New York City’s Department of Homeless Services has given $4,000 grants to 150 migrant families to help with the cost of transitioning from city shelters to permanent housing, according to a new report from Fox News.
The payments were made under the Asylee Movement Assistant pilot program, which first launched in December to assist asylum-seeking families and pregnant women who are staying in select DHS emergency shelters and have already found permanent housing.
The funds can be used for security deposits, moving expenses, first and last month rent and any household necessities, according to the report. Grant recipients are required to document their expenses.
Eligible families can also receive up to $1,000 in gift cards for household necessities and moving expenses, according to the report.
“The city is using every tool at its disposal to implement innovative and cost-effective solutions to help recently-arrived asylum seekers residing in shelters take the next steps in their journey,” a Department of Social Services (DSS) spokesperson told the outlet.
The agency said it looks forward to “supporting more households as we assess the success of the pilot and feasibility of scaling up and expanding access to this form of assistance.” The spokesperson underscored that the program is a “very small pilot” and “not a citywide effort.” The pilot program relies upon existing funds within the Department of Homeless Services.
The effort comes as New York City mayor Eric Adams has predicted that the migrant crisis will cost the city $10 billion over the three-year period ending in June 2025, as the city’s shelter population has tripled since he took office in 2022.