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).
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
Evictions
As the NY State Eviction Moratorium comes to a close on January 15th, NYC is launching a campaign to inform tenants about their rights and connect them to critical resources. Most importantly, we want every New Yorker to know three things:
For up-to-date information on evictions, please visit the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT)'s webpage or Housing Court Answers. For more information about how eviction protections might apply to you, contact the City's Tenant Helpline by calling 311 and saying "Tenant Helpline."
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.
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.
New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
ERAP will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experience homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. We urge all New Yorkers in need of rent relief to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) web portal, as a pending application will provide temporary protection from eviction.
Emergency Cash Assistance
One-Shot Deal
Financial Resources for Tenants
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
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:
Protect Your Money
Additional Support
Managing Your Property
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. 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.
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
New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and Landlord Rental Assistance Program (LRAP)
ERAP will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experience homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. As of November 14, 2021 at 10:00pm applications for ERAP are only being accepted in the categories listed on the NYS ERAP webpage.
If you would like to be notified of possible future opportunities to apply for the ERAP program, please complete the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program - Notify Me Form.
Landlords in any part of the state with a tenant who has declined to submit an application for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or has vacated with arrears, can still apply through the Landlord Rental Assistance Program (LRAP). Though funds for LRAP are fully committed and all applications submitted may not be funded, OTDA will continue to accept LRAP applications through November 20, 2021, as established by law.
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.
Financial Resources for Property Owners
Resource Flyer for Owners in the Wake of COVID-19
A printable flyer is available for owners looking for resources in the wake of COVID in English and additional languages below:
New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
ERAP will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experience homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. Learn more about ERAP.
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
Visit the Division of Tenant Resources' COVID-19 Accommodations webpage for more information.
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.
If you have additional questions, please see the SCRIE FAQ.
Enforcement and Neighborhood Services
Code Enforcement
HPD Borough Offices are open for limited hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 3:00pm. You may use the drop-boxes at our Borough Office locations at any time to submit applications or required forms.
Neighborhood Preservation
HPD Borough OfficesHPD Borough Offices are open from 9:00am to 4:00pm
Registration Assistance
Although the Registration Assistance Unit is still not seeing people in person, you can register for a Tele-Conference or Video Conference on the Property Registration webpage.
Disability Services
For questions about HPD disability services, contact Andrew Lange, HPD Disability Services Facilitator at accessibility@hpd.nyc.gov.
Emergency Housing Services
Online intake and registration have resumed. If you have been displaced from your home as a result of a vacate order or a fire incident and need shelter, please contact Emergency Housing Services (EHS) at ehs-remote@hpd.nyc.gov or call 212-863-6770. EHS business hours are Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm, excluding national holidays.
If you need immediate housing as a result of a fire or city-issued vacate order outside of EHS business hours, please contact the American Red Cross at 1-877-733-2767 (1-800-RED-CROS).
If you have been assigned a Case Manager, please contact your Case Manager for services. If you have trouble contacting your Case Manager, please 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.