To address the homeless crisis, NY City will acquire buildings that house homeless families to convert them to affordable housing, using with legal force if necessary. It has stated that it will use eminent domain if necessary.
The city has rented apartments in private buildings to house homeless families since the Giuliani administration. On Wednesday, Mayor de Blasio said the city would buy 25 to 30 of the buildings where more than 50 percent of the occupants are homeless and turn them into permanent, affordable housing. The city said it will use eminent domain if the owners don’t agree to sell.
About 3,000 homeless New Yorkers live in the buildings the city plans to buy, and they will be able to stay in those apartments.