The Department of Social Services partnered with the Doe fund for their first "housewarming" to assist unhoused New Yorkers in Bedford Park.

Despite New York City's historically low housing vacancy rate - about 1.4% - the DSS says it has connected a record number of New Yorkers to permanent housing.

It says it has assisted 18,500 households from shelters to housing in just fiscal year 2024.

The housewarming party was held for people moving from shelters into a new high-quality apartment building, located at 2736 Creston Ave.

New tenants were greeted by catered food, along with a goody-bag filled items that included rice, cleaning supplies, a pan, water and other items for their starter home.

A total of 41 families moved into the apartments. The DSS says it is expecting a total of 63 others to fill the other units before the end of the year.

New tenants like Booker Davis says the process of moving from a shelter into a high-quality home has been one unlike anything he's experienced before.

"When you come into something brand new that could be your own and you can manage it however you like, I've never really experienced anything like that in my life," says Davis.

Molly Wasow Park, commissioner of the NYC Department of Social Services, Jennifer Mitchell, president and CEO of the Doe Fund, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and Assembly Member George Alvarez were in attendance for the celebration.