S:US Condemns Federal Rule Changes that Put New Yorkers at Risk of Homelessness; Calls on Governor Hochul to Respond
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 26, 2025
CONTACT:
[email protected]
NEW YORK – Today, Services for the UnderServed (S:US) President & CEO Perry Perlmutter issued the following statement on HUD’s newly released Continuum of Care (CoC) guidance, which is now being challenged in federal court:
“At Services for the UnderServed, we believe every New Yorker has the right to live a healthy, productive, fulfilling life—and a cornerstone of that stability is stable, affordable and supportive housing. New federal guidelines from HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) will undermine that mission.
We currently house more than 780 supportive housing residents whose stability is directly tied to CoC rental assistance and services funding. Under HUD’s new cap on permanent housing, a substantial share of those residents could see their programs lose funding or be eliminated entirely. The people we serve—many with long histories of homelessness—could face loss of rental assistance, disruptions in care, and a return to shelters, hospitals, or the streets.
Disruption of CoC-funded operations could also delay or shrink development projects expected to deliver much-needed new units — undermining state and city goals to expand supportive housing.
S:US respectfully urges the Governor’s office to:
Publicly oppose HUD’s shift away from permanent housing, and support efforts—legal and legislative—to preserve CoC-funded program renewals.
Develop contingency funding mechanisms to prevent displacement of the 780+ S:US residents and thousands of New Yorkers statewide who could lose rental assistance during the federal transition.
Protect the supportive housing pipeline by ensuring that state partners can bridge or replace CoC gaps to keep projects moving forward.
Affirm New York’s commitment to Housing First and harm reduction, and prevent state policy from mirroring HUD’s new restrictions.
S:US stands ready to partner with the Governor’s office to assess the specific units and households at risk, stabilize current housing, and safeguard New York’s supportive housing future.”
###
About Services for the UnderServed (S:US)
S:US envisions a city where everyone has a roof over their head, is healthy, productive, and can enjoy the social connections that create a life of purpose. S:US has a staff of 1,800 that provides $315 million in services. Their efforts are supported by various local, state, and federal government entities, foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Most importantly, S:US’ vision allows the organization to deliver the same quality of services to one individual or to thousands.
