About Section 8 / Rental Assistance Programs

For information about Section 8 / Rental Assistance Programs and COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Accommodations webpage.

Overview

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) administers a number of rental subsidy programs. The majority of rental assistance is provided through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, making up 80 percent of the rental assitance administered by HPD. In total, HPD serives over 39,000 households in all five boroughs. Over 9,000 landlords currently participate in HPD's programs.

Section 8, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, provides federal funding for subsidies that help eligible low-income families rent decent, safe, and affordable housing in a neighborhood of their choice. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) also operate Section 8 programs in New York City.

Other rental assistance provided by HPD includes Continuum of Care Shelter Plus Care (CoC SPC), Continuum of Care Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy (CoC Mod SRO), NYC 15/15, and Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod Rehab). Learn more about these Rental Subsidy Programs. 

HPD also administers a limited number of Emergency Housing Vouchers, which were allocated through the American Rescue Plan (2020). These vouchers, once leased, will follow the rules of the Housing Choice Voucher program. For referring providers looking for the Authorization for the Release of Information Form, and the Declaration of Citizenship or Eligible Immigration Status Form, please visit our Forms webpage. For more information about the EHV program, visit nyc.gov/ehv.

In all programs, families pay a reasonable share of their income toward rent (typically around 30 percent of monthly household income) and the subsidy, paid by HPD directly to the landlord, makes up the difference. To continue receiving assistance, participating families and property owners must meet certain program requirements, including federal Housing Quality Standards.

Resources

Section 8:

• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan – April 15, 2022
  • HPD has updated its subsidy standards effective August 15, 2022 
• Public Housing Agency Plan
  • HPD's 2023 draft Public Housing Agency Plan and draft 2023 Administrative Plans are available for public review through April 14, 2023. A public hearing will be held via webinar on Friday, April 14, 2023 from 10-11am. Please send an email to Section8@hpd.nyc.gov by 5:00PM on April 13, 2023, to register for the virtual public hearing and to receive instructions on how to join from your computer, your tablet or by phone. You may also call 212-863-5896 to register and receive instructions.
  • What if I need assistance to participate in the virtual public hearing? You must tell HPD if you need a reasonable accommodation of a disability at the virtual public hearing. You can tell us by mail at the following address: Department of Housing Preservation and Development, 100 Gold Street, Room 4-S2c, New York, New York 10038. You may also tell us if you need a reasonable accommodation of a disability by telephone at 212 863-5896. Advance notice is requested to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation. Please tell us by April 7, 2023. This hearing has the following accessibility option(s) available: Simultaneous transcription for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and audio-only access for persons with vision impairments. 
  • Additionally, comments may be submitted to: Section8@hpd.nyc.gov by April 14, 2023
• Briefing Book | Spanish
• Section 8 Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Briefing Presentation
• Section 8 Program General Indicators
• Briefing Certification Statement | Spanish - for tenant-based programs and PBV
• PBV Briefing Certification Statement - only use if sponsor is hosting the briefing
• Things You Should Know | Spanish
• Family Unification Program (FUP) FAQ | Spanish
• Mainstream Program FAQ | Spanish
• Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Public Notice
• EHV Housing Search Presentation
• Section 8 Frequently Asked Questions
• Port In FAQ | Spanish
• Port Out FAQ | Spanish

• Rental Subsidy Program (RSP) Administrative Plan
  • HPD has updated its subsidy standards effective August 15, 2022 
• CoC Mod SRO Briefing | Spanish
• Mod Rehab Briefing | Spanish
• NYC 15/15 Welcome Packet | Spanish
• CoC SPC Briefing | Spanish

• Language Access Plan

Source of income discrimination:

• Know Your Legal Rights as a Recipient of Housing Assistance (Sepa Sus Derechos Legales Como Beneficiario De Asistencia Para Vivienda)