Elizabeth and Union County are each filing a lawsuit against New York City over a controversial program that sends homeless families from the city -- to New Jersey.

Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage made the announcement Monday afternoon.

More than 50 families have been relocated to seven municipalities in Union County under New York City's "Special One Time Assistance Program," or SOTA.

The program allows New York City officials to relocate members of the homeless population across the Hudson River into apartments in New Jersey cities. New York City officials paid landlords a year’s worth of rent upfront, but the people were often placed into substandard or unsafe homes.

Jersey City and Newark have already filed lawsuits. A lawsuit filed by officials in Newark led to a suspension of the program there. The suit demanded changes be made to the program.