How to Apply for Section 8 in NYC: 2026 Complete Guide

The Housing Choice Voucher Program — commonly called Section 8 — is the federal government''s main rental assistance program. In New York City, two agencies administer Section 8: the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). This guide explains who can apply, how to apply through each agency, what to expect after applying, and what to do once you have a voucher in hand.

Important: NYCHA''s general Section 8 waitlist has been closed to new applicants since 2009, but the agency periodically opens preference categories. HPD opens its waitlist by lottery, usually every few years. Both agencies prioritize specific groups — homeless families, domestic violence survivors, and others. This guide explains both paths and where you may still be able to apply today.

What is Section 8?

Section 8 (officially the Housing Choice Voucher Program) is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and operated locally by public housing authorities. The program subsidizes rent in privately-owned apartments. The tenant typically pays 30% of household income toward rent and utilities, and the voucher pays the rest — up to a "payment standard" set by HUD for each metro area and unit size.

In NYC, you can use a Section 8 voucher in any approved apartment in the five boroughs. Vouchers are also portable nationally — you can move your voucher to another city or state by transferring through the receiving public housing authority.

There are two types of Section 8 housing in NYC:

• Tenant-based vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers): the voucher follows the tenant. You receive a voucher, find an apartment in the private market, and the agency pays the landlord directly.
• Project-based Section 8: the subsidy is tied to a specific unit in a specific building. When a unit becomes vacant, the next tenant comes from a waitlist for that building. The Bronx and Brooklyn have the most project-based Section 8 inventory in NYC.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for Section 8 in NYC, you generally must meet four requirements.

Income limits

Your household income must be at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your household size. Income limits are set annually by HUD and updated each spring. The current limits for New York City are published at the HUD User website. The "extremely low income" category (30% of AMI) gets priority — most NYCHA Section 8 vouchers are issued to households below this threshold.

Citizenship or eligible immigration status

At least one member of your household must be a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen with eligible immigration status. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, asylees, and several other categories qualify. Mixed-status families can receive partial vouchers calculated on the eligible household members.

Criminal background

NYCHA and HPD both conduct criminal background checks. Certain convictions — lifetime registry sex offenders and methamphetamine production at federally-subsidized housing — are automatic disqualifiers under federal rules. Other convictions are evaluated case-by-case under each agency''s admission policies. If you have any criminal history, consult with Legal Services NYC before applying.

Household composition

Your household composition determines the voucher size you''re issued. Adding or removing household members after issuance requires the agency''s approval. Be accurate on your application — misrepresenting household composition is grounds for denial or termination.

How to Apply Through NYCHA

NYCHA''s general Section 8 waitlist has been closed since 2009. However, NYCHA periodically opens "preference categories" for specific groups, and the Self-Service Portal accepts applications for any open preferences at any time.

The NYCHA Self-Service Portal

Apply through the NYCHA Self-Service Portal. The portal also handles current tenant business — recertification, transfers, and rent calculation issues — so it''s the central destination for all NYCHA matters.

Current open preference categories typically include:

• Homeless families referred through Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelter intake
• Survivors of domestic violence referred through the Human Resources Administration (HRA)
• Families displaced by government action
• Working families meeting specific criteria in some application cycles
• Elderly applicants in some cycles

If you''re not in an open preference category, you can''t currently submit a general Section 8 application through NYCHA — but you can still apply through HPD (below), pursue other rental assistance programs (CityFHEPS, FHEPS), or wait for future application openings.

NYCHA walk-in centers

NYCHA operates Customer Contact Centers in three boroughs:

• Manhattan and Bronx: 478 East Fordham Road, Bronx
• Brooklyn: 787 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn
• Queens: Customer Contact Center via phone and online

Appointments are recommended for in-person visits. You can call NYCHA''s Customer Contact Center for application questions, case status, and document submission help.

How to Apply Through HPD

HPD administers a separate Section 8 program, primarily for project-based housing (units tied to specific buildings). HPD also occasionally opens its tenant-based Section 8 waitlist via lottery.

HPD Housing Connect

HPD operates Housing Connect, a lottery-based system for affordable housing applications. Section 8 project-based units are sometimes available through Housing Connect when buildings have vacancies or when new lotteries open.

