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Supportive Housing Programs

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Supportive Housing

Overview

Supportive housing is permanent, affordable housing with on-site support services to serve the needs of the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including homeless individuals and people with disabilities. Apartments are rent-stabilized and buildings are owned and operated by experienced community organizations that maintain a high standard of property management.  

Supportive housing improves health outcomes and saves public dollars. Investment in housing that is accompanied by supportive services can improve outcomes for people with mental health and substance abuse issues, while yielding significant taxpayer savings by reducing demand for high-cost shelters, hospitals, and other emergency resources. In November 2015, Mayor de Blasio announced New York City's commitment to development 15,000 units of supportive housing over the next 15 years. The NYC 15/15 Initiative reflects the lessons learned over the last 30 years and incorporates the combined wisdom of the supportive housing community.

Resources



Supportive Housing Loan Program

The HPD Supportive Housing Loan Program (SHLP) makes loans to non-profit and for-profit developers of permanent supportive housing with on-site social services. Projects developed with SHLP funding must provide 60% of units for homeless, disabled individuals or homeless families with a disabled head-of-household. The remaining 40% can be rented to households from the community earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income.

SHLP loans carry a minimum 30-year term and may be up to $125,000 per unit. The Division of Special Needs Housing will work with sponsors to help secure additional sources of financing, including Low Income Housing Tax Credits, private loans or other subsidies. Projects may involve new construction or renovation on City-owned or privately-owned land.

Supportive housing is permanent, affordable rental housing with on-site supportive services. Supportive housing allows formerly homeless and disabled persons to live independently, and provides affordable housing for New Yorkers earning low incomes. All tenants have leases and pay an affordable rent for their apartment. For more information visit the Supportive Housing Network of New York.

Application Process

HPD's Division of Special Needs Housing accepts proposals for SHLP funding throughout the year on a rolling basis.  The process begins with a project summary package that outlines the proposal and includes information about the sponsor, the site, the population to be served, a plan for providing and paying for supportive services, and the proposed financing. Please review the SHLP term sheet and design guidelines. 

Contact

SHLP@hpd.nyc.gov

NYC 15/15 Rental Assistance Program

The New York City (NYC) 15/15 Supportive Housing Initiative launched in 2015 with the goal to fund and develop 15,000 new units of supportive housing over 15 years. The NYC 15/15 Initiative consists of both congregate (single-site) and scattered-site projects. The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) provides project-based rental assistance and capital financing to select congregate projects. Capital financing for these projects is available through existing HPD loan programs. Projects that will only be preserving or rehabilitating existing supportive housing units should contact the Supportive Preservation Program (SPP@hpd.nyc.gov).

NYC 15/15 Rental Assistance is project-based rental assistance with an initial contract term of up to 15 years. Contract rents follow the NYC 15/15 Rent Schedule in accordance with HPD’s Rental Subsidy Program Administrative Plan. Tenants pay 30% of their income toward rent and may not receive assistance from any other rent subsidy program.

Applicants for NYC 15/15 Rental Assistance should be property owners who are proposing to develop, rehabilitate, or preserve supportive housing. There are two pathways to apply for NYC 15/15 Rental Assistance:

  1. Owners with a conditional NYC 15/15 service award from HRA’s RFP for the Provision of Congregate Supportive Housing seeking to create new supportive housing units should complete the linked application and email it to NYC1515@hpd.nyc.gov. These applications will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis. Eligible applicants may be nonprofit organizations or partnerships between nonprofit and for-profit entities.

  2. Owners with other New York City-administered supportive service contracts seeking to preserve or rehabilitate existing supportive housing units should complete HPD’s NYC 15/15 Request for Proposal (RFP) by the cycle deadline to be considered in the competitive selection process.

 Resources:

Contact

NYC1515@hpd.nyc.gov

Guidance Documents for Supportive Housing Providers and Property Managers

Below are guidance documents jointly issued in July 2023 by HRA, DoHMH, and HPD. These documents clarify the City’s expectations for processes and polices related to referral, intake, and admission to City-funded supportive housing projects.