HASA Housing in New York City
NYC's housing assistance and supportive services program for residents living with HIV or AIDS. Administered by HRA, HASA provides intensive case management, rental assistance, and emergency housing.
About this program
HASA — the HIV/AIDS Services Administration — provides housing, financial, and supportive services to NYC residents living with HIV or AIDS. Administered by the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), HASA''s housing assistance includes rental subsidies for permanent housing, emergency shelter for clients experiencing homelessness, and supportive housing placements for clients with complex needs. HASA serves roughly 30,000 NYC residents and is one of the most comprehensive municipal HIV/AIDS support programs in the United States. Unlike most NYC voucher programs, HASA provides intensive case management alongside the housing subsidy — clients are paired with a case manager who coordinates medical care, benefits enrollment, and other services.
How it works
HASA operates housing through several pathways:
Rental Assistance (the most common): HASA pays the difference between 30% of client''s household income and the unit''s actual rent, up to the program''s payment standard. The client pays approximately 30% of income toward rent and utilities; HASA pays the rest directly to the landlord. Payment standards are aligned with NYC Section 8 levels.
Emergency Housing: Short-term placements for HASA clients experiencing homelessness while permanent housing is arranged. Includes hotel placements, congregate shelters, and short-term rentals.
Supportive Housing: Long-term placements for HASA clients with complex needs — medical, mental health, substance use — combining housing with on-site or coordinated services.
Case Management: Every HASA client has an assigned case manager who helps with housing search, benefit enrollment, medical care coordination, and other services. This is a defining feature of HASA compared to other voucher programs.
HASA also provides cash assistance, food allowance, transportation assistance, and other benefits beyond housing.
Who qualifies
HASA eligibility is based on HIV/AIDS status and income:
HIV/AIDS diagnosis: You must have a documented HIV-positive diagnosis from a medical provider. AIDS diagnosis is not required — HASA serves all people living with HIV regardless of progression.
Medical documentation: A medical certification form completed by your healthcare provider confirming your HIV status.
Income: At or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Income limits are generous compared to most rental assistance programs.
NYC residency: Required. HASA only operates in NYC.
Citizenship/immigration: At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.
No competing housing subsidy: You cannot use HASA simultaneously with Section 8, CityFHEPS, FHEPS, or other rental subsidies on the same housing.
HASA serves single individuals, couples, and families. Family members who do not themselves have HIV can be included in the household if they live with the HASA client.
How to apply
Apply through HRA or directly through a HASA Service Center. HASA has multiple Service Centers across NYC, including specialized facilities for various populations.
Step 1: Get an HIV diagnosis and ensure you have medical documentation. If you don''t have a provider, you can connect with one through HASA — the agency facilitates medical care.
Step 2: Contact HASA. The HASA Customer Hotline can connect you with a Service Center for intake. Service Centers are located in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Step 3: Complete an in-person intake interview. Bring photo ID, proof of address, income verification, household composition documents, and your HIV medical certification.
Step 4: You''re assigned a case manager who handles your housing application, benefit enrollment, and ongoing case management. The case manager helps you understand your options and access services.
Step 5: For rental assistance specifically — HASA helps you search for housing, completes inspections, and processes the lease.
For program information: nyc.gov/site/hra/help/hiv-aids-services-administration-hasa.page
Important: All information you share with HASA is confidential under federal HIPAA and NY State public health laws. Your HIV status is not shared with landlords, employers, or others without your explicit consent.
Typical wait times
HASA processing is generally faster than Section 8 because the eligibility criteria are more specific: **Intake**: 2-4 weeks for initial assessment and case manager assignment **Rental assistance approval**: Few weeks after intake **Apartment search**: 1-3 months (similar to other NYC voucher programs) **Emergency housing**: HASA can place clients in emergency housing within hours to days for those experiencing immediate homelessness. **Supportive housing**: Longer waitlists for specific supportive housing buildings; typically months to a year or more. Total timeline from initial intake to permanent housing: typically 2-5 months for clients without housing crisis; immediate for clients in shelter or homeless.