To apply through Housing Connect:

1. Create an account at housingconnect.nyc.gov
2. Complete your household profile (income, family size, preferences, household members)
3. Browse open lotteries and apply to ones that match your situation
4. Wait for notification — successful applicants are contacted for interviews and document review

HPD Section 8 waitlist openings

HPD periodically opens its tenant-based Section 8 waitlist via lottery. These openings are announced at on.nyc.gov/section8 and through community organizations. The 2024 HPD lottery received over 600,000 applications for a limited number of voucher slots, illustrating how oversubscribed the program is.

What Happens After You Apply

Wait times

Wait times for Section 8 in NYC are long — generally measured in months to years. Once on a waitlist, your position depends on preference category, applicant volume, and program funding. Preference categories (homeless families, DV survivors, etc.) generally move faster than non-preference applicants.

The waitlist is not a queue you can "speed up" by calling. Keeping your contact information current with the agency is the most important thing you can do while waiting.

Document collection

When you''re called up from the waitlist, you''ll need to submit extensive documentation:

• Photo ID for all household members
• Birth certificates for all household members
• Social Security cards
• Income verification (pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters)
• Asset documentation (bank statements for at least 60 days)
• Lease history
• Immigration status documentation for non-citizens

Start gathering these documents as soon as you''re on a waitlist. If documents are hard to obtain, contact the issuing agency (Social Security Administration, the Department of State for birth certificates, etc.) well in advance.

The eligibility interview

You''ll have an interview with a NYCHA or HPD caseworker to verify your information, screen for eligibility, and discuss the program. The interview may be in person or virtual. Be punctual, bring all requested documents, and answer questions completely. Honest answers, even when uncomfortable, are always better than incomplete or inaccurate ones — caseworkers verify what you say against other records and discrepancies can disqualify you.

Once You Receive a Voucher

The shopping letter

When you''re issued a voucher, you''ll receive a "shopping letter" stating:

• The bedroom size you''re approved for
• The maximum gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) the agency will approve
• Your voucher''s expiration date
• Instructions for finding and proposing housing

The shopping letter is what landlords ask to see when you''re applying for an apartment. Make copies — landlords typically want a copy for their records when you submit an application.

Searching for housing

You typically have 60 to 120 days to find housing. Extensions are sometimes granted for documented good-faith effort. During your search, remember:

• Source-of-income discrimination is illegal in NYC. Under NYC Human Rights Law § 8-107(5), landlords cannot refuse to rent to you because you have a voucher. Report violations to the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
• The unit must pass inspection (HUD''s Housing Quality Standards, called HQS) before the agency will approve the lease. Inspections check for safety issues like working smoke detectors, proper heating, no lead paint hazards, and structural soundness.
• The rent must be reasonable for the unit''s size, condition, and location — even if it''s below the payment standard, the agency can refuse to approve unreasonably high rents.

Lease signing and move-in

Once you find an approved apartment:

1. The landlord submits a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) with proposed rent
2. The agency inspects the unit and may require repairs before approval
3. If approved, you sign the lease and a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract
4. You pay your share of rent (typically 30% of income); the agency pays the rest directly to the landlord

Other NYC Rental Assistance Programs

If you don''t qualify for Section 8 or are still on the waitlist, NYC has other rental assistance programs:

• CityFHEPS — for homeless or at-risk households. Apply through DHS shelter case management or HRA Homebase.
• FHEPS — for families with children at imminent risk of homelessness.
• HASA — housing assistance for NYC residents living with HIV/AIDS.
• NYCHA Public Housing — traditional public housing apartments.

See our companion guide on Section 8 vs CityFHEPS for a detailed comparison of the main NYC voucher programs.

Where to Get Help

If you need help with the application process, document collection, or addressing a denial, free legal aid is available:

• Legal Services NYC — borough-based offices handle voucher application issues, denials, terminations, and discrimination complaints. Free.
• Mobilization for Justice — citywide housing rights organization with experienced Section 8 attorneys.
• CAMBA Legal Services — Brooklyn-focused with citywide services.
• HRA Homebase — pre-shelter homelessness prevention assistance.
• NYC Commission on Human Rights at nyc.gov/cchr — for source-of-income discrimination complaints.
• NYC 311 — general social services referrals.

A Final Note

The Section 8 application process is intentionally rigorous because demand far exceeds supply. Be persistent, document everything, and seek help if you face problems. Many successful voucher holders applied multiple times across multiple programs before being issued a voucher — that''s a sign of a tight market, not that you''ve done something wrong.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For specific advice about your situation, contact one of the legal aid organizations listed above.