Homeless families and individuals in NYC shelters waiting for permanent homes won a victory in court on Thursday that requires landlords to hold their apartments while tenant casework is being processed.

The ruling upholds a temporary restraining order barring Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s Department of Social Services (DSS) from eliminating the unit hold incentive — one-month rent payments to landlords that ensure apartments are held for prospective tenants while their housing paperwork gets processed.

The Legal Aid Society, representing Win (Women in Need) shelters and other advocacy groups, sued DSS on June 25 over its plan to shut down the incentive. DSS claimed it was no longer needed as processing times have gotten faster.

The Aug. 21 ruling was the second win for the plaintiffs

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