New York is accepting applications for housing vouchers: how to register

In New York, for the first time in almost 15 years - since December 2009 - they began accepting applications for Section 8 housing vouchers. They allow you to significantly save on rent in New York.

How housing vouchers work

The voucher will cover all rental costs that exceed 30% of your monthly income. For example, if you make $2000 a month and the house you want to rent costs $900 a month, you'll pay $600 and the voucher will cover the difference, $300.

But there is a nuance: the rental price must correspond to the Fair Market Rent level established by the US Department of Housing. In the table below you will find Fair Market Rent figures for New York City.

You can check Fair Market Rent in any other US city here to register:.

At the same time, you can rent an apartment higher than the price indicated in Fair Market Rent, but you will have to pay the difference out of your own pocket. For example, if Fair Market Rent in your area is $800 and the apartment you want to rent costs $1000, you'll have to pay $200 on top of 30% of your income and the voucher will cover the rest.

New York Housing Voucher Application Terms and Conditions

Applications started being accepted at midnight. June 3, they can be submitted until 23:59 June 9.

Applications are free and accepted here.

According to the website, filling out the application takes about 20 minutes. If you do not finish in one session, the information you entered will not be saved and you will have to start over. The site also states that duplicate applications will be rejected, so only submit one.

The city encourages people to apply online, but two call centers are open on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn and East Fordham Road in the Bronx for those with questions or who need a paper application form. Here are their addresses:

• Bronx/Manhattan/Queens: 478 East Fordham Road (1 Fordham Plaza), 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10458. Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.
• Brooklyn/Staten Island/Queens: 787 Atlantic Avenue, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11238. Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.

Submitting an application does not guarantee that you will receive a housing voucher. All applications submitted are subject to review and approval by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).

Please note that applications are accepted to be added to the waiting list, that is, vouchers for approved applications will be issued gradually, the wait may take years.

“We currently have 2009 people left on our waiting list from 3700. We are working with these families, and now is the time to open the waiting list to an additional 200 people,” said NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hyatt.

Who can apply for a housing voucher under Section 8

The applicant must meet the requirements listed below.

Income: Income limits for housing vouchers depend on family composition. For a single person, annual income should not exceed $54; for a family of four - $350. The table below shows a breakdown of income limits for different families.

Immigration Status: at least one family member must have legal immigration status in the United States or be a U.S. citizen.

Family: All applicants in the group must be members of the same family and be related.

Social Security number: All household members who have a Social Security number must provide it during the application process.

Other requirements: All family members over 16 years of age must undergo a criminal background check.

Learn more about the Housing Voucher Program here.

The New York City Housing Authority operates the largest housing voucher program in the country, with nearly 85 issued across the city.