What is Section 8 housing in New York and how does it work?

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Accepted Answer

Section 8 is the common name for the Housing Choice Voucher Program — a federal program that helps low-income individuals and families afford private rental housing by subsidizing a portion of their rent.

How Section 8 works in New York:

Eligible households receive a voucher that covers the difference between 30% of their income and the fair market rent for their area
The voucher holder finds a private landlord willing to accept Section 8
The NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) or NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) pays the subsidy directly to the landlord each month
The tenant pays their portion directly to the landlord

Who qualifies for Section 8 in NYC:

Households with income below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) — priority is given to households below 30% AMI
US citizens and eligible non-citizens
Households that pass a background screening by the housing authority

Waiting list reality in NYC in 2026:

The NYC Section 8 waiting list has been closed to new applicants for years and has an estimated wait of 7 to 10+ years for most applicants
Emergency vouchers are sometimes available for specific vulnerable populations

For landlords — can you refuse Section 8? No. Since 2019, New York City landlords cannot refuse to rent to tenants who hold Section 8 vouchers. Source of income is a protected class under NYC Human Rights Law. Refusing a voucher holder is illegal discrimination.