HRA Caps CityFHEPS Broker Fees at One Month's Rent — Down From 15% Annual Cap; Admin French Tells Council Budget Hearing Thu Jun 4; $22.6M Paid to 1,288 Brokers Jan 2022–Feb 2025 (Avg $17.5K Each); Program Hits $1.7B This FY

HRA Administrator Scott French told City Council members at Thursday's budget hearing that broker fees on CityFHEPS placements will be "significantly less than in the past." Current rule lets brokers collect up to 15% of annual rent if unaffiliated with the landlord; HRA is moving to a one-month-rent cap. City paid $22.6M to 1,288 brokers Jan 2022-Feb 2025 (~$17,500/each). The move is a cost-containment lever as CityFHEPS spending has tripled in 3 years and is projected at $1.7B this fiscal year. Not a flip on the voucher-expansion pledge (already broken via Mar 24 appeal) but a concrete savings counterweight against the $519M FY27 rollback.

• keptPied-à-terre tax on $5M+ second homes
• brokenCorporate tax hike ($1.75B/year)
• brokenDouble DCWP budget to $135M
• brokenIncrease Human Rights Commission funding to $21M

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