Common misconceptions
"HASA is only for people with AIDS, not HIV." False. HASA serves all New Yorkers living with HIV, regardless of whether they have progressed to an AIDS diagnosis. The program name reflects historical naming when AIDS was the focus, but eligibility is HIV-positive status.
"HASA reveals my HIV status." No. All information shared with HASA is confidential under HIPAA and NY State public health laws. Your status is not disclosed to landlords, employers, family members, or anyone else without your explicit written consent. Landlords are not told that you''re a HASA client unless you choose to share.
"HASA is only for low-income people." Mostly true. HASA does have income limits (200% of poverty), but these are higher than most rental assistance programs. Many working New Yorkers with HIV qualify for HASA even with moderate earnings.
"HASA payment standards are too low for NYC rents." Not anymore. HASA payment standards have been aligned with NYC Section 8 levels in recent years, making most NYC neighborhoods accessible.
"HASA is only for single adults." No. HASA serves singles, couples, and families. Family members without HIV can be included in the household if they live with the HASA client. The household composition is determined by living situation, not by HIV status of each member.
"You have to live in supportive housing if you''re HASA." No. Most HASA clients live in regular apartments using HASA''s rental assistance — they choose their own apartment, building, and neighborhood. Supportive housing is one option for clients with complex medical or psychiatric needs, but it''s not required.
Program glossary
- HIV
- Human immunodeficiency virus; HASA eligibility is based on HIV-positive status (AIDS diagnosis not required)
- Ryan White CARE Act
- Federal legislation funding HIV/AIDS services nationally; some HASA programs receive Ryan White funding
- Case Manager
- HASA staff member assigned to each client to coordinate housing, benefits, and services
- ETS
- Emergency Transitional Shelter — HASA''s short-term homeless shelter system for clients in housing crisis
- Supportive Housing
- Combined housing and services placement for clients with complex needs; not required for all HASA clients
- HASA Office
- Local HASA Service Center where clients go for intake, case management, and ongoing services
- HOPWA
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS — federal funding source for HIV/AIDS housing programs
- Confidentiality
- Federal (HIPAA) and state laws protecting HIV/AIDS health information; HASA''s services are fully confidential
Find HASA (HIV/AIDS Services Administration) housing by location
Browse voucher-friendly apartments in each NYC borough that accept HASA (HIV/AIDS Services Administration).
Frequently asked questions
- Do I qualify for HASA if I have HIV but not AIDS?
- Yes. HASA serves all NYC residents with documented HIV-positive status, regardless of whether they have progressed to AIDS. The program name reflects historical context, but eligibility is HIV-positive diagnosis.
- Will my landlord know I have HIV if I use HASA?
- No. HIV status is confidential under federal HIPAA and NY State public health laws. HASA does not disclose your status to landlords. The landlord typically knows you''re receiving rental assistance from HRA, but the specific program (HASA) and reason for assistance are not shared.
- Can my family live with me on HASA?
- Yes. Family members can live with the HASA client even if they themselves do not have HIV. Household composition is based on who lives together, not on individual HIV status. HASA''s rental assistance accounts for the family''s combined housing needs.
- How does HASA work with Medicaid or insurance?
- HASA coordinates with but does not replace Medicaid or insurance. HASA''s case management helps clients enroll in Medicaid (which covers HIV medical care for most low-income residents), connect with healthcare providers, and access prescription assistance programs. HASA does not directly pay for medical care.
- Can I live in any NYC neighborhood with HASA?
- Yes, within NYC. HASA''s rental assistance allows clients to choose any NYC neighborhood where they can find a qualifying apartment. The payment standard sets the maximum rent, similar to Section 8 and other voucher programs. Most NYC neighborhoods have at least some HASA-friendly housing inventory.
- What other services does HASA provide beyond housing?
- HASA provides cash assistance, food allowance, transportation assistance, medical care coordination, mental health referrals, substance use treatment referrals, benefit enrollment (Medicaid, SSI, SNAP), employment services, and crisis intervention. The case manager coordinates all of these services for each client.