1. How it Works
Section 8 pays part of the rent for low- and moderate-income families who want to rent in the private market. Generally, families pay no more than 40% of their monthly income towards their rent. NYCHA pays the rest to the property owner.
- To apply for the NYC Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, you will need to wait for the lottery to open.
- The lottery is currently closed. Lotteries may be closed for many years. When they open, it is free to apply.
- If you previously submitted a Section 8 application when the waiting list was open, log on to the Self-Service Portal to confirm the receipt of your NYCHA application.
- NYC Housing & Preservation Development and NYS Home & Community Renewal also operate Section 8 programs in NYC.
- Lotteries for the general public to those programs are currently closed.
- As an alternative, you can find affordable housing through NYC Housing Connect and NYC Housing Development Corporation.
Next section:
More ways to get help with this program
Visit the website
Learn more about Section 8 from NYCHA’s website.
Call 311
Ask for Section 8 assistance.
Call if you have questions
Call NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center (CCC) at 718-707-7771. Due to COVID-19, NYCHA’s customer contact centers are currently not receiving walk-in visitors.
2. Determine your eligibility
Eligibility for the Section 8/HCV programs is primarily based on how much your family earns and family size.
| Household Size | Annual Income |
| 1 | $46,700 |
| 2 | $53,400 |
| 3 | $60,050 |
| 4 | $66,700 |
| 5 | $72,050 |
| 6 | $77,400 |
| 7 | $82,750 |
| 8 | $88,050 |
Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.
Am I Eligible?