NEWYORK: New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park announced details of a new initiative that aims to break the cycle of infant homelessness in New York City by delivering support to pregnant New Yorkers.
Officially launched on September 15, 2025, the pilot program, “Creating Real Impact at Birth” (CRIB), is an innovative DSS program that will connect and prioritize pregnant New Yorkers applying for shelter with housing vouchers to put them on a path toward permanent housing and stability.
First announced in Mayor Adams’ 2025 state of the city address earlier this year, the announcement — seeded with an investment of $8.5 million — is a key plank of the Adams administration’s ongoing commitment to making New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.
Additionally, Mayor Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today celebrated the launch of “NYC Baby Boxes,” a new program to welcome the newest New Yorkers and support New York City families by reducing early financial stress for new parents. Families of newborns at four NYC Health + Hospital locations will be provided with boxes that contain a collection of postpartum and newborn supplies, including diapers and wipes, clothing, games, and several resource guides on what to expect after giving birth.
“Put simply: No child should ever be born in a shelter. We must do everything we can to stop the cycle of poverty and housing instability before it ever begins by ensuring mothers and babies do not go to a shelter after leaving the hospital and that they have the resources they need to thrive,” said Mayor Adams.
“The ‘CRIB’ program is yet another example of how our administration is cutting the bureaucracy that often prevents people from getting the government services they need while also making New York City more affordable for needy families. We are proud to be launching this program, and also delivering ‘NYC Baby Boxes’ to approximately 7,000 families across our public hospital system. These interventions will help our most vulnerable New Yorkers find the affordable housing they need to live stable, thriving lives and further our mission of making our city the best place to raise a family.”
“‘CRIB’ is an important and groundbreaking program that will allow pregnant New Yorkers to raise their child in the comfort of a stable home,” said DSS Commissioner Wasow Park.
“As a proud mother, I am so excited for this new initiative and the lifeline that will be extended to people experiencing homelessness who will be connected to permanent housing at this profound milestone in their lives. Project CRIB is an important component of the work this administration is doing to support programs and create services that eliminate barriers and moves our most vulnerable neighbors from shelter to housing.”
“Bringing home a child from the hospital is a beautiful, exciting time for any family, but it is not without challenges,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Katz, MD.
“The ‘NYC Baby Boxes’ will help families have the information and tools to care for mother and child in those early days after giving birth. We are enormously grateful to Mayor Adams, Welcome Baby, and the United Way of New York City for their efforts to support over 7,000 families each year with this initiative.”
Through the pilot program, DSS will identify more than 300 pregnant New Yorkers who are applying for shelter and assign them to a housing subsidy that will allow them to more quickly move into stable homes before their children are born. The program is funded through an $8.5 million investment in DSS’ Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. The pilot is projected to last at least 15 months, with the first three months focused on enrollment.
“This program marks a crucial step in improving health outcomes for pregnant New Yorkers experiencing housing instability,” said DHS Administrator Joslyn Carter.
“Every expecting parent deserves the security of a safe, stable environment to nurture their newborn, and every family deserves a home. No one should have to face the stress of uncertainty during pregnancy. By addressing this urgent need, we are advancing maternal and infant well-being, easing hardship, and instilling hope during this transformative time.”
“The postpartum period is one of the most vulnerable times in a parent and newborn’s lives – a time for healing, bonding, and beginning their journey together. For families struggling to make ends meet, the lack of basic necessities can quickly turn joy into crushing stress,” said Sarah Gould Steinhardt, executive director, Welcome Baby USA.
“Welcome Baby is fixing one aspect of the urgent crisis facing families by providing the most basic necessities every newborn and new parent should have access to. Partnering with Mayor Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals means more than 7,000 New York City families will now leave the hospital with what they need for their child’s first month of life.”
