Mayor Zohran Mamdani has breathed new life into the Just Home initiative, a project aiming to create 83 affordable apartments for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers with complex medical needs. These apartments are to be constructed in an underused building on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi in the Bronx, as reported by the NYC Mayor's Office. Despite the initiative receiving the green light from the Health + Hospitals Board of Directors in 2024 and the New York City Council in 2025, the previous administration put the brakes on the project. Now, with the current administration’s backing, Just Home is set to move forward.
In addition, NYC officials are also updating a Request for Proposals expected later this week, eyeing the construction of over 350 supportive homes for justice-involved individuals in near future. The previous mayor’s office suspended the initiative, effectively reversing the progress made by earlier officials, despite its approval by both the Health + Hospitals Board and the City Council. Mamdani's administration however, confirms its complete commitment to this cause. "By housing New Yorkers who are too often left on the streets or shuttled through emergency rooms, Just Home meets our housing crisis with dignity," Mamdani stated in an announcement, as per the NYC Mayor's Office.
Just Home represents a part of a broader range of citywide initiatives, including the Justice-Involved Supportive Housing (JISH) program and NYC Health + Hospitals' Housing for Health. The Fortune Society, a longtime advocacy organization, is set to develop this initiative and also provide services. They offer an integrated approach that combines housing with critical supportive services, "Housing is health care, and this project will make a real difference in the lives of New Yorkers in need of care," as Dr. Helen Arteaga, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, detailed the multisectoral benefits of Just Home, as noted by the NYC Mayor's Office.
Funding comes in part from the JISH initiative, with Just Home receiving $1 million annually. The updated Request for Proposals for JISH could create an additional 190 homes, significantly elevating the current capacity for supportive housing for justice-involved New Yorkers. "Housing for Health has seen firsthand that our patients living in quality safe housing are healthier and happier. Leveraging our public land assets is a perfect opportunity to make this a reality," commented Leora Jontef, Senior Assistant Vice President Housing and Real Estate for NYC Health + Hospitals, reflecting on the practical and strategic use of city resources, as per the NYC Mayor's Office.
The Just Home project has received support from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and its incoming Commissioner, Dina Levy. The NYC Health Department has also cited research showing the need for housing programs designed for people affected by incarceration, noting the social and mental health challenges they face. The initiative aligns with Mayor Mamdani’s focus on public health, safety, affordability, and expanded mental health and crisis response programs across the city.
