated in the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON HOMELAND SECURITY OPERATION IN NYC January 28th

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement on a federal criminal operation early this morning led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and supported by other federal agencies, as well as the New York City Police Department (NYPD) as authorized under law:

“Early this morning — as it regularly does as part of a multi-agency task force — our city coordinated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on a federal criminal investigation involving a suspect hiding in New York City. Beforehand, I directed the NYPD to coordinate with DHS’ Homeland Security Investigations and other federal law enforcement agencies — as allowed by law — to conduct a targeted operation to arrest an individual connected with multiple violent crimes, both here in New York and in Aurora, Colorado, including burglary, kidnapping, extortion, firearms possession, menacing with a firearm, crime of violence, and other charges. As I have repeatedly said, we will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice — just as we have done for years. Our commitment to protecting our city’s law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering.”

MAYOR ADAMS, HPD, AND NYPL CELEBRATE MILESTONE IN GRAND CONCOURSE LIBRARY PROJECT TO BUILD 100 PERCENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CREATE NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY  

After Working with Local, Community Stakeholders, HPD and NYPL Release Request for Proposals to Advance Bold, Forward-Looking Vision to Build More Critically-Needed Affordable Housing 

First Announced in Mayor Adams’ Fourth State of the City Address, Today’s Milestone Builds on Adams Administration’s ‘City of Yes for Families’ Proposal to Make New York City Best, Most Affordable Place to Raise a Family

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrion Jr., and New York Public Library (NYPL) President and CEO Anthony W. Marx today announced their search for a development partner to create a brand-new state-of-the-art library with 100 percent affordable housing at the Grand Concourse Library in the Bronx. HPD and NYPL’s competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) marks a significant milestone in the project, as the Adams administration continues to work to explore any and all space to build critically needed affordable housing across the five boroughs. First announced in Mayor Adams’ fourth State of the City address earlier this month, today’s news builds on the Adams administration’s “City of Yes for Families” proposal to make New York City the best, most affordable place to raise a family.

“To make New York City the best place to raise a family, we have to build affordable housing that surrounds families with everything they need to thrive in our city — and the Grand Concourse Library is that exact kind of project,” said Mayor Adams. “The Grand Concourse Library will provide 100-percent affordable housing and a newly-renovated, state-of-the-art facility that’s just blocks away from a public park and health care facility — a model for the kind of thoughtful, holistic housing project our city is capable of building. We aren’t stopping there. Our administration will continue to build even more affordable housing and ensure that we are a ‘City of Yes for Families.’”

“NYPL and HPD’s call for a Grand Concourse ‘living library’ illustrates just what it means to bring a community-centered approach for planning for the future,” said New York City Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “I thank everyone who came out to lend their ideas during the extensive community visioning process for this competition, and I’m excited to see how respondents propose to turn those visions into a new beacon of education, safety, and community in the Bronx.”

“We can solve the housing crisis and we can enrich neighborhoods — it just takes creativity, unwavering dedication to our communities, and more efforts like the Grand Concourse Library project,” said HPD Commissioner Carrion Jr. “Together, with the New York Public Library and the Bronx community, we’re transforming a 65-year-old library branch into a modern, vibrant library alongside new affordable apartments. We’re not just here to stem a crisis, we’re here to create homes and make life better for all New Yorkers.”

“The new Grand Concourse branch will provide patrons with a state-of-the-art library and the Bronx with more housing options amid a city-wide housing shortage,” said NYPL President and CEO Marx. “This corner of the Bronx is full of dedicated library patrons and the new branch will offer greater access to books, technology, and programs that help this neighborhood thrive. We are happy to continue our productive partnership with the city to improve branches and add to the city’s housing supply.”

Within the City of Yes for Families proposal is the “Living Libraries” initiative. Living Libraries focuses on jointly developing new libraries and housing, such as the Grand Concourse Library project, to support families in New York City. The library is across the street from the Claremont BronxCare campus and near Claremont Park, a perfect location and set of amenities for New Yorkers trying to raise a family. The brand-new library will be located on the first and second floors of the new building with affordable housing built above. The RFP instructs development teams to assume a rezoning of the library site to maximize the number of affordable homes that can be built above the new library.

