Due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on New York City, the City of New York and HPD have developed a list of resources for those seeking assistance.
Please visit nyc.gov/coronavirus for more information and a list of citywide resources or call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115).
You can also download this flyer of Free Resources for All New Yorkers
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Learn more about how you can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your home.
For housing resources and HPD service updates, please see the list below and check back for frequent updates. For additional resources, visit the Housing Resource Portal.
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Affordable Housing Seekers
NYC Housing Connect
We have launched a new version of NYC Housing Connect. Learn more about the new website and continue to find and apply for affordable housing units at nyc.gov/housingconnect.
To help us do everything we can to move New Yorkers into affordable housing as quickly as possible, we have made several changes to the lottery process. Please see the Housing Connect Application Guides webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Application Resources
Housing Ambassadors are community-based service providers who help people prepare and apply for NYC Housing Connect affordable housing lotteries. Please email or call the organization in your community to learn more about what services they're offering at this time. Office locations may be changing their hours or offering services over the phone.
Free financial counseling through Ready to Rent will continue by phone. Our financial counselors will help you check your credit, calculate your income for housing applications, and save for moving expenses.
Tenants
New York City renters, you have rights!
Free legal advice and counsel is available for New York City residential renters. To access these services, please call 311 and ask for the "Tenant Helpline", visit the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants' Information and Resources for NYC Tenants Impacted by COVID-19 webpage, or fill out their Contact Us form.
COVID Rent Relief Program
The New York State Legislature established the COVID Rent Relief Program to help households who are experiencing a loss of income during the COVID-19 crisis. This program will provide eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household's landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance. Households can apply for up to four months of rental assistance. The program will not cover the entire rent but will provide funding to cover a portion of the rent for low-income New Yorkers who have experienced income loss.
The applicated period for the program ended on February 1, 2021. To learn more about the program, visit the NYS Homes and Community Renewal website at hcr.ny.gov/RRP.
Emergency Cash Assistance
One-Shot Deal
Financial Resources for Tenants
Evictions
Eviction restrictions protect most tenants from eviction through May 1, 2021. For more information about how these eviction protections might apply to you, contact the City's Tenant Helpline by calling 311 and saying "Tenant Helpline."
Under a State law called the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Act, you can prevent your landlord from evicting you if you have lost income or increased expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic or if moving from your home would pose a hardship during the pandemic. To be protected under this law, you must sign a "Hardship Declaration" and deliver it to your landlord. The Hardship Declaration form is available in English and Spanish at: nycourts.gov/covid-eefpa.shtml. If you sign and deliver the Hardship Declaration, you cannot be evicted from your primary residence pursuant to a pending case, and your landlord may not file a new case to evict you from your primary residence, until at least May 1, 2021. You may proactively complete a Hardship Declaration and return it to your landlord whether or not a case is pending against you.
If you are at risk of eviction, or if you want up-to-date information about the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Act, the eviction moratorium, and Housing Court, please visit the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) or Housing Court Answers.
Visit the NYC Tenant Resource Portal, the City’s first-ever online resource to help residential renters access free resources from the City to help prevent evictions.
You can learn about the facts and resources available to you in the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) Eviction Prevention Brochure, which was created in partnership with HPD, NYCHA, HDC, HRA, and the office of Civil Justice.
Homelessness Prevention
If you are at imminent risk of entering the New York City shelter system, visit Homebase or call 311 and ask for "Homebase." Homebase locations are currently closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, however services are still available by phone.
Tenant Protection
It is unlawful to discriminate against a tenant based on their status as someone impacted by COVID-19. The New York City Council passed Intro No. 1936-a (Local Law 56 of 2020) to amend the definition of harassment in the Housing Maintenance Code to include threats against an individual based on their actual or perceived status as a COVID-19 impacted person, status as an essential employee, or receipt of a rental concession or forbearance or rent owed during the pandemic.
Free legal advice and counsel is available for New York City residential renters. To access these services, please call 311 and ask for the "Tenant Helpline", visit the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants' Information and Resources for NYC Tenants Impacted by COVID-19 webpage, or fill out their Contact Us form.
