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Housing

A cityscape of many apartment buildings

All New Yorkers deserve fairness and respect when looking for or renting an apartment. Landlords cannot:

  • Refuse to rent an apartment because of someone’s immigration status, nationality, or religious beliefs
  • Post advertisements stating that certain types of tenants, such as immigrants or people from certain countries, are unwelcome
  • Fail to make adequate repairs or provide equal services to tenants because of their immigration status, nationality, or religious beliefs

If you are treated differently by a landlord because of your country of origin, your immigration status, religious beliefs, or accent, call 311 and say "Human Rights" to file a report with the NYC Commission on Human Rights.

Find Affordable Housing

Through NYC Housing Connect, you can apply for affordable housing in New York City.

Applying and qualifying for affordable housing can be a long process, and you are not guaranteed to receive housing.

In order to apply for affordable housing, you may be submitted to a credit and background check as part of the eligibility screening process. This requires you to have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).

Your household must qualify with detailed criteria on a property-by property basis and must also be selected at random in that property’s lottery.

Ready to Rent

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has a Ready to Rent program to provide free financial counseling and application assistance to prepare New Yorkers applying for affordable housing.

Free Legal Representation to Prevent Eviction

If you are a low-income New Yorker at risk of being evicted, you may be eligible to receive free legal representation in housing courts and community offices across the City.

Homelessness Prevention

The NYC Department of Homeless Services' "Homebase" program can help prevent evictions, provide financial counseling, and help NYC residents apply for other resources to stay in their homes and avoid entering the shelter system.

Rental assistance programs run by the Department of Social Services (DSS) help New Yorkers experiencing homelessness move out of shelter and into stable housing by providing monthly rent supplements.

Supportive housing is affordable housing with supportive social services in place for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Office of Supportive and Affordable Housing and Services (OSAHS) is focused on developing permanent housing solutions for formerly homeless individuals and families. 

Homeless Shelters

Temporary transitional housing is available to all New Yorkers verifiably experiencing homelessness.
Families with Children: If your family includes children under 21 years of age or a pregnant woman, or a single pregnant woman, you must apply for shelter at DHS’ Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) intake center.

  • All family members must be present with identification as well as documents to prove your household meets the definition of a family.
  • Learn more about applying for shelter for families with children.

Adult Families: If your family does not include people under 21, such as a married couple, a family with no children under 21, or an unmarried couple who meets the DHS definition of a family unit, you must apply for shelter at the Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC).

Single Adults: If you are a single man or woman, 18 or older, you must go to an intake facility to apply for shelter. Call 311 for information on intake center locations.

Avoid Rental Listing Scams

How does the scam work?

  • A person portrays themselves to be a Real Estate agent and collects payment from an apartment seeker, without owning the listing or premise.
  • The transaction can occur in person, by phone or email with original contact being made through online posting on third party websites, such as Craigslist.

Prevention

  • Do not give an advance payment, prior to viewing available listings.
  • Do not wire money or use a Green Dot MoneyPak as a form of payment. 
  • Do not complete an application providing personal information prior to viewing available listings.
  • Research listing “Agent” and address online or through the Better Business Bureau.
  • NEVER complete an application without actually seeing the apartment/premise. 
    If the offer sounds too good to be true – it probably is.