Advocates urge New York City to raise income limits for fair fares program

New York City officials are facing urgent calls to enhance support for low-income residents as discussions surrounding the FY26 Executive Budget continue. Advocates are pushing for immediate reforms to the city’s public assistance programs, emphasizing the need for timely access to benefits and fair housing policies.

During the recent budget hearing, Abby Biberman, associate director of the Public Benefits Unit at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), highlighted significant delays in the Human Resources Administration (HRA) processes. She noted that many clients are still experiencing long wait times for cash assistance, which jeopardizes their housing stability and pushes them closer to eviction. “Our clients encounter problems completing their applications and recertification due to systems that are not functioning well or accessible,” Biberman stated, underscoring the critical need for improvements in service delivery.

Advocates are particularly concerned about proposed changes to the city’s rent assistance program, which could increase the rent burden on low-wage working families. Currently, families are expected to pay no more than 30% of their income toward rent, but changes could raise this obligation to 40%. This shift is expected to exacerbate the risk of eviction for vulnerable households already struggling to make ends meet.

The call for action is echoed by community leaders who are urging the city council to expand the Fair Fares program, which provides discounted transit fares for low-income residents. Advocates argue that raising the income eligibility levels for this program is essential to ensure that working individuals can afford transportation without financial strain.

As the budget discussions progress, the emphasis remains on ensuring that New Yorkers in need receive the support they deserve. The outcomes of these deliberations will have lasting implications for the city’s most vulnerable populations, and advocates are hopeful that the council will prioritize these critical issues in their final budget decisions.