Mayor Zohran Mamdani took decisive action on housing insecurity yesterday, signing three executive orders during his first full day in office at City Hall. The measures aim to address New York City’s persistent housing crisis that has left thousands of residents struggling to find affordable homes.

The first executive order establishes a 90-day moratorium on evictions across all five boroughs, providing immediate relief to tenants facing displacement. According to city data, eviction filings have increased by 38% in the past year alone, with low-income neighborhoods in the Bronx and Brooklyn facing the highest rates.

“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table,” Mamdani said during the signing ceremony. “This moratorium gives us breathing room to implement more permanent solutions while protecting vulnerable residents.”

The second executive order creates a Housing Emergency Task Force comprised of tenant advocates, housing experts, and city officials. The group will have 60 days to deliver comprehensive recommendations addressing rent stabilization, illegal evictions, and the expansion of affordable housing units throughout the city.

Housing affordability has reached crisis levels in New York, with the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment now exceeding $3,000 per month in Manhattan. The vacancy rate for rent-stabilized units has dropped to just 0.86%, the lowest in decades, according to the NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey.

Mamdani’s third order directs the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to expedite the conversion of vacant city-owned properties into affordable housing. The initiative targets approximately 2,500 vacant buildings that could potentially yield up to 20,000 new affordable units.

Real estate industry representatives expressed concerns about the eviction moratorium. James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, warned that the measure could have unintended consequences.

“While we share the mayor’s commitment to addressing housing insecurity, blanket eviction bans can discourage property investment and maintenance, ultimately reducing housing quality,” Whelan said in a statement. “We urge the administration to consider a more targeted approach that protects vulnerable tenants while maintaining a healthy housing ecosystem.”

Tenant advocacy groups, however, praised the mayor’s swift action. Cea Weaver, campaign coordinator for Housing Justice for All, called the executive orders “a promising start” to addressing systemic housing inequities.

“For decades, housing policy in this city has prioritized developer profits over people’s need for stable, affordable homes,” Weaver said. “These orders signal a potential shift toward putting tenants first.”

The housing crisis has disproportionately affected communities of color, with eviction rates in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods running three times higher than in majority-white areas, according to research from the Community Service Society.

City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, who chairs the Committee on Housing and Buildings, expressed support for the mayor’s initiatives while emphasizing the need for legislative action.

“Executive orders provide immediate relief, but lasting change requires updating our housing laws,” Rivera said. “The Council is committed to working with the mayor on comprehensive legislation that addresses root causes of housing insecurity.”

Housing experts note that New York’s challenges mirror nationwide trends. The Urban Institute reports that the U.S. faces a shortage of 7 million affordable rental homes for low-income households, with high-cost coastal cities like New York facing particularly severe shortages.

Mamdani, who campaigned heavily on housing reform, acknowledged that these measures represent just the beginning of his administration’s housing agenda.

“These orders are first steps in a larger strategy to ensure every New Yorker has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing,” the mayor said. “In the coming months, we’ll be introducing additional policies addressing homelessness, public housing improvements, and anti-displacement measures.”

The Housing Emergency Task Force will hold its first public meeting next week, with community forums scheduled in each borough throughout February.