New York’s latest shot at Section 8 help is on the clock. State officials opened new Section 8 waitlists for select project-based units in New York City on Monday, July 13, and applications are only being accepted through Friday, July 24 at 5 p.m. The window covers apartments in all five boroughs and includes units sized for different kinds of households. Every application submitted during that period goes into a randomized drawing for each building’s waiting list, and even landing on a list does not guarantee a voucher.
According to New York State Homes and Community Renewal, the open lists are for Project-Based Vouchers (PBVs), and applications have to go through the MyHousing Portal during the stated window. Each PBV building runs its own waiting list, so applicants can throw their hat in the ring for multiple lists if they qualify. HCR also provides phone support, language assistance and other reasonable accommodations for people who need help getting an application in.
City guidance on NYC311 lays out the basic rules to get in the door: the head of household must be at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor, the household has to meet income limits, and at least one member must be a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status. NYC311 stresses that a spot on a waiting list is not a guaranteed ticket into the program and that additional program rules can apply. The site also repeats that every application filed during the open period is entered into a random selection process for placement on the relevant waiting list.
How project-based vouchers work
Project-Based Vouchers are attached to specific apartments, not to the families who live in them, so the subsidy stays with the unit if a tenant moves out under federal program rules. As explained by the Legal Information Institute, voucher assistance is based on a local payment standard. When the rent is at or below that standard, most families pay about 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent, and the program covers the rest directly to the owner. In practice, that means tenant costs shift depending on unit size, household income and the local payment standards in effect.
The HCR opening comes amid a broader push to expand access to rental subsidies. A 2024 release from NYCHA highlighted a previous citywide waitlist that randomly selected roughly 200,000 households. Advocates point out that vouchers only solve housing problems if landlords are willing to accept them and if agencies send out payments consistently, concerns highlighted in recent coverage of a paperwork snafu that left some tenants scrambling to avoid eviction. Even with those caveats, PBV lists can open doors to permanently subsidized apartments in buildings that set aside units for lower-income residents.
How to apply and where to get help
To apply, use the MyHousing Portal during the open window. HCR directs applicants to the portal at section8.hcr.ny.gov, which can be accessed via HCR. Anyone who needs help or a reasonable accommodation to submit an application can call the HCR Section 8 waitlist call center at 833-791-2748 (TTY 833-990-4002). HCR also posts translated FAQs and user guides to walk applicants through each step.
Applications will be processed under HCR’s Administrative Plan and federal program rules, and anyone who makes it to the final stages will be screened for eligibility and documentation before any voucher or placement is offered, according to NYC311. Applicants are urged to hang on to their application ID and keep an eye on both email and the MyHousing Portal for updates after the lottery closes on July 24. If your household is not selected this round, officials recommend checking back periodically for future openings and building-specific waitlists.
