A new program to fight homelessness in New York City will soon send a $5000 stimulus check. Called the “Cash with Care” program, the new initiative will provide $1,200 monthly and $5,000 lump sums through 2026 in a pilot program by the New York City Council.
A homeless man sleeps and keeps warm at a train station in New York City on February 4 (Getty Images via AFP)City Council approves program for fiscal year 2026 to lift homeless people out of poverty amid city-wide crisis. The report estimates that New York City has more than 1,58,000 homeless people, the highest in the nation.
The ‘Cash with Care’ program was launched in December 2025 by the New York City Council, in collaboration with Covenant House, the largest provider of 24/7 crisis shelter in NYC. It will be funded from the New York City Council budget for fiscal year 2026.
‘Cash with Care’ Program: Check Eligibility, Payment Timeline and More1. Age should be between 18 to 24 years.
2. Must reside in NYC and currently reside in the CHNY shelter or transitional housing program.
3. Experiencing homelessness or severe housing insecurity
Note: CHNY is expected to make selections based on records of homeless people they have, and no public application process was detailed. The initial pilot program will enroll 60 individuals.
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When will the payment arrive? what do we knowPayments to eligible individuals are expected to be processed automatically, US Sun reported. The official notification for the program did not mention a timeline. However, those enrolled in the program will likely be notified soon.
Notably, the payments come as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani comes under pressure from government officials and homeless advocates after a massive blizzard and freezing temperatures killed at least 16 people. The deaths have intensified scrutiny of the city’s response to winter homelessness.