The community engagement phase of the RFP was announced in 2024 as part of Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City “24 in 24” plan to advance 24 development projects on public sites to create or preserve over 12,000 units of housing, which the city ultimately ended up surpassing.

When preparing their submissions, development teams are strongly encouraged to consult the Grand Concourse Community Visioning Report, which summarizes the engagement takeaways for both the library and affordable housing components of the project. Since the project was announced in April 2024, HPD’s Office of Neighborhood Strategies and NYPL have engaged the community to identify top priorities for the library and affordable housing portions of the new development, culminating in a report-back presentation delivered to Bronx Community Board 4. Engagement efforts included:

A project website and questionnaire which received 270 responses.

Bilingual promotional materials.

Several tabling events at the library and throughout the neighborhood in partnership with local schools and community-based organizations.

A community visioning workshop held at the Grand Concourse Library in June 2024.

Multiple meetings with Community Board 4 and local elected officials.

Email blasts to the HPD project email list of over 200 subscribers and the NYPL Grand Concourse Library patron list of over 5,900 subscribers.

This RFP is open to all interested developers, from January 29th until May 2nd For specific details on requirements, evaluation criteria, and how to participate, candidates should refer to the Grand Concourse Library and Affordable Housing RFP. RFP submissions will be evaluated based on the quality and feasibility of the proposals in addition to how well they respond to the community’s vision. The existing branch will remain open to serve the public until construction begins.

The Grand Concourse Library project is the latest in a series of state-of-the-art library redevelopments with affordable housing in collaboration with the city’s library system. This follows the recently opened Inwood Library, which is part of a development with 174 affordable homes, and the new Sunset Park Library in a development with 49 affordable homes. Co-located libraries are an essential initiative within the Adams administration’s “Women Forward NYC: An Action Plan for Gender Equity” — a more than $43 million investment aimed at making New York City a national leader on gender equity — to support the needs of families. For more information on the Grand Concourse Library project, visit the project website.

Mayor Adams had made historic investments toward creating affordable housing and ensuring more New Yorkers have a place to call home over the last three years. In June 2024, City Hall and the City Council agreed on an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invests $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to HPD and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed a record $26 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. In July 2024, Mayor Adams announced back-to-back record breaking years in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. This past spring, the city celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.

Further, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Mayor Adams announced multiple new tools, including a $4 million state grant, to help New York City homeowners create accessory dwelling units that will not only help them to afford to remain in the communities they call home, but also to build generational wealth for their families. In August 2023, Mayor Adams announced the issuance of Executive Order 43, requiring city agencies to review their city owned and controlled land for potential housing development sites.

Mayor Adams and members of his administration also successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently-needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.

Additionally, under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city is fulfilling its 2024 State of the City commitment to build more affordable housing, including by creating the Tenant Protection Cabinet to coordinate across agencies to better serve tenants. The city has also taken several steps to cut red tape and speed up the delivery of much-needed housing, including through the “Green Fast Track for Housing,” a streamlined environmental review process for qualifying small- and medium-sized housing projects; the “Office Conversion Accelerator,” an interagency effort to guide buildings that wish to convert through city bureaucracy; and other initiatives of the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Taskforce.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS TO CITY HALL TEAMS 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced new appointments and elevations within multiple offices at City Hall, including in the offices of the first deputy mayor, the deputy mayor for administration and chief of staff, the deputy mayor for intergovernmental affairs, and City Hall chief counsel — promoting current team members, as well as bringing in new talent to further strengthen the administration’s work to make New York City a safer, and more affordable city.

Within First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer’s office, Nate Bliss has been appointed chief of staff, Sarah Mallory has been named first deputy chief of staff, Reggie Thomas is moving to chief policy advisor, Marjorie Velázquez joins City Hall as director for tenant protection, Lizette Chaparro joins City Hall as a senior advisor for housing and land use, and Matthew Pietrus joins City Hall as senior advisor for transactions.

Within Deputy Mayor for Administration and Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack’s office, Crystal Price has been appointed chief engagement officer and named deputy chief of staff to the mayor, Rory Whelan has joined City Hall as special advisor to the chief of staff, and Andrew Kunkes has been promoted to director of emergency relief and recovery.

