Page 1 - QT Edition #3 01-15-26

TI MES

QUEENS

Published for the Borough of Queens

VOLUME 31, NO. 3 THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2026 25 CENTS

Governor Hochul Announces Investments to
Audit of NYC’s CityFHEPS Program
Reveals Weak Oversight And Deliver Universal Child Care For New York
Rising Costs Children Under Five

An audit has been released by State Comptroller Thomas P.
DiNapoli of New York City’s largest housing voucher program
found that weak oversight and administrative lapses are con-
tributing to rising costs and placing some vulnerable families
in unsafe housing. The program, known as the City Fighting
Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS)
is overseen by the New York City Department of Social Services
(DSS), and it is designed to help low-income New Yorkers avoid
homelessness. It’s projected to cost the city $1.2 billion in city
Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, up from $176 million in 2019.
“Stronger oversight of the CityFHEPS program is critical to
helping individuals and families access safe housing and stay in
their communities,” DiNapoli said. “Improving how the program
operates will better protect tenants and taxpayer dollars.”
Oversight of Homebase Providers
DSS contracts with seven nonprofit homebase providers to
help those at risk of homelessness avoid entering shelters and
apply for rent subsidies, enabling them to remain in the com-
munity. Auditors reviewed 75 CityFHEPS cases from a pool
of approximately 8,000 from January 2022 to May 2024 and
examined $671 million in contracts across the seven providers.
Key audit findings included:
• Unsafe Apartments: Families were placed in apartments
with serious housing-code violations, including mold, infesta-
tions and missing window guards. In some cases, DSS failed to
conduct required safety checks, known as pre-clearance inspec-
(Continued on page 2) Governor Hochul announced an unprecedented investment as the next step to deliver
affordable, universal child care for children under five years of age. The Governor will
partner with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to deliver free child care for two-year-olds in New York
NYC Schools Chancellor Samuels City, See story on page 2.
Visited The Mosaic Pre-K Center in
Corona Heights From U.S. Capitol to Front Porch: Suozzi
Replaces Stolen Flag for Veteran

The newly appointed NYC as they visited the Mosaic Pre-K
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samu- Center, 47-01 111th Street, Corona
els was joined by U.S. Repre- Heights 11368, next to the NYC
sentative Grace Meng; Queens Hall of Science in Corona.
Borough President Donovan Rich- The leaders toured the center,
ards; NYS Senator Jessica Ramos; met with students and educators
NYS Senator John Liu; District 24 and discussed ways to continue
Superintendent Anthony Rivers; strengthening the NYC education
Mosaic Pre-K Center Principal system for all the children, re-
Beth Tekverk; other elected offi- gardless of age or socioeconomic
cials; school leaders, and parents status. After reading the veteran’s letter in Newsday, Suozzi steps in to honor his service. See story on page 6.

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