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Section 8 Program Updates

Emergency Housing Voucher Program Updates

1. What is the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program?

Created as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program was originally expected to provide assistance through September 2030 – with 626 public housing authorities having been awarded approximately 70,000 EHVs across the U.S. by the federal government. The program was established by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic to help families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness; at risk of homelessness; fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; or recently homeless and at high risk of housing instability to find housing by subsidizing a portion of rent based on their income.

On March 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it would be ending the EHV program early, with funding running out by the end of 2026. NYCHA is working to identify alternative subsidized housing options for its EHV voucher holders and has been reaching out to impacted households.

2. How many EHV participants does NYCHA currently have?

There are approximately 5,200 EHV participants as of May 2026. The number of EHV participants can be expected to change over time.

3. If I am an EHV participant, will I lose my EHV assistance?

Yes, all EHV participants will lose their EHV assistance once federal funding runs out, which is expected to be no later than December 2026. NYCHA is working to identify alternative subsidized housing options and has been reaching out to its EHV participants.

In order to receive an offer of an alternative subsidized housing option from NYCHA, EHV participants must complete a NYCHA public housing application on the Self-Service Portal.

EHV participants also must be current on their annual recertification, must allow inspectors to conduct Housing Quality Standard inspections, and must provide timely responses to any NYCHA communication about their voucher or household. 

4. When can I expect to hear from NYCHA about alternative housing options?

NYCHA has begun outreach to EHV participants who have submitted a public housing application and meet program requirements with offers of alternative subsidized housing as of early May 2026 and will continue to do so on a rolling basis until September 30, 2026.

5. Why was I notified last year I would be transitioning to a Housing Choice Voucher?

NYCHA intended to transition EHV households to the traditional Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Section 8 program. Unfortunately, NYCHA does not have the funding required to accomplish this transition, and waiver requests to facilitate this were denied. NYCHA is now exploring available alternatives to tenant-based vouchers for its EHV participants.

6. Do EHV participants need to take any action at this time?

Yes! In order to receive an offer of an alternative subsidized housing option from NYCHA, EHV participants must complete a NYCHA public housing application on the Self-Service Portal.

EHV participants also must be current on their annual recertification, must allow inspectors in to conduct Housing Quality Standard inspections, and must provide timely responses to any NYCHA communication about their voucher or household.

EHV participants will hear directly from NYCHA when an alternative housing option is identified. Please be sure to reply to all communications promptly.

7. Does filling out a public housing application mean EHV households will be placed in a public housing development?

No, completion of the public housing application is a first step toward receiving an offer of an alternative subsidized housing option. That offer could be any number of options within the NYCHA housing portfolio, including public housing, a converted PACT development, or a project-based Section 8 unit.

8. What happens after EHV households fill out a public housing application?

For any EHV participants in good standing, once their public housing application has been received, NYCHA will reach out to offer an alternative housing option within the NYCHA portfolio. Recipients of this outreach should promptly respond to any communication from NYCHA about their household, voucher, or transition.

9. I have received an offer for subsidized housing from the PACT Program. What is PACT?

Through the PACT program, a public housing development moves out of the public housing program and into the project-based Section 8 program. NYCHA enters into a long-term lease with a development partner, who makes significant investments to improve the buildings and grounds and provides social services. The development partner also manages the property. Residents living in the development at the time of conversion move from the Section 9 public housing program to the Section 8 project-based program. NYCHA administers the Section 8 program in PACT developments and continues to own the developments. This allows NYCHA to unlock funding to complete comprehensive repairs, while also ensuring homes remain permanently affordable and residents have the same basic rights as they possess in the public housing program. 

10. What if I don’t like the unit that was offered, can I get a different unit?

Right now, NYCHA is only able to offer each EHV participant one alternative housing option. If you are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or are otherwise in need of a reasonable accommodation,  please reach out directly to the service provider who worked with you and referred you to the EHV program for more information, or contact NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771.

11. What if a current EHV participant no longer wishes to pursue assistance?

If a current EHV household does not wish to pursue NYCHA’s assistance in identifying an alternative housing option for after the EHV program ends, their subsidy will end when the funding runs out for the program at the end of December 2026. They will then be responsible for the full contract rent for their unit when funding runs out at the end of December 2026.