Visit Housing Court Answers for COVID-19 information about Housing Court.
Landlord-Tenant Mediation
The Landlord-Tenant Mediation Project is designed to resolve housing-related issues that have arisen as a result of COVID-19. The Project helps tenants and landlords create an agreement outside of Housing Court to resolve issues that include but are not limited to unpaid rent, lease concerns, or move outs.
To connect with the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Project, please call 311 and ask for the "Tenant Helpline", or visit the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants' Information and Resources for NYC Tenants Impacted by COVID-19 webpage for more information.
Report a Complaint
New Yorkers should continue to report housing code violations to 311. HPD's Housing Inspectors are conducting inspections in response to complaints, prioritizing hazardous complaints including lack of hot water, lack of essential services, mold, lead-based paint and window guards, and reinspections in response to property owner requests.
Utility Arrears
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and tenants pay for utility and heating bills. Visit HRA's HEAP webpage for more information.
Seniors
During the COVID-19 crisis, the City of New York wants to make sure you have access to free services and support from the safety of your home. Help is available. For a complete list of services, visit nyc.gov/agingcovid
Food Assistance
Sign up for free pick-up meals and emergency home food delivery at nyc.gov/getfood or call 311 to learn more.
Health and Wellbeing
Get help with feelings of stress, sadness, anxiety, or fear:
Get Help with Medicare: Call Aging Connect at 212-244-6469
Stay connected with free recurring social check-in calls from a volunteer: Call Aging Connect at 212-244-6469
Safety
If you do not feel safe at home, or if you feel pressured, bullied, or scared by anyone:
Stay Home as Much as Possible
Only go outside for essential tasks, such as getting groceries and supplies, or securing necessary medical care. If you must go outside, keep at least six feet of distance between yourself and others, and wear a face covering. Wash your hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds every time, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Protect Your Money
Additional Support
Landlords / Property Managers
COVID-19 Flyers
We ask all building owners and property managers that work with HPD to prominently display the most up to date COVID-19 flyers in your buildings. The most recent flyer was updated on March 15th and is translated into 22 additional languages. They can be found at nyc.gov/coronavirus.
Building Safety
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has provided guidance for general building disinfection.
For your safety and the safety of your tenants, it is critical that you:
Residential Buildings Guidance
DOHMH has compiled a list of faqs for residential buildings.
This guidance is appropriate for buildings with self-contained residence units (not shared kitchens or common living spaces), and buildings with maintenance staff and/or providers supporting the social and health needs of the residents.
This guidance is important to review and implement for buildings with ANY senior populations.
Congregate Buildings Guidance
DOHMH has compiled guidance for congregate buildings.
This guidance is appropriate for buildings with shared spaces residents employ for cooking, shared living space, and social congregating, and buildings with maintenance staff and/or providers supporting the social and health needs of the resident.
This guidance is important to review and implement for buildings with ANY senior populations.
Free Resources for New Yorkers
The City has put together resource flyers for seniors and all New Yorkers. We encourage you to post these flyers in the lobby and/or other public areas. If you are able to provide the flyer directly to tenants under doors or in their mailboxes we would welcome the information getting to them directly.
HPD Borough Offices
All HPD borough offices are temporarily closed to encourage social distancing and help keep New Yorkers safe from coronavirus (COVID-19). For assistance from borough office staff, please contact the appropriate borough office by phone or email.
Landlord Responsibilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Rent Collection during the eviction moratorium
HUD Guidance
For general guidance from HUD for housing providers, visit hud.gov/coronavirus.
Financial Assistance and Mortgage Forbearance
See the "Property Owners" tab below for other resources pertaining to all property owners, including information on financial resources and mortgage forbearance.
Property Owners
Financial Assistance for Owners
All owners:
Landlords only:
Financial Assistance for Owners through Mortgage Forbearance:
Foreclosure
Legal Resources for Estate Planning
There are several legal organizations providing pro bono legal services for qualifying cases in New York City where there are COVID-19-related estate issues. For more information on these pro bono services, visit the organizations’ websites:
Additional Resources for Property Owners
Tips for Staying Safe at Home
During the COVID-19 crisis, the City of New York wants to make sure you have access to free services and support from the safety of your home. Help is available:
Food Assistance
If you are worried about your ability to get food, free pick-up meals are available for all, and some New Yorkers may qualify for assisted home delivery. Visit nyc.gov/getfood or call 311 to learn more.
