DOH says 13,300+ supportive‑housing units contracted — 486 offline and no per‑unit repair cost estimate

NYC Council FY27 executive budget hearings on June 5, 2026 focused on hundreds of supportive‑housing units the city contracts but that sit empty or offline; Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH) officials gave unit counts and said most major repairs are paid by landlords or providers, and they did not have a per‑unit repair cost estimate to immediately reactivate offline units. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096

# What’s happening
– DOH reported 13,300+ contracted supportive housing units citywide at the hearing on June 5, 2026.
– DOH said it cannot provide a per‑unit repair cost estimate to bring offline units online.
– As of the April 30 quarterly report, 486 units were offline or had no referral in process.
Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096 ; https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=13924

# Why it matters
– People eligible for supportive housing face longer waits when contracted units remain offline.
– Repairs, sealed apartments, and administrative steps delay move‑ins and reduce available housing immediately.
Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096

# Key details
– DOH reported a contracted portfolio of over 13,300 permanent supportive‑housing units. (June 5, 2026 hearing) Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096
– April 30 report: 486 supportive‑housing units were either offline or had no referral in process. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=13924
– Quarterly breakdown cited 104 units vacant with no referral and 523 units vacant with a referral in process. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096
– The last quarterly report listed 376 offline units; offline units often need “serious repairs” or are sealed after a prior tenant’s death. (A sealed unit is an apartment closed by authorities after an incident or death.) Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096
– DOH said most significant repair costs are borne by landlords or contracted providers; DOH contracts include only limited funds for minor repairs. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=14005
– DOH tracks evictions from supportive housing and reported 55 eviction‑related discharges last fiscal year from roughly 12,800 units. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=13079

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH)
– Role or jurisdiction: City agency that contracts for permanent supportive housing and funds service providers.
– Action taken or responsibility: Reported unit counts, vacancy categories, and operational constraints at the June 5, 2026 FY27 budget hearing.
– Relevant numbers or dates: 13,300+ contracted units; April 30 report cited 486 offline/no‑referral units.
Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096

The main issue
DOH told Council members that its contracted portfolio exceeds 13,300 units and that vacancy and offline counts change frequently. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096

DOH officials gave specific categories: units “vacant with no referral,” units “vacant with a referral in process,” and units listed as “offline.” Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096

DOH said the largest drivers for offline status are major repairs and “sealed” apartments where a prior tenant died and the unit was closed by authorities. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096

Costs and who pays
DOH stated it does not hold a citywide estimate of the per‑unit renovation cost to reactivate offline supportive units. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12174

DOH told Council that landlords and contracted service providers typically pay for significant repairs; DOH contracts include only a small amount for routine, minor repairs. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=14005

Data inconsistencies and reporting
Council members noted variation between earlier reports and the April 30 report; DOH acknowledged numbers are fluid and change daily as units move through repairs and referrals. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=13924

DOH said it is updating data collection and working with providers on tracking; Council asked for follow‑up to clarify counts and causes. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12928

Council response and budget timing
Council members and the Progressive Caucus pushed for targeted budget investments to bring offline units online before the FY27 budget vote; officials said they welcome ideas and will follow up. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=14134

What DOH proposed now
DOH did not offer a dollar figure at the hearing for a targeted capital or administrative investment to immediately reactivate offline units. Officials said they would need to follow up with construction and provider partners to estimate costs. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=14069

Additional context from related hearings (earlier coverage)
Advocates and other hearings have sought capital funding to preserve supportive housing; a prior Council budget discussion requested $44 million in capital funding to preserve 325 units. This item was from earlier coverage and not the June 5 DOH testimony. Source (earlier coverage): https://youtu.be/Y-Bc8Mb9nPE

Next steps and follow‑up
Council members said they will follow up directly with DOH for a breakdown of offline units, repair needs, and an estimated per‑unit cost. DOH agreed to continue problem‑solving with Council and providers. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=14069

For readers and advocates seeking records
The figures above come from testimony at the FY27 executive budget hearing held on June 5, 2026 before the New York City Council’s Committees on Finance, Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Hospitals. Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8 (meeting stream)

Source: https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12096 ; https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=13924 ; https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=12174 ; https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=14005 ; https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=14134 ; https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8 (full meeting)