How to rent affordable housing in New York: all city programs of discounts and subsidies
'15.07.2022'
Lyudmila Balabay
Rental prices in New York have always amazed the imagination of even Americans accustomed to expensive apartments, and immigrants did not believe their eyes at all when reading realtors' ads. Now the situation has become even more incredible. The average cost of renting an apartment in Manhattan for the first time in the history of New York exceeded $ 5000 per month, reports New York Post citing June 2022 housing market data for the city.
The average rent in Manhattan is now $5058 a month, which means that a resident of the area should spend $61 a year on housing alone (and without a communal apartment). In other boroughs, the situation is not much better. In Brooklyn, the median rent in June 000 was $2022 (up 3822% from last June). In Queens - $ 20 (3% more than a year ago).
Add to this the general inflation in the US (9,1% in June) and the only thing you can think of is… No! Not like robbing a bank. And how to save.
New York City has several programsthat allow you to rent low-cost housing or help you pay your rent.
Affordable Housing
NYC Housing Connect - The New York City Housing Authority regularly holds drawings for the right to rent inexpensive housing in different parts of the city. The right to participate depends on the income and composition of the family, moreover, in each particular lottery, these limits are different. So if you are interested in the draw, then it is better to look through all the lotteries. You can view the currently open draws here. On how to apply for the lottery and what to expect after that, we detail wrote before.
NYCHA - This is the so-called public building corporation, which is controlled by the mayor of New York. It is engaged in the construction and distribution of housing at preferential prices.
If you want to settle in affordable housing from NYCHA, then you should first fill out an application. But before you start this process, you should know that the waiting list is very long. According to NYCHA, more than 160 applicants are waiting in line for an apartment, and NYCHA manages a total of approximately 000 apartments in the city. If the queue does not scare you, then do not forget to renew your application every two years so that you are not removed from the waiting list.
Housing vouchers
Section 8 - these vouchers can cover up to 80% of the cost of renting a home in New York. The program is available in all five boroughs. The Section 8 Housing Program provides safe and hygienic housing rental assistance to families with very low incomes. This may be a single-family home, townhouse, or apartment and is not necessarily part of subsidized housing projects.
Housing vouchers are issued by the local housing authority (PHA). The household that receives a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice, if the owner agrees to rent it under the Section 8 program.
On the subject: How to rent affordable housing in New York using the lottery: step by step instructions
The housing allowance is paid directly to the landlord by the PHA office on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
Read more about this program at our material.
Help with paying rent
Living in Communities (LINC) Rental Assistance Program – the program helps to relocate the homeless from shelters to permanent housing. Program participants pay no more than 30% of their income for housing, the rest is paid by LINC. Learn more about the criteria and conditions for participation in this program. here to register:.
CITYFEPS Rent Supplement Program – a housing assistance program for families with children who are at risk of eviction and end up in homeless shelters, as well as those who are already in a shelter. Only families (including at least one child) who live in a homeless shelter and have lost (have been evicted from) permanent housing no more than 12 months ago can be participants in the program. More about the program - here.
SEPS Rent Supplement Program is a housing assistance program for selected adults and families without children who are at risk of being placed in a homeless shelter and those already in a shelter. The conditions for participation in the program are described here.
Other programs
HUD-Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (VASH). Under this program, low-income veterans receive a Section 8 rent voucher, as well as preferential ancillary services at health centers and community clinics.
HRA HIV/AIDS Services – Assistance with housing for people with HIV/AIDS.
senior housing - Assistance program with housing for the elderly.
Housing assistance programs for people with severe mental health problems:
