Section 8 Voucher Waitlist: Apply For Subsidized Housing and Rent in NYC

After 15 years, the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV, or Section 8) of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) will reopen again in the first week of June. This program offers subsidies for eligible low-income families, including immigrants with qualifying status, to rent affordable housing in the private market. Families in the program pay a percentage of their income toward rent, while the program covers the difference.

The application opens from Monday, June 3 to Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Who qualifies for NYCHA Section 8?

The program is intended for low-income families who fit the following requirements:

• The head of household is at least 18 years old (or declared an “emancipated minor”)
• At least one family member is a U.S. citizen or non-citizen with eligible immigration status, including permanent residents, refugees and asylum status
• The household income is 50% or less than the area median income (AMI).

The maximum household income limit is listed as the following table:

The waitlist priority preferences are: Mobility impaired and living in inaccessible housing; seniors age 62 or older and people with disabilities; and all other applicants.

Current NYCHA residents or applicants are able to apply. There are also no restrictions on your residency.

Also Read: NYCHA: How To Apply for Public Housing in NYC

How to apply for Section 8 vouchers

The fastest and most recommended way is to apply online . The application opens from Monday, June 3 to Sunday, June 9, 2024. The chance of an applicant being put on the waitlist does not depend on the time you submit your application. The application is accessible from any devices with internet access.

Paper applications can be made only as a reasonable accommodation, which you can request from June 3 to June 7, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 718-218-1525. They can mail the application to you, or you can visit the following centers to get one in person. The paper application has to be postmarked by June 28, 2024, and sent only by U.S. Mail to the address on the application.

Brooklyn Customer Contact Center

787 Atlantic Ave., 2nd Fl., Brooklyn, NY 11238

Bronx Customer Contact Center

478 East Fordham Road, 2nd Fl., Bronx, NY 10458

HPD Client Services

100 Gold St., Room 1-0, New York, NY 10038

Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If they put you on the waitlist and ask you for an eligibility interview, additional information will be required then.

If you need assistance for applying or more information, please call NYCHA’s HCV application hotline at 718-218-1525. If you have hearing or speaking disability, please call 212-306-4652 or TTY 212-306-4845.

For in-person assistance, call 917-286-4300 and select the “appointment” option.

What documents do I need?

The following information is needed:

• Household information (all members): Name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN) or confirmation one was never issued, demographic information, disability status.
• Head of Household Information: All of the above information, plus contact information, family size, household’s total annual gross income, pregnancy status for any household member with due date, criminal and sex offender status for household members, eviction history and dates (if applicable), and reason for applying.
• Emergency contact information

You do not need to send documentation when first filing the application.

How does the process for NYCHA Section 8 work?

After NYCHA stops accepting applications, they will randomly pick 200,000 applications to be put on the waitlist. The waitlist is expected to come out by August 1, 2024. Then, NYCHA will notify applicants, who can check their application status via the Self-Service Portal .

If you are selected from the waitlist, NYCHA will do a criminal background check on all of your family members and ask you to provide more documentation, including your income.

By meeting the criteria, NYCHA will issue you a Housing Choice Voucher . Then you need to sign it and have 120 days plus a 60-day extension to look for an apartment. You can request for more extensions within 30 days of the voucher’s expiration date, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

You can log onto the Self-Service Portal to see exclusive Section 8 listings or search for housing options at Affordablehousing.com . Private houses, apartment buildings, cooperatives and condominiums are all available options.

If you are denied at the eligibility stage of the process, you will be able to request an appeal in writing. But there’s no appeal process if you are denied at the preliminary application stage, as Epicenter NYC reported.

How much would I pay for the rent if I got selected?

HCV participants usually need to contribute 30% of their monthly income. Keep in mind that NYCHA will not approve rents that require you to pay over 40% of your family’s adjusted gross income at initial occupancy.

I’m a migrant, are there some specific things I should know?

Migrants can also apply for Section 8, provided that at least one of your family members is a U.S. citizen or they have an eligible immigration status.

In September 2022, the Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule on the public charge test. This impacts the decision of whether to grant an applicant a green card or an extension of a visa by determining whether this person is likely to depend on government benefits (become a public charge).

Section 8 is excluded from this test, according to Community Service Society .

You can check Epicenter NCY and 311 website for more details.

Also Read: How Seniors Can Access Public Housing in NYC

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