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Willie James McCartha of Washington Heights, Manhattan is running out of time and out of money. His rent is due but the city subsidy that used to cover the bill is no more, so his February checks will not be sent out.

"I don't know which way to turn or which way to go," said McCartha.

The Advantage housing assistance program helped McCartha move from a shelter to a one-bedroom apartment last year, but Advantage abruptly ended after the city won a court challenge brought by homeless advocates trying to keep it going.

"The lawmakers, just one or two of them, [should] just go into a shelter overnight and just be there and see what I'm talking about, the pain, the anguish," said McCartha.

Advantage helped keep 9,000 formerly homeless individuals and families off the streets. The program paid a third of the rent for those who work, but McCartha's entire bill was covered because he is disabled.

"How can you cancel a program that help so many people? It's sad, to me it's disgusting," said McCartha.

The city tried to cancel the program last March, but was ordered to make payments during the legal wrangling. The administration said it could not afford Advantage's $140 million price tag after losing state and federal funding.

Department of Homeless Services officials said, "It is too expensive without shared responsibility and in September 2011, the New York State Supreme Court ruled that the city was not obligated to continue the program at its own expense."

"We just saw the mayor propose a budget where he hardly broke a sweat compared to last year's budget it was clear that he had an easier time balancing this one so why cancel a homelessness prevention program that was working?" said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

An appeal in this case is set to be heard next week.