If you are facing eviction, behind on rent, or worried your housing situation could collapse in the months ahead, CityFHEPS may be the most important program you have not yet applied for. It is New York City’s rental assistance voucher — administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS) through both HRA and the Department of Homeless Services — and it pays a substantial portion of your monthly rent for up to five years. Here is what you need to know in 2026, including updated payment standards that took effect April 1.
What Is CityFHEPS?
CityFHEPS (City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement) is a monthly rental subsidy that helps New Yorkers who are at risk of entering a shelter, currently in a shelter, or facing eviction stay housed. The program covers rent anywhere in New York State — not just New York City — for up to five years, with annual renewals. According to NYC.gov, DSS-HRA has helped more than 150,000 New Yorkers secure housing through its rental assistance programs since 2014.
The voucher works similarly to the federal Section 8 program: DSS pays a portion of your rent directly to your landlord each month, and you pay the remaining household share based on your income and household size. Critically, landlords in New York City cannot legally refuse to accept CityFHEPS. Refusal constitutes Source of Income discrimination under the NYC Human Rights Law. If a landlord turns you away because of CityFHEPS, call the NYC Commission on Human Rights at 212-416-0197.
Who Qualifies for CityFHEPS?
According to the official CityFHEPS FAQ published by DSS on January 23, 2026, your household must have a gross income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and must meet at least one of the following four criteria:
- The household includes someone who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and is at risk of homelessness
- The household receives Pathway Home benefits and would be eligible for CityFHEPS if they were in DHS or HRA shelter
- The household was referred by a CityFHEPS qualifying program, and DSS determined CityFHEPS was needed to avoid shelter entry
- The household is facing eviction in housing court (or was evicted in the past year) AND meets at least one additional condition: a household member previously lived in a DHS shelter; a household member has an active Adult Protective Services case; or the household lives in a rent-controlled apartment and will use CityFHEPS to stay there
If your household is eligible for Cash Assistance, you must already be receiving it before CityFHEPS can be approved.
The 2026 Payment Standards
New CityFHEPS packages submitted on or after March 1, 2026, or with a lease start date of April 1, 2026 or later, must use the 2026 payment standards. These figures represent the maximum monthly subsidy DSS will pay your landlord, assuming all utilities are included in the lease. If utilities are not included, the amounts are adjusted accordingly.
The 2026 payment standards (utilities included) per the official DSS FAQ document are:
- SRO (1 person): $1,953/month
- Studio (1 person): $2,604/month
- 1 Bedroom (1–2 people): $2,734/month
- 2 Bedroom (3–4 people): $2,997/month
- 3 Bedroom (5–6 people): $3,753/month
- 4 Bedroom (7–8 people): $4,077/month
These amounts are based on the Section 8 standard adopted by NYCHA. If you find an apartment where the rent is above the payment standard, you pay the difference out of pocket. DSS will conduct a rent reasonableness test — the rent charged cannot exceed comparable units in the neighborhood for CityFHEPS to apply.
A key practical note: if you rent a unit smaller than what your shopping letter authorizes, DSS pays based on the actual unit size. If you rent a larger unit, DSS still pays only based on your household size entitlement.
How Long Does the Voucher Last?
CityFHEPS provides up to four annual renewals — five years total. Renewals are not automatic. You must submit an annual renewal application, which DSS mails to you five months before your subsidy year ends. You can also renew online through ACCESS HRA or by emailing CityFHEPSRenewals@hra.nyc.gov.
The five-year cap does not apply if your household includes someone who is 60 or older, or an adult who receives federal disability benefits — those households can continue to receive renewals beyond five years.
A significant recent change: when your CityFHEPS voucher comes up for annual renewal, the income ceiling shifts from 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to 80% of Area Median Income. This prevents the benefits cliff effect, where a modest income raise causes a household to lose its voucher and face immediate housing instability.
How to Apply
You do not apply for CityFHEPS directly through ACCESS HRA. The entry point is Homebase — a network of more than 20 DSS nonprofit service provider offices across the five boroughs. You must go to a Homebase office in person. A caseworker will collect your information, assess potential eligibility, and refer you to other benefits if applicable. Only after Homebase intake does a formal CityFHEPS application proceed to DSS.
Find your nearest Homebase office at nyc.gov/site/hra/help/homebase.page, or call 311 and ask for Homebase.
Once assessed, you may receive two letters: a Household Share Letter (which tells you your estimated subsidy amount and household share — not for sharing with landlords) and, if you are seeking new housing, a Shopping Letter valid for 120 days. The Shopping Letter tells landlords the maximum rent CityFHEPS will cover for your household size, and they can use it to process your application. Landlords receive a security voucher from DSS in lieu of a security deposit — they may not ask you to pay an additional security deposit.
Your Rights as a CityFHEPS Tenant
Several protections apply once you hold a CityFHEPS voucher:
- Landlords cannot refuse to rent to you because of the voucher (Source of Income discrimination is illegal in NYC — call 212-416-0197 to report violations)
- Landlords cannot demand side payments or extra money beyond what DSS pays plus your household share
- You cannot be evicted solely for late fees on the DSS portion of your rent — as long as DSS pays within the calendar month, it is not considered late
- Your landlord cannot force you to relocate to a different unit
- If your income changes and your household share becomes unaffordable, you can submit a Modification Request — find the form at nyc.gov/site/hra/help/cityfheps-documents.page
Other Rental Assistance Programs
CityFHEPS is one of several programs NYC HRA administers. If you do not qualify — perhaps because your income exceeds 200% FPL or you do not meet the eviction court criteria — there are adjacent options:
- FHEPS: For families in shelter transitioning to housing
- SOTA (Special One-Time Assistance): A one-time payment to help shelter residents move to housing outside NYC
- Emergency Rental Assistance (One Shot Deal): A one-time grant to cover rent arrears and avoid eviction — applied for through ACCESS HRA
For background on the One Shot Deal specifically, see our earlier guide: NYC One Shot Deal in 2026: The Emergency Cash Grant That Can Stop Your Eviction.
Action Steps
- Find your nearest Homebase office — the required first step to apply for CityFHEPS: nyc.gov/site/hra/help/homebase.page or call 311
- Check your income against the 200% FPL threshold — the 2026 Federal Poverty Level guidelines are at NYC HRA CityFHEPS page
- If you are already in eviction proceedings, contact Homebase immediately — being in housing court is one of the four qualifying pathways
- Report landlord source-of-income discrimination to the NYC Commission on Human Rights: 212-416-0197
- For renewal questions, call the Rental Assistance Call Center at 718-557-1399
- Download the full 2026 FAQ from DSS: CityFHEPS FAQ for Community Clients (PDF)
Primary sources: NYC HRA CityFHEPS; DSS CityFHEPS FAQ (January 23, 2026); NYC HRA Rental Assistance.
