CityFHEPS Eligibility & Income Limits
Who qualifies for CityFHEPS, the income rules, and the ways you can be referred.
CityFHEPS eligibility explained: the qualifying routes, income rules, and how households in shelter or facing eviction get referred.
CityFHEPS eligibility is based on your housing situation and your income, not an open lottery. Because rules can change, always confirm the current criteria with HRA or a caseworker — but here is how eligibility generally works.
The main qualifying routes
Most people qualify through one of these paths: living in a DHS or HRA shelter; facing eviction in Housing Court or having an active eviction case; or being at risk of entering shelter. Survivors of domestic violence and some other vulnerable households may also qualify. Unlike Section 8, you are referred through a shelter, an HRA center, or a homelessness-prevention program rather than applying on a public waitlist.
Income rules
CityFHEPS is for low-income households. In general your income must be within program limits, and many households qualify because they receive or are eligible for Cash Assistance. There is no single flat number that fits every family — the limit depends on your household size and situation, so ask HRA for the figure that applies to you.
What you will need to show
Expect to document your identity, income, household composition, and your housing situation (for example, shelter status or eviction papers). A caseworker uses these to confirm eligibility and, if approved, issues your shopping letter.
Keeping your eligibility
CityFHEPS is renewed periodically as long as you remain income-eligible and follow program rules. Your caseworker reviews your case over time.
Get help
A shelter housing specialist, HRA center, or legal-aid organization can confirm whether you qualify for CityFHEPS and guide you through the referral.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who qualifies for CityFHEPS?
- Low-income households in a DHS or HRA shelter, facing eviction in Housing Court, or at risk of entering shelter, plus some domestic-violence survivors and other vulnerable households.
- What are the CityFHEPS income limits?
- There is no single flat figure — the limit depends on household size and situation, and many qualify through Cash Assistance. Ask HRA for the number that applies to you.
- Do I apply for CityFHEPS on a waitlist?
- No. You are referred through a shelter, an HRA center, or a homelessness-prevention program, not an open public waitlist like Section 8.