Within Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Affairs Tiffany Raspberry’s office, Kristin Rezek has been promoted to chief of staff, Melanee Farrah joins City Hall as newly appointed director of Federal Legislative Affairs, Shanna Witherspoon has been promoted to director of State Legislative Affairs, Shirley Paul has been appointed director of City Legislative Affairs, and Sasha Mayo will be promoted to general counsel for intergovernmental affairs.

In Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart’s office, Bill Heinzen has been appointed deputy chief counsel, Alicia Berenyei was appointed as chief of staff, and Amanda Pappalardo was named executive senior counsel.

“Every day, our City Hall teams give it their all, and this group of staffers deliver day-in and day-out for 8.3 million New Yorkers. Every one of these team members are key to helping deliver on our mission of building a safer, more affordable city for New York City families,” said Mayor Adams. “I am confident that, together, they will draw from their respective areas of expertise and help make New York City the best place to raise a family.”

MAYOR ADAMS, NYCEDC ANNOUNCE NEXT STEPS IN REIMAGINING GANSEVOORT SQUARE TO BUILD MIXED-INCOME HOUSING, CREATE OPEN SPACE, AND DELIVER THOUSANDS OF JOBS

Request for Proposals Outline Vision for Up to 600 Units of Mixed-Income Housing with Goal of 50 Percent as Permanently Affordable, Ground Floor Retail

Part of Broader Commitment to Cement Meatpacking District as Premier Global Destination and Economic Engine

Announced in Mayor Adams’ Fourth State of the City Address, Gansevoort Square Redevelopment Part of Ambitious “Manhattan Plan” That Will Add 100,000 New Homes in Borough Over Next Decade

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball today announced the next steps in the reimagining of Gansevoort Square — located on Little West 12th Street between Washington Street and 10th Avenue in Manhattan — that will result in a combination of more affordable housing for New Yorkers and new retail space for local residents and visitors. The Request for Proposals (RFP) outlines a vision for up to 600 units of mixed-income housing — with a goal of 50 percent of total units being permanently affordable — and ground-floor retail space, both which will be located on the residential site of Gansevoort Square. First announced in October 2024, this bold redevelopment will transform the approximately 66,000 square feet at Gansevoort Square into mixed-income housing units, new open space, and the opportunity to expand the Whitney Museum of American Art and the High Line — cementing the Meatpacking District as a global destination, economic engine, and cultural and artistic hub for the city. The Gansevoort Square redevelopment project — including the residential site and Whitney Museum Expansion — is expected to create 2,600 construction jobs and more than 160 permanent jobs. Finally, the full project is expected to generate $940 million in economic impact.

The Gansevoort Square redevelopment project is a component of Mayor Adams’ “Manhattan Plan,” first announced in his fourth State of the City address. The Manhattan Plan will include the Adams administration’s Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, public sites, and more to unlock opportunities to create 100,000 new homes in the borough, bringing the total number of homes in Manhattan to 1 million over the next decade.

“We’re tackling generational, city-changing projects in all five boroughs because our administration doesn’t shy away from challenges — we embrace them as opportunities to deliver for New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we’re taking the next step on an ambitious project — transforming 66,000 square feet at Gansevoort Square into 600 mixed-income housing units, massive new, open space, and the city’s next cultural and artistic hub. The potential we have here is endless, and we’re excited to take the next steps towards turning our vision into a reality. We are building a new, exciting chapter in Manhattan to make our city more affordable and the best place to raise a family.”

“The Adams administration is committed to rapidly increasing affordable housing for all New Yorkers,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “As part of the Manhattan Plan and Executive Order 43, this request for proposals is a win-win-win for housing, jobs, and quality of life. At Gansevoort Square, we will address the city’s urgent housing needs, generate thousands of jobs, and create vibrant, new open spaces for those who live, work, and play in the Meatpacking District.”

“The redevelopment of Gansevoort Square marks a transformative milestone for the city by delivering much-needed mixed-income housing, creating more open space, while supporting beloved institutions like the High Line and the Whitney Museum,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “As part of the administration’s commitment to addressing the city’s housing crisis, NYCEDC is proud to get this historic project underway and looks forward to selecting a developer that will bring to life a bold vision of housing, local businesses, and cultural vibrancy in the heart of Manhattan.”

