Eligibility is limited to those who have already identified permanent housing and is not available to all migrant families within the shelter system. Families who return to city shelters are not eligible for a second payment. The program also includes up to $1,000 in gift cards for additional expenses.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by Mayor Eric Adams to address the challenges posed by the city’s overflowing shelters, which have significantly increased costs related to the migrant crisis. The city projects spending over $5 billion on migrant-related expenses in the past two years, with costs expected to double by 2025.