Today is the Deadline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Applications!

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is currently accepting applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program until 11:59 PM tonight. This marks the reopening of a waitlist that has been closed to general applications for nearly 15 years. The Section 8 HCV program, a federally funded initiative administered by NYCHA, offers rental subsidies for eligible low-income families to rent housing in the private market. Households interested in applying must do so before the deadline to be considered for the waitlist.

Applicants are encouraged to apply online as it is the fastest and most efficient method. The application can be found at NYCHA’s official website and is accessible via computer, smartphone, or tablet with internet access. For those without personal internet access, local libraries offer computer services.

Remember, all applications submitted by the deadline will have an equal chance of being placed on the waitlist, regardless of the submission time. NYCHA will prioritize applicants based on specific categories, with the highest preference given to mobility-impaired individuals in inaccessible housing, followed by elderly persons (62 years and older) and persons with disabilities.

To be eligible, a family’s annual gross income must not exceed the set income limits, which vary based on family size. For example, a single-person household’s income limit is set at $54,350.

The waitlist is anticipated to be established by August 1, 2024. Applicants will be notified and can check their application status via NYCHA’s Self-Service Portal after this date. The waitlist status will not be available before August 1, 2024.

Section 8 targets low-income families meeting specific criteria, including having a head of household who is at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor, at least one family member with U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status, and a household gross income at or below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI).

After the application period concludes, NYCHA will randomly select 200,000 applications for the waitlist. Submission of an application does not guarantee placement. If selected, NYCHA will reach out for further information to complete the application process, including income, assets, and expense documentation, as well as a criminal background check for family members aged 16 and older.

“After 15 years, we are reopening NYCHA’s doors to hundreds of thousands of new Section 8 applicants and helping more New Yorkers find the housing they need,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Addressing our city’s housing crisis means using every tool our city has, and that’s exactly what we are doing. From advancing 24 housing projects on public land this year through our ‘24 in 24’ plan, to fighting for our ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ proposal to build a little more housing in every neighborhood, we are committed to helping every New Yorker find and stay in their home.”

NYCHA administers the largest Section 8 HCV program in the country, currently providing rental subsidies to 241,117 residents to rent apartments in the private market, while facilitating access to social services through a variety of programs with OpportunityNYCHA.

Apply online here

Check out the frequently asked questions here.