In August 2024, the Gansevoort Meat Market — the site’s current tenant — elected to leave the site early in cooperation with NYCEDC and the City of New York. This redevelopment will activate the block and build upon the evolution of the Meatpacking District, reimagining the site as a one-of-a-kind destination for New Yorkers with mixed-income housing, new publicly-accessible open space, and the opportunity to expand the Whitney Museum of American Art and the High Line operations facility — two of the city’s most iconic cultural institutions. The RFP comes after a robust public engagement effort, including three public sessions with over 100 attendees, as well as a land use presentation to Community Board 2 with over 200 attendees.

A competitive response to this RFP must describe a comprehensive plan to accomplish the following goals:

Deliver up to 600 mixed-income residential units with a goal of 50 percent of total units as permanently affordable;
Achieve or exceed the goal of 50 percent of total units as permanently affordable without public subsidy by leveraging the value generated by market-rate residential units and ground-floor retail space;
Design the site to encourage active street life and creatively design the building to become an iconic addition to the New York City skyline, joining the illustrious architecture along the High Line;
Promote sustainability, energy efficiency, carbon neutrality, and resiliency; and
Responsibly develop the project to advance goals of creating quality construction and building service jobs while adhering to applicable wage standards and labor protections.
NYCEDC is seeking proposals that utilize the site’s full potential to provide below-market residential units without public subsidy under the terms of this RFP. The site is well-positioned to leverage cross-subsidization through value generated by market-rate units and ground-floor retail space. Responses are expected to maximize total affordability to achieve or exceed the goal of 50 percent of units as permanently affordable.

Proposals are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on April 30, 2025. For more information and details on how to apply, visit NYCEDC’s website. NYCEDC anticipates selecting a developer by the end of 2025. The project anticipates certifying into the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure by the end of 2026, with expected completion in mid-to-late 2027.

Mayor Adams has made historic investments toward creating affordable housing and ensuring more New Yorkers have a place to call home over the last three years. In June 2024, City Hall and the City Council agreed on an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invests $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed a record $26 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. In July 2024, Mayor Adams announced back-to-back record-breaking years in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. Last spring, the city celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.

Further, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Mayor Adams announced multiple new tools, including a $4 million state grant, to help New York City homeowners create accessory dwelling units that will not only help them to afford to remain in the communities they call home, but also to build generational wealth for their families. In August 2023, Mayor Adams announced the issuance of Executive Order 43, requiring city agencies to review their city-owned and controlled land for potential housing development sites.

Mayor Adams and members of his administration also successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently-needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.

Additionally, under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city is fulfilling its 2024 State of the City commitment to build more affordable housing, including by creating the Tenant Protection Cabinet to coordinate across agencies to better serve tenants. The city has also taken several steps to cut red tape and speed up the delivery of much-needed housing, including through the “Green Fast Track for Housing,” a streamlined environmental review process for qualifying small- and- medium-sized housing projects; the “Office Conversion Accelerator,” an interagency effort to guide buildings that wish to convert through city bureaucracy; and other initiatives of the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Taskforce.

“Gansevoort Square is a fantastic opportunity to reimagine a former meat market as a vibrant mixed-income community in the heart of Lower Manhattan,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “At a time when we must build to address the housing crisis, this site has the awesome potential for 600 units, with half planned to be permanently affordable. More than housing, Gansevoort Square will become a community unto itself, creating new public and retail spaces, as well as expansion of the Whitney and the High Line — two of the most beloved attractions in the entire city. It will also be an engine of growth, creating 2,600 construction jobs, over 160 permanent jobs, and almost a billion dollars in economic impact. This project advances the ‘Manhattan Plan’ goal of building 100,000 new units of housing in the borough. I am proud of my work to expedite these projects, passing legislation to modernize the procurement process and authoring new bills to speed up construction. Together, we will realize expansive, inclusive growth of our housing stock that supports all New Yorkers.”

