DUMBO Mayor Expands Housing Vouchers, Changes August 1 Eligibility Rules

The DUMBO mayor signed the Housing Voucher Expansion Ordinance on July 7, which adds 150 vouchers to the local housing authority program and revises income thresholds for applicants living in ZIP code 11201.

The measure follows the city council's approval of the 2026 budget allocation on June 12, which directed funds previously used for administrative overhead toward direct rental subsidies amid documented increases in average rents along Water Street and Front Street.

Changes to Daily Housing Costs

Residents currently paying market rents above 30 percent of household income can now apply for vouchers that cover the difference, with the legislation stating maximum subsidies of $850 per month for one-bedroom units. Families in Brooklyn Bridge Park-area buildings who meet the updated 60 percent area median income limit become eligible without prior public housing residency requirements.

Local advocates note that the ordinance removes the five-year residency preference, allowing recent DUMBO workers employed at nearby tech offices or retail sites on Pearl Street to qualify immediately upon application.

Budget Figures and Processing Timeline

The city's housing department budget papers list $1.8 million for the added vouchers in fiscal year 2026, covering an estimated 120 households based on current average subsidy amounts reported in the department's March 2026 quarterly report. Applications will be accepted online and at the DUMBO Housing Office on Adams Street starting August 1, with the government projecting first approvals by October 15.

Staff at the authority will hold three public information sessions in July at the DUMBO branch library to explain the revised forms and documentation rules. The ordinance requires annual recertification for all recipients, with the first reviews scheduled for July 2027.