12. What happens if I don’t respond to the offer in the timeline provided?

Right now, NYCHA is only available to offer each EHV participant one alternative housing option, and each offer expires according to the deadline referenced in the offer letter from the property management office. Unfortunately, NYCHA is unable to extend or renew offers beyond this time period.

13. What if I wasn’t able to submit my Public Housing application by May 1, 2026?

NYCHA will continue to accept public housing applications from EHV participants until September 30, 2026. Please submit your public housing application as soon as possible.

14. I submitted my public housing application but haven’t received an offer of alternative housing?

NYCHA will be extending offers of alternative subsidized housing options to EHV participants who meet program requirements in the order they were admitted into the program. Please be sure that you are up to date on your annual recertification and annual inspection and understand offers will continue to be extended on a rolling basis this summer.

15. What if EHV households do not wish to relocate from their current rental unit?

Unfortunately, assistance cannot be provided for a current EHV unit beyond 2026. If households do not pursue NYCHA's assistance in identifying an alternative housing option, their subsidy will end when the funding runs out for the program at the end of December 2026. Households will then be responsible for the full contract rent for their unit no later than December 31, 2026.

16. How do I update my contact information to ensure I receive future updates and communications?

You should update your mailing address, if different from your home address, phone numbers, and email address via NYCHA's Self-Service Portal.

17. What happens if my contact information or my circumstances change?

Please keep your information up to date. You must file an interim recertification if there are changes in your household or to your income. You can review your information by logging into your Self-Service Portal account.

18. What is HOME TBRA?

The HOME TBRA program is a federally funded rental assistance program that provides rental assistance to families at risk of homelessness, families who are homeless, and families who are financially distressed. The HOME TBRA program will be administered by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). 

Families receiving assistance under the HOME TBRA program pay approximately 30 percent of their adjusted incomes toward rent. The HOME TBRA program is intended to provide rental assistance for up to two years. Assistance may be renewed if program funds are available. 

More information on HOME TBRA may be found at Rental Subsidy Program Administrative Plan  (refer to Chapter 15 and Appendix E).

19. Will NYCHA EHV participants be transitioned to HPD's HOME TBRA Program?

Pue to additional funding made available through the City of New York, roughly 1,700 NYCHA EHV participants will be transferred to HPD’s HOME TBRA program. As of July 6, 2026, NYCHA has used the same random allocation process to match the first group of EHV participants to be referred to HPD’s HOME TBRA program. NYCHA has reached out directly to notify these households that they have been matched with a possible referral and what next steps are needed. All households matched with HOME TBRA should be diligent in checking their email, phone/voicemail, and regular mail in order to proceed with next steps in the HOME TBRA referral, as this offer is time limited.

20. How do I apply for HOME TBRA if it becomes available?

If a household has been selected to be referred to HOME TBRA, they will be notified directly by NYCHA via email, mail, and telephone. Only households who qualify for HPD’s HOME TBRA program will be referred, which includes being up to date on their annual recertification, inspection, and other program rules. However, eligibility for HOME TBRA does not guarantee a household will be referred to HOME TBRA. 

If a household has been notified by NYCHA that they have been matched to a HOME TBRA referral, they need to take the following steps between August 28, 2026 and September 11, 2026. If a referred household logs in to the Self-Service Portal outside this window, they will not be able to view the HOME TBRA consent: 

  • Log in to your NYCHA Self-Service Portal account (selfserve.nycha.info/). 
  • Review the most recent household income information. 
  •  If changes need to be made, an interim recertification request should be submitted immediately via the NYCHA Self-Service Portal account. You cannot apply for HOME TBRA until your interim has been processed, as you must attest that the information being provided to HPD is accurate. 
  • If the household information is accurate, then proceed with applying for HOME TBRA by (1) logging in to your NYCHA Self-Service Portal (selfserve.nycha.info/); (2) clicking on “Manage Your Account” under your Section 8 case; (3) clicking on the “TBRA Consent” button; and (4) completing the online consent process.  
  • EHV households matched with HOME TBRA have until September 11, 2026, to apply for HOME TBRA on the Self-Service Portal; after that, the offer will expire and will be given to someone else. 

HOME TBRA is only available to NYCHA EHV participants via referral. There is no direct application process; please do not reach out to HPD if you have not been referred to the HOME TBRA program.  Alternative subsidized housing options are allocated to EHV households at random.

21. What happens after I submit my consent for HOME TBRA on the NYCHA Self-Service Portal?

A referral to HOME TBRA is just the first step in the HOME TBRA application process – this is a different program from NYCHA’s EHV program; it requires a new application and, if approved, a new lease-up for both the tenant and the owner.

