The CityFHEPS Shopping Letter Explained
What the shopping letter is, how to get it, and how to use it to rent an apartment.
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What a CityFHEPS shopping letter is, how to get one from HRA, what it shows landlords, and how long it lasts.
A CityFHEPS shopping letter is the document HRA gives you once you are approved for a CityFHEPS voucher. It confirms you are eligible and states your maximum monthly rent by apartment size, so landlords know what the program will pay. It is essentially your "proof of voucher" while you search.
What the letter shows
The shopping letter lists your household's CityFHEPS approval and the maximum rent the program will cover for each unit size (studio, one-bedroom, and so on). You use it to search for an apartment at or below that amount.
How to get it
You receive a shopping letter after HRA approves your CityFHEPS case — usually through your shelter housing specialist, an HRA center, or a homelessness-prevention provider. If you have not received yours, ask your caseworker; you cannot begin renting a unit without it.
How to use it
Show the letter to landlords and brokers when you inquire about an apartment. Because the NYC Human Rights Law bans source-of-income discrimination, most landlords cannot refuse it. When you find a unit within your maximum, the landlord completes the CityFHEPS paperwork, the unit is inspected, and the city begins paying its share.
If your letter expires
Shopping letters are time-limited. If yours is close to expiring or has lapsed before you found a home, contact your caseworker to have it renewed rather than starting over.
Get help
Free housing specialists and legal-aid groups can help you use your shopping letter and enforce your rights if a landlord refuses your voucher.
Related guides
- CityFHEPS Eligibility & Income Limits
- How to Apply for CityFHEPS in NYC (2026): Eligibility, Steps, Payment Standards
- CityFHEPS Voucher Amounts 2026: Maximum Rent by Bedroom
- What Is CityFHEPS? Eligibility, Payment Standards & How It Works
- CityFHEPS Documents Checklist: Forms You and Your Landlord Need
- CityFHEPS Phone Number, Email & Contacts (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a CityFHEPS shopping letter?
- A document from HRA stating you are approved for CityFHEPS and your maximum rent by unit size, which you show to landlords while searching for an apartment.
- How do I get a CityFHEPS shopping letter?
- HRA issues it after approving your CityFHEPS case, usually through your shelter housing specialist, an HRA center, or a homelessness-prevention provider.
- Does the shopping letter expire?
- Yes, shopping letters are time-limited. If yours is near expiring or has lapsed, ask your caseworker to renew it instead of reapplying.
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