TODAY, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani launched the new Back Home Unit in the Office of Housing Recovery Operations (HRO), a new initiative to help New Yorkers displaced by fires and other disasters return home more quickly and with greater support.
The Back Home Unit launches alongside the Back Home NYC guide, an interagency resource outlining services available after a disaster, and a revamped digital vacate order tracker designed to improve coordination and transparency, ensuring New Yorkers can return home as soon as it is safe.
The Back Home Unit will serve as a centralized hub for displaced tenants, providing a single point of contact to coordinate services, respond to resident needs, share real-time updates on inspections, facilitate access to belongings and notify residents when vacate orders are lifted.
The initiative follows the passage of the Back Home Act, led by Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez and Shekar Krishnan, which aims to strengthen the City's response to emergency displacement and recovery.
"When New Yorkers are forced from their homes by a fire or other disaster, the last thing they should have to face is a maze of government bureaucracy. The Back Home Unit is about dignity and urgency - cutting through red tape and standing alongside our neighbors in a moment of crisis," said Mayor Mamdani. "When disaster strikes, you deserve a City that shows up for you and fights to get you home. That's what our administration will deliver."
"Whether you need support with where to go and what to do next, understanding your rights as a tenant or knowing when you can return home, the Back Home Unit and guide are here to help you every step of the way. With the creation of this Unit, we're building a government that works for New Yorkers and delivers the clarity and care New Yorkers deserve in their most difficult moments," said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.
"This is one of those moments where you see why the work matters. After local fires, after every family I sat with who didn't know where to go or who to call, when even my team hit wall after wall - I knew City government had to do better. The Back Home Unit is proof that it can. A real office, a real team, a real budget that is dedicated entirely to getting displaced New Yorkers back home. I'm grateful to the Mayor for fast-tracking this and to every neighbor whose story made this legislation possible," said Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez.
The Back Home Unit will coordinate services across City agencies, including the Department of Buildings, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Fire Department.
The new Back Home NYC guide provides a one-stop overview of available services and next steps after a disaster, including short- and long-term shelter options, how to recover or replace essential documents, landlords' responsibilities and tenants' rights, as well as protections for students and workers.
Delivering on Mayor Mamdani's commitment to public excellence, the Back Home Unit also introduced an improved digital portal to track vacate orders, streamline agency coordination and provide timely updates to residents as buildings are cleared for reentry.
