MAYVILLE, NY – Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel signed a second Emergency Order on Sustainable Migration Friday, blocking a New York City program which relocates homeless individuals to upstate New York counties, like Chautauqua.
The order, titled Local State of Emergency, Emergency Order No. 2 on Sustainable Migration, is in response to New York City’s expanded “Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (City FHEPS)” program. This program provides five years (or more) of rental vouchers to homeless NYC residents who agree to relocate upstate.
“This unlawful program poses a grave risk to the social, health and emergency services resources of our county, practically because the county’s homeless population is already at an all-time high,” Wendel said. “A mass arrival of additional homeless individuals could create a crisis locally, impacting both county and non-profit services who meet the needs of these individuals.”
As a result, the emergency order prohibits any person, business or entity within Chautauqua County to accept a rental voucher as payment for housing, without obtaining prior written authorization from the County Executive.
“City FHEPS is unlawful and un-constitutional, said Wendel. “The program violates a 1984 consent judgment the city agreed to and Chautauqua County’s right to self-governance, as established in the U.S. and New York State Constitutions.”
“Even though these rental vouchers would pay for housing, other associated costs would be placed on the backs of Chautauqua County taxpayers,” continued Wendel. “As a county, we are obligated to pay for social services, educational programs and other supports a person who relocates may need.”
Anyone who may knowingly violate this Emergency Order is subject to a criminal charge by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, a class B misdemeanor.
The new emergency order takes effect immediately and will remain in place for a period of five days. The order can be renewed for additional five day periods, as required.
A similar order was issued on May 18, 2023 preventing the City of New York from engraining in private or public agreements to relocate Asylum Seekers to Chautauqua County.
