Eligibility

Section 8 Eligibility

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) provides vouchers to families in buildings developed or renovated under certain HPD programs, and to homeless individuals referred by Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and Human Resources Administration (HRA) providers. Applications must be submitted through designated intermediaries from within HPD, management staff from various housing providers, or staff from other City agencies. Applications are not accepted by the general public.

Eligibility Categories

Homeless Households

Households that have a primary nighttime residence that is either a publicly or privately operated shelter in HPD's jurisdiction designed to provide temporary living accommodations, including shelters operated by DHS and HRA and designated by HPD as eligible to receive vouchers; or the home of another household in HPD's jurisdiction that is allowing the applicant to reside temporarily provided that the applicant has been classified as homeless by HPD's Emergency Housing Services Bureau.

HPD Funded Renovation-Relocation

Households that are residing in a building owned by the City of New York or by an entity designated by the city to achieve its housing goals, and is in need of substantial renovation. The voucher will be issued to allow the applicant to locate permanent, alternate housing.

HPD Funded Renovation-Rent Restructuring

Households that reside in buildings that have been recently renovated with financial assistance from HPD which result in rent increases that require the applicant to pay more than 30% of gross income toward rent and utilities.

In Place-Homeless and Special Needs

Households from HPD homeless and special needs programs that maintain a rent burden of more than 30% of income. Applications must be referred by HPD program staff or a designated program sponsor, and represent a household that has relocated from a homeless shelter within 24 months.

In Place-Homeless Prevention

Households residing in buildings that have been developed (newly constructed or renovated) with financial assistance from HPD or buildings for which HPD maintains regulatory responsibility. To be eligible for this preference, applicants must maintain a current rent burden of more than 30% of their annual household income and have their application referred by HPD program staff. Rent will be considered as the amount the applicant is contractually bound to pay the owner plus utilities not included in the rent.

Eligibility Requirements

  • At least one member of the applicant family must meet the documentation requirements of citizenship or eligible immigration status
  • An applicant must provide social security numbers for all family members who claim citizenship or eligible immigration status
  • No member of the applicant household may have been convicted for production of methamphetamines in federally-assisted housing
  • No member of the applicant household may be subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a State sex offender registration program
  • An applicant must be within the appropriate income limits for their family size:
Family Size 30% AMI 50% AMI 80% AMI 95% AMI
1 $29,650 $49,450 $79,200 $94,000
2 $33,900 $56,500 $90,500 $107,400
3 $38,150 $63,550 $101,800 $120,700
4 $42,350 $70,600 $113,100 $134,100
5 $45,750 $76,250 $122,150 $144,900
6 $49,150 $81,900 $131,200 $155,600
7 $52,550 $87,550 $140,250 $166,300
8 $55,950 $93,200 $149,300 $177,100
 Effective - May 15, 2023

Applicants who are denied assistance may request an Informal Review to appeal the agency's determination by returning the Request for Informal Review Section 8 Assistance Denied form included in the Notice of Denial of Assistance within 30 calendar days of the date printed on the denial notice.