“The Whitney Museum is excited about the prospect of growing and better serving audiences and artists from our neighborhood, city, and around the world,” said Scott Rothkopf, Alice Pratt Brown director, the Whitney Museum of American Art. “Our recently-launched, sector-leading free admissions programs have welcomed hundreds of thousands of new, younger, and more diverse visitors to our exhibitions and educational programs. These audiences will be at the center of an inspiring vision for our future that also furthers our commitment to our community and the creative life of New York. We look forward to working closely with our neighbors, elected officials, and partners as we develop plans to expand the museum and its programs in the years ahead.”

“Friends of the High Line is excited to move forward with the city and the Whitney Museum in exploring this exciting opportunity to expand our operations building to meet the growing demands of the park,” said Alan van Capelle, executive director, Friends of the High Line. “Since opening 15 years ago, the High Line’s physical footprint has tripled in length and grown to welcome nearly seven million annual visitors — more than 20 times initial expectations. Additional space would give us room to address the park’s evolving operations needs, serve the appetite of New Yorkers for year-round programming, and increase our impact on New York City.”

“The Gansevoort Meat Market has been an integral part of the Meatpacking District for generations, and we are proud to support a vision that ensures its evolution alongside the city we serve,” said John Jobbagy, president, Gansevoort Market, Inc. “As our industry continues to modernize, this redevelopment comes at the right moment — creating much-needed housing, public space, and new opportunities for the community. We are excited to see this next phase take shape and look forward to welcoming a new chapter for Gansevoort Square.”

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES $82 MILLION INVESTMENT TO PUT HOMEOWNERSHIP WITHIN REACH FOR MORE NEW YORKERS 

HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program Enhancement Expands Income Eligibility to Reach More New Yorkers, Partners With New Provider to Expedite Services 

First Announced in Mayor Adams’ Fourth State of the City Address, Today’s Enhancement Builds on Administration’s Commitment to Supporting Homeownership  

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. today announced the expansion of the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides qualified first-time homebuyers with up to $100,000 toward the down payment or closing costs on a one-to-four family home, a condominium, or a co-op in the five boroughs. The expansion adds $41 million in new funding over the next five fiscal years — doubling the city’s investment to $82 million — broadens income eligibility, and adds a new nonprofit partner to expedite programmatic support. First announced in Mayor Adams’ fourth State of the City address earlier this month, HomeFirst’s expansion fulfills another commitment by Mayor Adams to make New York City more affordable and the best place to raise a family. To learn more about HomeFirst, New Yorkers can visit HPD’s HomeFirst webpage.

“To continue to be the best place to raise a family, our administration is putting the quintessential American Dream — owning a home — within reach for 1,000 more New York City households over the next five years,” said Mayor Adams. “For those families who need help closing a deal or putting down that down payment, our administration is here to the help. For the last decade, HomeFirst has been a powerful tool in providing New Yorkers with the resources to become homeowners. Today, we’re doubling down on our commitment, reaching more families, and increasing services. There’s no greater feeling than being handed the keys to a place you can call home. Thanks to today’s investment, more families will be even closer to making the dream of homeownership a reality.”

“Over the past few years, HomeFirst has proven to be a powerful tool, opening the door to homeownership for families who dreamt it, but never thought it possible. Expanding this program not only speaks to its success, but also addresses the growing demand for real, affordable homeownership options and the need to speed up the process for families ready to take the next step,” said HPD Commissioner Carrión Jr. “As someone who grew up in a family that transitioned from public housing to owning a home, I understand that homeownership isn’t just about holding a deed — it’s about securing stability, building economic opportunity, and giving families a reason to stay and invest in New York City.”

HomeFirst has been a proven success in bringing the dream of homeownership closer to reality for New Yorkers. Over the past decade, HomeFirst has helped more than 1,100 New Yorkers on their path towards homeownership. Today’s expansion of HomeFirst doubles the program’s funding to $82 million to reach 1,000 households over the next five years. The program will now accept applications from individuals and families earning up to 120 percent of the area median income (AMI), expanding eligibility beyond the prior limit of 80 percent of AMI. HPD will continue to contract with Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City to qualify interested homeowners and will also now contract with the Center for New York City Neighborhoods to expand capacity and serve more first-time homebuyers.

