Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park marked Women’s History Month by celebrating the grand opening of a 64-unit affordable housing development in the Bronx.

The new site prioritizes women-led households. It is the latest achievement in the city’s ongoing fight to provide stable housing for vulnerable populations.

“We are putting New York City’s women first and giving them homes to call their own so they can thrive,” said Mayor Adams. “This new building is the latest in our efforts to create subsidized apartments for New Yorkers using our administration’s Affordable Housing Services initiative, and it marks more than 450 deeply affordable homes we have created for New Yorkers in shelter.”

The new housing complex will accept CityFHEPS vouchers. This will allow eligible families to transition from shelters to permanent homes.

The initiative is part of the city’s Affordable Housing Services (AHS) program. The program has already delivered 460 deeply affordable homes to those in need.

DSS Commissioner Molly Wasow Park emphasized the administration’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis. She noted that the citywide vacancy rate is just 1.4 percent.

“With the Affordable Housing Services initiative, this administration has found an innovative way to connect at-risk New Yorkers to housing,” said Wasow Park. “Through this AHS site, developed in partnership with Community Housing Innovations, we are advancing gender equity and empowering women-led households to become more financially independent — making this a win-win for everyone involved.”

Community Housing Innovations CEO Ron Abad highlighted the importance of stable housing. “Quality, affordable housing provides a firm foundation for a prosperous life, and all of us need a home of our own,” he stated.

The 64-unit development is part of the Adams administration’s broader initiative to fast-track deeply affordable homes for New Yorkers in shelters. In 2024 alone, DSS helped 16,000 households—approximately 34,000 people—transition from shelters to stable homes. This marked a 38 percent increase from the previous year.

While CityFHEPS vouchers remain a key tool in securing permanent housing, an estimated 11,000 households with vouchers remain in shelters due to New York City’s severe housing shortage. The AHS program is bridging this gap. It leverages long-term, building-wide leases with nonprofit partners. This ensures affordability and tenant protections for decades.

The site will be operated by Community Housing Innovations. It joins other AHS partnerships with organizations like Riseboro, The Fortune Society, and VIP Community Services. This opening follows the December launch of another 63-unit AHS site in the Bronx, operated by The Doe Fund.

The housing initiative is part of Mayor Adams’ “Women Forward NYC: An Action Plan for Gender Equity.” The plan is a $62 million investment. It aims to make New York City the most women-forward city in the country.

The plan prioritizes economic mobility, housing stability, and better health outcomes for historically marginalized communities.