A major step forward in New York City’s ongoing fight against homelessness took place in Brooklyn, where Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park joined partners to celebrate the opening of 182 deeply affordable apartments at 2886 Atlantic Avenue.
The new development, which is known as The Atlantic, represents the first Affordable Housing Services (AHS) site in Brooklyn and marks a milestone in the city’s efforts to create sustainable housing pathways for New Yorkers exiting the shelter system.
A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative
Developed in partnership with the Institute for Community Living (ICL) and Camber Property Group, The Atlantic is part of DSS’s Novel Affordable Housing Services Program, which uses CityFHEPS vouchers to help nonprofit partners secure entire buildings for long-term affordable housing.
The AHS program has now surpassed 1,000 units awarded or opened, with 835 already operational and more than 200 additional homes in the pipeline. Of those, roughly 150 units are scheduled to open next year.
“With New York City facing a historically low housing vacancy rate, we cannot rely on the status quo to meet the moment,” said Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “We must leverage our resources in new and innovative ways to create desperately needed affordable housing, and with the Affordable Housing Service initiative, we are thrilled to do just that.”
Meeting a Growing Need
More than 13,000 households in the city’s shelter system currently hold CityFHEPS vouchers but struggle to find housing amid New York’s ongoing shortage. AHS offers a scalable model to bridge that gap, creating buildings dedicated entirely to deeply affordable homes with 30-year or 9-year affordability contracts that ensure long-term stability for tenants.
ICL, which will manage and operate The Atlantic, brings four decades of experience providing housing and behavioral health care to New Yorkers in need. “These beautiful new homes are more than apartments; they are the foundation for stability, wellness, and opportunity,” said Jody Rudin, President and CEO of ICL. “At ICL, we believe housing is the best prescription.”
Expanding the Affordable Housing Pipeline
The Adams administration has prioritized expanding the city’s housing supply through ambitious investments and zoning reform. The mayor’s City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan, passed last year, aims to build 80,000 new homes over 15 years, backed by $24.5 billion in housing capital funding.
DSS continues to work with nonprofit providers such as Riseboro, the Fortune Society, VIP Community Services, and others to expand the AHS model across the five boroughs.
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