NEW YORK (PIX11) – For New Yorkers who may be at risk of eviction or homelessness, the city offers multiple rental assistance programs to help residents through difficult times.
The Department of Social Services can help connect New Yorkers to the rental assistance program best suited for their needs. Additionally, the department can help connect residents to other programs available through the state and federal government.
Below is a list of some of the rental assistance programs available and how to know if one qualifies for them.
Rental assistance programs in New York City
City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS)
This program helps individuals and families find and keep housing. Through the program, a tenant who lives in New York State can have their monthly rent paid for up to five years.
Eligible candidates include:
- Low-income families who live in shelters
- Individual adults who live in shelters
- Low-income families and adults who are at risk of becoming homeless
For those who live in shelters, information can be found from a case manager or housing specialist. For those who live in the community, residents can be screened for CityFHEPS eligibility at a Homebase location.
Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS)
FHEPS pays some or all of the rent for families who have been evicted, are facing eviction, or have lost housing due to domestic violence.
Eligible candidates include:
- Families receiving Cash Assistance (CA)
- Families who have lost housing because of health or safety issues, or from certain court decisions
- Families with a pregnant person, a child under 18-years-old, or a child under 19-years-old who is enrolled full-time in high school or a vocational or technical training program
- Fmilies in a HRA or DHS shelter
- Families who are currently being evicted or were evicted in NYC within the last 12 months
Interested residents can apply online.
Temporary Aid to Needy Families Program (TANF)
Families eligible for this program may receive up to 60 months of federally funded cash assistance. In most cases, residents who receive temporary cash assistance may be required to work and/or take part in educational activities.
Residents can find a list of eligibility requirements online. If eligible, New Yorkers interested in this program can apply through AccessHRA.
Emergency Assistance/One Shot Deal (SOTA)
New Yorkers may be eligible for one-shot cash assistance in the event they cannot pay their bills because of job loss, if they’re getting paid less by their jobs, or if they’ve had another emergency like an unexpected medical situation.
Emergency assistance can help if a person is:
- Homeless or at risk of losing their home
- Has had their gas or electricity shut off or received notice that it will be
- Has lost clothes, personal items, or furniture because of theft, fire, or a natural disaster
- Has been affected by domestic violence
- Have other issues that affect the health and safety of themselves or their family
More information on this program and application details can also be found on AccessHRA under the "One Shot Deal" section.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.
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