NYC Selects 200,000 Households for Section 8 Housing Voucher Waitlist from Over 638,000 Applicants

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced the selection of 200,000 applicants for its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program waitlist. A staggering 638,224 applications were submitted during the brief application period from June 3 to June 9, 2024.

NYCHA has begun notifying applicants of their waitlist status today. Those selected will be contacted for further information to complete the application process.

The Section 8 HCV program provides rental assistance to eligible low-income families, allowing them to rent housing in the private market. This development fulfills a key promise made by Mayor Eric Adams in his 2024 State of the City address to reopen the Section 8 waitlist for the first time since 2009. NYCHA will begin issuing housing vouchers at a rate of 1,000 per month, providing crucial relief to families struggling to find affordable housing.

“The message is clear: New Yorkers need affordable housing, and they need it now,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “That’s why we were proud to announce in our State of the City address that after 15 years, the Section 8 waitlist would finally reopen to the general public this year. NYCHA will begin the work of issuing housing vouchers, providing much-needed relief to families searching for affordable housing. However, our work is far from over. Our administration will continue to use every possible tool, including advocating for the passage of ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,’ to build and connect New Yorkers to the affordable housing our city’s residents need.”

“As our administration responds to the housing crisis, it’s vital that New Yorkers in need of Section 8 vouchers have this opportunity to receive them,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “NYCHA’s forthcoming issuance of 1,000 vouchers a month will be a lifeline to 200,000 New Yorkers who need affordable housing. This opportunity is one of many actions, along with this week’s housing production announcement and City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, that prove the Mayor’s dedication to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable, quality housing.”

“It’s truly a momentous occasion for the Authority to add 200,000 new applicants to NYCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher waitlist,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “It’s been 15 years since the waitlist was last open to the general public, so it’s a tremendous feeling—having spent that time working through the bulk of the existing waitlist—to now begin issuing vouchers to new families and individuals in search of affordable housing options in the private market. After the incredible influx of applications we received this past June, we’re eager to begin issuing vouchers to those who have been placed on the refreshed waitlist so that they can begin their search.”

“Over the last 15 years, NYCHA has worked hard to issue Section 8 vouchers to those on the waitlist and provide an invaluable tool to those searching for affordable housing in the private market. We are excited to have a refreshed waitlist and to now begin contacting applicants to initiate the eligibility process,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Leased Housing Lakesha Miller. “We look forward to working in partnership with the thousands of participating Section 8 property owners and hope that new property owners will join us in increasing access to critical affordable housing options.”

“I applaud Mayor Adams for opening access to the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, a cornerstone of affordable housing in New York City that I fought hard to fund,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. “I am proud to have led the charge to protect the program and increase funding so that more New Yorkers have access to safe and affordable housing opportunities. I will continue fighting to protect and expand the program at the federal level.”

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).

While being selected for the waitlist is a positive step, it does not guarantee a voucher. Applicants must still meet eligibility requirements and complete the necessary documentation.

NYCHA will utilize and call households off this waitlist over the next several years, with a goal of issuing 1,000 vouchers a month contingent on funding and the authorized voucher capacity. Anyone who remained on the existing waitlist will continue to be served and did not have to reapply.

No follow-up is required if an application is selected for placement on the waitlist. NYCHA is unable to estimate when applicants will be reached on the waitlist.