New York lawmakers Tuesday said the state budget must fund housing vouchers that Gov. Kathy Hochul's executive proposal didn't include to help low-income families avoid homelessness. 

Lawmakers have started the earliest stages of budget talks, but said they plan to pressure the governor to fund other housing programs, including the Housing Access Voucher Program, to help 20,000 low-income households avoid foreclosure or eviction.

"It would be a very substantial step toward addressing, you know, rent poverty, evictions and housing instability," Senate Housing Committee chair Brian Kavanagh said. "But this is not as we structured (it), this was not meant to address all unmet housing needs in the state."

Last year, the Legislature wanted $250 million for the program, which provides state-issued housing vouchers modeled after federal Section 8. It was left out of last year's budget and was not in the governor's spending plan released last month.

"The governor hasn't been that keen on it, but we're hoping this year for her to see the urgency of the matter and the fact the state needs to be a vital partner in making sure people have stable homes," Assembly Housing Committee chair Linda Rosenthal told Spectrum News 1.

Rosenthal said state vouchers are critical because of federal funding uncertainties with a potential grant freeze, which could slash Section 8 housing support.

"We're all on pins and needles wondering," Rosenthal said. "Section 8 is so vital for our low-income New Yorkers, and if they were to make any changes, it might be disasterous for our population. That's where our [state] Housing Access Voucher Program comes in."

State comptroller data shows the state's homeless population has more than doubled in recent years — prompting state senators to pass a series of bills Tuesday to support future homebuyers and a suffering affordable housing supply.

Senators adopted measures to create tax-exempt savings accounts for future first-time homebuyers to promote saving for closing costs and a two-year lookback window for seniors and other low-income households eligible to be exempt from rent increases.

"We want New York to be a place where you can afford to raise a family and retire comfortably," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said.

About 20% of New Yorkers spend half of their income on housing costs, according to the comptroller.

A bill to codify the state's Homeowner Protection Program, known as HOPP, also passed the upper house. The legislation must pass the Assembly to reach Hochul's desk.

Both housing chairs also said they'll prioritize a measure to make it easier for houses of worship to build affordable housing units on their properties. The state would develop financial guidance for congregations about how to best develop real estate.

Hundreds of housing advocates this week held multiple events in Albany, pushing for more in the budget to address housing shortages and rising costs.

Advocates want to almost double the $17.8 million in Hochul's budget to modernize supportive housing in the state, and prevent 9,000 units from closing. It would connect homeless people, including veterans and victims of domestic violence, with housing services.

"Homelessness at its core is an affordable housing crisis," Supportive Housing Network Executive Director Pascale Leone said.

Leone said the Legislature must budget more for housing as job growth continues to outpace housing production and rent costs outpace wages.

"We're seeing great need, but we're not seeing the resources we need to match the need," she said.

The Legislature's joint budget hearing on housing will take place at the end of the month, or the last day of hearings Feb. 27 – just before serious spending negotiations begin.