Homebase and CityFHEPS: How to Apply Without Entering Shelter
If you are at risk of eviction, Homebase is how you apply for CityFHEPS from the community
Get alerts when waitlists open.
We'll email you when a waitlist we track opens. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Not in shelter? In NYC you apply for CityFHEPS through a Homebase provider. Here is who qualifies and how to find your Homebase.
Homebase is a network of nonprofit homelessness-prevention offices that work with NYC's Department of Social Services. If you are not in shelter but at risk of losing your home, HRA says that to apply for CityFHEPS you must contact a Homebase provider.
What Homebase does
Homebase helps low-income New Yorkers at imminent risk of entering shelter stay housed. Services can include help with rent arrears, benefits, landlord mediation, and referrals to legal help. HRA says Homebase has 26 locations across the five boroughs.
Who can get CityFHEPS through Homebase
According to HRA's January 2026 FAQ, your household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. You must also meet at least one of these:
- You are a veteran at risk of homelessness
- You receive Pathway Home
- A qualifying program referred you, and DSS decides CityFHEPS is needed to prevent shelter
- You are facing eviction in court (or were evicted in the past year) and someone in your household previously lived in a DHS shelter, has an active Adult Protective Services case or is in a designated community guardianship program, or you live in a rent-controlled apartment and will use CityFHEPS to stay there
How to find your Homebase
- Call 311 and ask for the Homebase nearest you, or use the ZIP-code locator on nyc.gov.
- Call ahead for an appointment.
- Bring ID, proof of income, your lease, and any court or eviction papers.
What happens next
If Homebase and DSS approve you, you receive a Household Share Letter and a shopping letter (valid 120 days). If you are trying to stay in your current apartment, your landlord will need to complete the CityFHEPS landlord package.
Coming in 2027
A 2026 city law (Local Law 126) creates a separate HPD rental voucher for some households up to 50% of area median income, including tenants facing eviction from rent-stabilized homes. It is expected to take effect in early 2027. We will update this guide when it launches.
Get help
If you have a court date, also contact a free legal-services provider right away.
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)
Related Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I get CityFHEPS without going to a shelter?
- Yes, in some cases. Households in the community apply through Homebase and must meet the income limit plus a risk factor such as a court eviction case.
- How do I find my Homebase?
- Call 311 or use the Homebase locator on nyc.gov, then call ahead for an appointment.
- Who runs Homebase?
- Homebase providers are nonprofits that work with the NYC Department of Social Services. Call 311 to find yours.
Get alerts when waitlists open.
We'll email you when a waitlist we track opens. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.