The Erie County Legislature’s Republican Caucus introduced a resolution, calling on the Erie County Executive to declare a State of Emergency. This after New York City leaders announced plans that would allow the City’s welfare recipients, disadvantaged families, and those potentially facing eviction to use state funds to relocate to Erie County in order to make room for more migrants in New York. The Family Homelessness & Eviction Prevention supplement is money from the New York State Safety Net Program that keeps individuals housed under New York’s Right to Shelter law. In addition, eligible families may receive up to 60 months cash assistance.
“We have the 7th highest poverty rate in the U.S., and Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul think it’s a great idea to send more of the needy and homeless population here? It’s absolutely ridiculous. Once here, the new residents will become the responsibility of Erie County Social Services, which will put an unfair burden on our already overtaxed community. Not to mention, those subsidized downstate residents will have an unfair advantage over those in Erie County trying to find housing,” said Minority Leader John Mills.
Erie County has the seventh highest poverty rate in America at 30.1%, while New York City has the 139th highest poverty rate at 17.9% In addition, Erie County was recently ranked 2,019 on a list of “Counties with the Lowest Cost of Living in America,” which puts Erie County in the top-third of counties with the highest cost of living in America.
“We already hear about the lack of affordable housing locally. Now, all these downstate residents are being encouraged to take their government stipends and move here where housing is supposedly more affordable. The result will be an increase in demands on our already stressed Social Services Department and the low-income housing stock. There is so much need here already. Now Albany and New York City want to send more downstate problems here. The County Executive needs to make it very clear that we cannot continue taking on their problems that they created,” said Legislator Chris Greene.
“When is enough enough? New York City will continue using us as the scapegoat for their self-created issues, and Albany will continue to encourage it unless lawmakers have enough courage to say no. What more do they want to put on the backs of Erie County taxpayers? The County Executive must declare a state of emergency. Why would it ever be ok to give New York City residents an unfair advantage over our own citizens? The answer is, it’s not. New York has a Right to Shelter law, we don’t. We have enough challenges trying to help our homeless and at-risk population. They need to come first, and the County Executive needs to make that clear with an emergency declaration,” said Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro.
“The influx of self-professed asylum seekers highlighted how ill-prepared this Administration is, and how challenged this county already is in addressing the many needs of our most vulnerable citizens. We absolutely cannot shoulder the burden of taking on these residents from New York City, transporting them to work and school, feeding them, providing them medical care and whatever other issues arise. Our Social Services Department is already stretched thin. It’s almost unbelievable that they make decisions without care or concern about how it will impact our county and our residents,” said Legislator Jim Malczewski.
The resolution introduced by the Republican Caucus calls on the County Executive to declare a State of Emergency, which would bar landlords from accepting the Family Homelessness & Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS) payments from New York City.