Mental Health
An infection illness outbreak such as COVID-19 can be stressful. It's natural to feel overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or afraid. For help coping, visit the NYC Well website at nyc.gov/nycwell. If your symptoms become overwhelming, you can speak with a counselor 24/7 by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL or texting "WELL" to 65173.
Safety in Your Home
If you do not feel safe at home, or if you feel pressured, bullied, or scared by anyone, there are resources available. NYC has a 24-hour Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-621-4673 or visit nyc.gov/nychope. Seniors can also call the NYC Department for the Aging's Resource Center at 1-212-422-3101 between 9am and 5pm.
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COVID-19 Policies and Protocols
For details on agency policies and protocols related to COVID-19, please visit the HPD Agency Restart Plan page.
Section 8
HPD Section 8 Customer Service Office Closure
As of March 16th, 2020, we closed HPD Section 8 Customer Service Office at 100 Gold Street until further notice.
During this period, During this period, we have a plan to ensure that voucher holders have continuous access to housing:
Contact HPD Section 8
The HPD Section 8 team is still available to the public:
Mitchell-Lama
Extension of Income Affidavit Filing
As a result of these difficult times, we have adjusted the Income Affidavit timeframes in order to remain committed to supporting the residents and professionals in the Mitchell Lama community. Due to the coronavirus public health emergency, HPD is making the following changes for the 2019 Income Affidavits:
SCRIE Program
Attention all seniors: Effective March 16, 2020, the SCRIE unit at HPD will be closed to the public until further notice. We are taking steps to protect our staff, clients, customers, partners and the New Yorkers who rely on us, while continuing to perform our work.
Seniors can email or mail their applications to HPD:
HPD will continue to process reinstatements and new applications accordingly. In the event this process is delayed, HPD will issue retroactive SCRIE payments on behalf of seniors that are determined to be eligible for the program. As the impact of COVID-19 evolves, HPD will continue to evolve its policies to keep our staff and the New Yorkers we interact with as informed and safe as possible.
HPD Inspections and Violations
HPD is still conducting inspections and responding to emergency violations and orders. We are also continuing to respond to tenants and owners who continue to seek our help and doing everything possible to continue to provide administrative support for all services.
As always, landlords and their agents should make every effort to correct immediately hazardous violations like lack of heat, hot water, water, or electricity and defective sanitary facilities.
Landlords should correct all violations as soon as possible and then certify such corrective action, either by mail or by using eCertification. Late certifications can only be completed by mail; we encourage you to submit these as well. You can also seek a postponement for the correction of some violations. Review the back of your Notice of Violation, Certification instructions, or our Clearing HPD Violations FAQ for more information on clearing violations. You can also call a Borough Service Center for more information. For specific details about certification of lead-based paint violations, see the Lead-Based Paint webpage. For specific details about certification of mold violations, see the Indoor Allergen Hazards webpage.
Currently, as a result of changes in operations due to COVID-19, please be advised that any Dismissal Request applications submitted in March 2020 or later will have a reinspection scheduled in the order that the request was received. We encourage all owners whose HPD violation record (which you can review using HPDONLINE) does not reflect actual building conditions to file for a Dismissal Request.
Disability Services
For questions about HPD disability services, contact Andrew Lange, HPD Disability Services Facilitator at accessibility@hpd.nyc.gov.
Emergency Housing Services
Intake and registration are suspended. If you have been displaced from your home as a result of a vacate order or a fire incident and need shelter, please contact the American National Red Cross at 1-877-733-2767. Please contact your assigned Case Manager for services. If you have trouble contacting your Case Manager, call 212-863-6770 or email ehs-remote@hpd.nyc.gov.
This publication is intended for informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice. This information is not a complete or final statement of all the responsibilities and rights of owners and tenants regarding laws and rules relating to housing in New York City.