Housing Support

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Housing Support Services (HSS) unit provides housing supports to parents/guardians who are the discharge resource persons in foster care reunification services and parents/guardians receiving eligible preventive services through ACS’ contracted providers. Assistance includes identifying housing resources to helps families involved with foster care or prevention services with accessing suitable, stable, long-term housing.

Who is Eligible?

Families reuniting with their children who are leaving out-of-home foster care placements where the lack of housing is the primary barrier to reunification.
Families receiving eligible preventive services to prevent the child(ren) from entering foster care.
Youth in independent living programs should contact the Housing Academy Collaborative (HAC) for housing assistance.

How to Apply

Contact HSS at 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038.

Call us at 212-442-4273.
Walk-in Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Eligible youth and families should be accompanied by their Case Planners.

Programs

Housing Subsidy is a rent subsidy program that:

Assists with reuniting parents with children placed in foster care when housing is the primary barrier,
Helps to prevent children from entering foster care when housing is the primary obstacle to a child remaining at home,
Assist youth ages 18 and older who are able to live independently to secure permanent housing when they leave care.

The subsidy pays up to $725 per month for up to 3 years or $26,100.

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Public Housing allows consideration for a needs based priority code for applicants referred by ACS under the Independent Living or Family Unification programs. Priority code consideration is for:

Families where housing is a primary barrier to reunification with their children from foster care placement.
Families who have reunified, after disposition, through a foster care agency (including children in foster care released to parent at disposition) and reside in an approved Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelter.
Determination of eligibility is based on case and system review that documents reunification is in the best interest of the child(ren) and that there is substantial compliance with service mandates.
Parents and youth, over age 16, who are able to pass a criminal background check and meet other NYCHA requirements.

NYCHA Section 8, when available, is administered by New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and provides Section 8 vouchers to:

Families where housing is a primary barrier to reunification with their children from foster care placement.
Youth ages eighteen and older who are transitioning out of foster care with a goal of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA).
Parents and youth who are able to pass a criminal background check and meet other NYCHA requirements. Learn more.

NYCHA Borough Housing Application Offices

Additional Resources

Homebase

The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Homebase program helps families and individuals to overcome immediate housing issues that could result in becoming homeless, while also helping them develop plans for long-term stability. Learn more.

Visit 311 Online to locate the nearest office, or download the Homebase location map.

PATH

Temporary housing assistance is available to families through the Department of Homeless Services PATH program. Families with children younger than 21, pregnant women, and families with a pregnant woman are eligible to apply.

Location: 151 East 151st Street, Bronx, NY
Telephone: 917-521-3900.
Open 24 hours per day, including weekends and holidays.
PATH processes applications 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Housing Complaints

Your property owner must keep your apartment unit and building in safe and sanitary condition and make repairs in a timely manner. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will issue violations to owners who do not properly maintain their property.

You also have a responsibility to notify your property owner of any unsafe or unsanitary conditions. You should document all contact with your property owner.

To learn more about making a housing complaint, visit HPD’s Report a Complaint webpage. In addition to filing a complaint with HPD, you may seek assistance in Housing Court.

Harassment by an owner or landlord is illegal. Learn more about tenant harassment and examples of actions that may constitute harassment.