Mayor Adams had made historic investments toward creating affordable housing over the last three years and ensuring more New Yorkers have a place to call home. In June 2024, City Hall and the City Council agreed on an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invested $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to HPD and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed $24.5 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. In July 2024, Mayor Adams announced back-to-back record breaking years in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. This past spring, the city celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.

Further, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Mayor Adams announced multiple new tools, including a $4 million state grant, to help New York City homeowners create accessory dwelling units that will not only help them to afford to remain in the communities they call home, but also to build generational wealth for their families.

Mayor Adams and members of his administration also successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.

Additionally, under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city is fulfilling its 2024 State of the City commitment to build more affordable housing, including creating the Tenant Protection Cabinet to coordinate across agencies to better serve tenants. The city has also taken several steps to cut red tape and speed up the delivery of much-needed housing, including through the “Green Fast Track for Housing,” a streamlined environmental review process for qualifying small- and medium-sized housing projects; the “Office Conversion Accelerator,” an interagency effort to guide buildings that wish to convert through city bureaucracy; and other initiatives of the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Taskforce.

“I am glad New York City is expanding the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program, an important initiative to help first-time homebuyers with funding, counseling, and resources throughout the homeownership process,” said New York State Senator and Housing Committee Chair Brian Kavanagh. “Supporting New Yorkers in achieving homeownership is crucial for the growth and stability of individual families and whole communities. I appreciate the city’s work on this, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to expand homeownership opportunities across the state.”

“In an era of housing scarcity and an affordability crisis, we must do everything we can to help New Yorkers reach their dream of homeownership,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “It is a transformative experience for families, bringing stability, building equity, and producing intergenerational wealth. The HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program will provide homebuyers with up to $100,000 to purchase the home of their dreams. I am proud of my work to expedite affordable housing production in New York City, passing my bill to modernize project delivery, and leading the charge for innovative construction with my 3-D printed housing bill. Together, we will implement every solution so that all New Yorkers have safe, affordable housing.”

“Owning a home truly is the American Dream for so many Americans, both for long-time residents of our country and for those who have recently immigrated here,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “The HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program is a great way to bring that dream within reach for so many more New Yorkers. I’m very pleased with the expansion of this program and am so glad that more and more Queens residents will be able to take advantage of it.”

“Homeownership lays the critical foundation for New Yorkers to access opportunities that sustain their remaining in the city they call home,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The City Council is proud to have called for this additional funding in its ‘City for All’ housing agenda and secured it through our negotiations on the ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ text amendment. We have consistently advocated for expanding New Yorkers’ access to affordable homeownership amidst our city’s housing crisis, and we will continue to fight for more of these pathways to economic mobility.”

“Expanding access to homeownership is a critical step toward addressing New York City’s affordability crisis and closing the racial wealth gap,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. “The HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program has been a lifeline for first-time homebuyers and this expansion will provide even more New Yorkers with the opportunity to achieve the dream of homeownership. By broadening income eligibility and expediting services, this program is a win for working families across the five boroughs, especially in communities like Southeast Queens, where homeownership has long been a pathway to stability and generational wealth. I look forward to continuing our work with the Adams administration to bring homeownership within reach for more families.”

“New Yorkers deserve greater access to affordable homeownership—and today, the expansion of HomeFirst delivers on the commitment the City Council has prioritized and secured through ‘City for All,’” said New York City Councilmember and Housing and Buildings Committee Chair Pierina Sanchez. “Affordable homeownership can deliver financial stability, generational wealth, and community belonging to New Yorkers throughout the city. With doubled funding and expanded eligibility for the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program, our neighbors will receive the financial and technical support they need to secure a down payment or closing cost on their first home. The expansion includes doubling capital income, broadening applicant eligibility from 80 AMI to 120 AMI, and partnerships with non-profits to share resources with interested first-time homebuyers. I applaud the leadership of the City Council and this commitment from HPD to deliver affordable homeownership for low- to middle-income New Yorkers.”

Banner Image:  New York City Mayor Eric Adams today continued “Jobs Week ” by announcing the Community Resources for Employment and Development (CRED) initiative, a new $15 million workforce program for participants, ages 18-40, involved in the criminal justice system who are at risk of involvement in community violence or residing in communities with the highest rates of gun violence in Queens on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Image Credit – Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office