Starting today, July 16, 2020, New York Homes and Community Renewal is accepting applications for rental assistance for a two-week period . After all applications are received, assistance will be distributed to eligible families based on economic and social need. While risk of homelessness will be considered in distributing the subsidies, tenants do NOT need to be behind on their rent or at risk of eviction to qualify.

To qualify for help, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • New York must be the applicant's primary residence.
  • For residents of Long Island, the applicant's household income must have been below the following levels before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application:
  • 1-person household: $65,050
  • 2-person household: $74,350
  • 3 person household: $83,650
  • 4 person household: $92,900
  • For other counties or larger families, please see HCR's website.
  • The household must have paid more than 30% of its gross monthly income for rent before March 1, 2020 and now.
  • The household must have lost income between April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.
Qualifying households are eligible for up to four (4)-months of rent subsidies equal to the increase in their "rent burden." Rent burden is based on the percentage of the applicant's income they pay towards rent each month. The payments are made directly to the applicant's landlord and do not need to be re-paid.