For the first time since 2009, New York City is reopening the waitlist for the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.
Program Details
Section 8 covers the bulk of rent for low-income recipients, who usually pay 30% of their income towards the total rent.
High Demand and Previous Closure
The waitlist was closed in 2009 due to extremely high demand for the limited number of vouchers
Current Housing Crisis
The reopening comes amid a severe affordable housing shortage and record-high shelter populations in New York City
Mayor Eric Adams' Announcement
Mayor Adams highlighted the reopening during his State of the City address, announcing plans to issue 1,000 vouchers per month.
Number of Current and New Applicants
Currently, about 100,000 households use Section 8 vouchers. The city will add 200,000 more families and individuals to the waitlist
Application Details
Applications can be submitted online starting at midnight on June 3 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on June 9. Paper applications are available at NYCHA's Brooklyn and Bronx Customer Contact Centers.
Selection Process
NYCHA will randomly select 200,000 applicants for the waitlist. Notifications will be sent after August 1.
Eligibility and Process
Selected applicants will need to provide identification, income documents, and undergo background checks. They must renew their application every two years to stay on the waitlist.
Finding Housing
Section 8 recipients have 120 days to find an apartment, with a possible 60-day extension. Despite the guaranteed rent for landlords, New York City's tight housing market makes it challenging to find available apartments