reuters-12
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration has signed a $1.86 billion contract with the Hotel Association of New York City Foundation to provide temporary housing for homeless families in hotels over the next three years.
The contract, managed by the Department of Homeless Services, allows the city to use hotel rooms as emergency shelter when needed. The goal is to maintain shelter capacity during periods of high demand while working to move people into more permanent housing.
The hotel association represents nearly 300 properties in New York City. They will make rooms available to house individuals and families who need shelter. City officials say the total contract amount is the maximum authorized spending, and actual costs will depend on how many rooms are used.
New York City continues to face a large homeless population. The city still shelters more than 100,000 people each night. Advocates say maintaining shelter space is critical, especially during cold weather, while critics have questioned the use of large contracts and the impact on the hotel market.
This contract follows earlier agreements with hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic and the city’s previous migrant shelter programs. Officials say hotel-based sheltering is a temporary solution while longer-term housing plans are developed.
