Public Housing

Housing | NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA)

EveryoneFamiliesNYCHA residentsPeople with disabilitiesPregnant & new parentsSeniorsOlder AdultsVeterans

People with low and moderate income can rent affordable housing through the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).

Heads Up

  • Rent is based on your family's income. Most buildings have electricity and gas included in the rent.
  • You do not need to be a citizen to apply. However, at least one person who lives with you must be a citizen or have legal immigration status.
  • Accessible apartments are available for people with disabilities. Some apartments have been modified and are available for persons with mobility impairments. Other reasonable accommodations can be made as well.
  • Affordable housing options are also available through NYC Housing Connect (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/housing-connect-rentals.page) and NYC Housing Development Corporation (http://www.nychdc.com/pages/Now-Renting.html) .
  • NYCHA has Senior and Community Centers, and programs that help residents find work and learn how to manage money and finances.

    • Eligibility

    To be eligible for public housing, you should be able to answer yes to these questions.

  • Is at least one person in your household a US citizen? If not, does at least one person have legal immigration status (e.g. permanent resident, refugee, or asylum status)?
  • Are you 18 or older, or are you an emancipated minor?
  • If you are applying with someone (a spouse or domestic partner), are they 18 years or older, or are they an emancipated minor?
  • If you are applying for senior public housing, are you and everyone else who will live with you 62 years old or older?
  • Do you meet NYCHA's definition of family, which includes:
  • two or more people related by blood, marriage, domestic partnership, adoption, guardianship, or court-awarded custody?
  • a single person?
  • Is your family's income at or below the income limits (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nycha/eligibility/eligibility.page) ?
  • Family size|Income in a year
  • 1|$79,200
  • 2|$90,500
  • 3|$101,800
  • 4|$113,100
  • 5|$122,150
  • 6|$131,200
  • 7|$140,250
  • 8|$149,300

  • Required Documents

    You do not need to submit any documents to apply for public housing. If you get an interview, you will need to bring the following original documents with you.

  • Your marriage or domestic partner certificate (if applicable)
  • Birth certificates of everyone who will live with you
  • Social security cards of everyone who will live with you
  • Proof of your immigration status (if applicable)
  • Proof of where you currently live, such as a recent utility bill
  • Rent receipts for the last six months and your lease (if you have one)
  • Your last gas and electric bill
  • Proof of your income (if any), such as an award letter, pay stubs, or SNAP letter
  • Documents showing your assets, such as a bank statement

    How to Apply

  • Apply for public housing on the (https://apply.nycha.info/) NYCHA website (http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nycha/about/contact.page) .
  • Paper applications are available at the (https://selfserve.nycha.info/nycha/app/eservice/enu?SWECmd=Start&) NYCHA Customer Contact Center or by calling 718-707-7771.
  • After you apply, you will be given a priority code based on your information and placed on the waiting list for an eligibility interview.
  • You can check your case status at anytime by registering and then logging into the NYCHA self-service portal.

    Online

    To apply for public housing, you must submit an application on the (https://apply.nycha.info/) NYCHA website (https://selfserve.nycha.info/nycha/app/eservice/enu?SWECmd=Start&) .After you apply, you will be assigned a case number and put on a waiting list for an eligibility interview. Use the self-service portal to check your status at any time. You'll need to register and log in.

    Apply online

    By Mail

    Get Help

  • Visit the NYCHA website (http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nycha/index.page) for more information.
  • Call NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center (CCC) at 718-707-7771 if you have questions about public housing.

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