22. What if I have a question about my HOME TBRA application that I already submitted?

Unfortunately, NYCHA cannot answer questions about a HOME TBRA application once it is submitted to HPD. Please refer to the communication you received from HPD or its vendor for any follow up.

23. I received a notice that I have been matched with HOME TBRA but was not able to attend the webinar

A copy of the presentation given at the webinar can be found here:  

If you have any other questions about the HOME TBRA referral or application process, please contact the Customer Contact Center between 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday at 718-707-7771. 

More information on HOME TBRA may be found at Rental Subsidy Program Administrative Plan (refer to Chapter 15 and Appendix E). If you have further questions about HOME TBRA or how it works after you have applied, please refer to any communication you have received from HPD or its vendor after you have completed your consent on the Self-Service Portal.

24. I received a notice indicating that I have not submitted a public housing application; however, I did submit one.

If you are an EHV participant who has already submitted a public housing application, and are up to date on both your annual recertification and annual inspection, you may disregard this notice. However, please make sure you are up to date on all EHV program requirements. You must be up to date on the annual recertification and inspection in order to receive an alternative subsidized housing option.

25. What if I received a notice saying I was matched with a public housing unit?

If you received this notice, you have been selected to be referred to NYCHA’s public housing program as your alternative subsidized housing offer. This referral does not guarantee an apartment in public housing; public housing is a different program from your current EHV subsidy and requires you to complete the application process and be approved. Please respond to all communications from NYCHA in a timely manner in order to determine your eligibility for a public housing unit. 

26. What are the next steps after being referred to public housing? 

  • NYCHA will contact you to schedule an eligibility interview (over the phone, or in person if requested) and will request the documents required to complete your application.  
  • After the interview, NYCHA will process your application and determine your eligibility. 
  • If you are determined to be eligible for public housing, you will be placed on the certified waitlist.  
  • After being placed on the certified waitlist, you will be matched with a unit based on the household size, borough preferences, and other information and preferences provided on the application. 

If you would like to learn more about the public housing application process, please refer to Chapter 3 of NYCHA’s Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP).

27. What if I do not wish to live in public housing? 

NYCHA can only offer each household one alternative subsidized housing option. If you choose not to pursue the public housing option, you will be responsible for the full contract rent for your unit when EHV funding runs out in December 2026.


  

General Section 8 Program Updates

1. Is NYCHA's temporary pause on active outreach and voucher issuance to applicants on the general HCV waitlist that was announced on August 1, 2025, still in effect?

Yes, the temporary pause on outreach and voucher issuance for applicants on the general HCV waitlist remains in effect.

2. Will I lose my spot on the waitlist because of this pause?

No. You will stay on the waitlist and your position will remain unchanged.

3. Do I need to take any action to remain on the waitlist?

Yes, if NYCHA requests that you update your application and confirm that you are still interested in the HCV Program, you will need to update your application via NYCHA's Self-Service Portal by the deadline indicated on the canvass notice sent to you.

4. How do I update my contact information to ensure I receive future updates and communications?

Home and mailing address, phone numbers, and email address should be updated via NYCHA's Self-Service Portal.

5. What happens if I move or my circumstances change during the pause?

Please keep your application information up to date. You can review and update your application by logging into your NYCHA Self-Service Portal account and clicking "Application Update" under your case information. When finished, please be sure to click the submit button.

6. How will NYCHA determine who gets contacted when voucher issuance restarts?

NYCHA will begin contacting applicants in order of preference and placement on the waitlist.

7. Is there any impact to Section 8 households that are already currently leased up?

Section 8 households who are staying in their unit will not be impacted. Starting May 1, 2026, NYCHA will only process non-emergency transfer rental requests that are cost-neutral. This means the new apartment’s gross contract rent must be the same or lower than your current apartment's. Please see the  FAQS on Section 8 Tenants and  Non-Emergency Transfer Policy Update (Tenant) for more information on this policy update.

8. Is NYCHA issuing tenant-based Section 8 vouchers right now?

NYCHA is not currently issuing new tenant-based Section 8 vouchers to those on the HCV waitlist. 

9. Is NYCHA accepting referrals for Section 8 assistance?

NYCHA will continue to accept referrals under the following Special Admission Programs:

  • Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
  • Stability Vouchers