NOTICE
Thank you for your interest in the New York State Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program. Our EHV Waitlist is closed and we are no longer accepting new referrals. Updates and any new announcements will be posted to this page.
If you are in need of housing assistance, please use the links below to contact HCR’s Section 8 Local Administrators (LAs), other local Public Housing Authorities and your local Continuum-of-Care (CoC) directly:
- HCR Section 8 Local Administrators: Section 8 - Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program | Homes and Community Renewal (ny.gov)
- Public Housing Authorities: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/PHA_Contact_Report_NY.pdf
- Local Continuums-of-Care: https://www.hudexchange.info/housing-and-homeless-assistance/homeless-help/
Overview
The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program is an outcome of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. A federal subsidy program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), EHV’s goal is to decrease homelessness and assist in obtaining decent, safe, and sanitary housing by subsidizing a portion of each family’s monthly rent, based on their income.
Participants of EHV live in housing of their choosing while paying approximately 30% of their monthly income on rent. The remaining rent amount (subsidy) is paid directly to the landlord by the Public Housing Authority. Homes and Community Renewal is one of three Public Housing Authorities in New York State.
-
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan - Complete File
Please refer to pg. 668 for EHV
November 22, 2024, version 2024-4
Download
Eligibility Requirements
Interested parties must apply to the program through their local Continuum-of-Care (CoC). Clients cannot apply on their own.
Eligibility is limited to individuals and families who are
- Homeless
- At risk of homelessness
- Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking
- Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability
Applicants must fit into at least one of the priority categories below. Additional eligibility determinations will be made, such as the family’s total annual gross income and household size.
Priority 1
- Households determined by the CoC as meeting the definition of chronically homeless.
- Any literally homeless families with minor children 18 years of age or younger.
- Households who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking.
- Households participating in a Rapid Re-housing (RRH) program who would qualify for such assistance as defined by the terms of the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (“ESG”) program.
Priority 2
- Any household classified as literally homeless.
Priority 3
Households who do not qualify within the priorities listed above and who are eligible under HUD’s PIH Notice 2021-15, including at-risk households.
Landlord Benefits
The EHV program provides landlords with an opportunity to strengthen their communities by helping end homelessness for families and individuals, as well as providing safe, stable housing. Single family dwellings, apartment buildings, legal accessory apartments, townhouses, and condominiums are eligible. Paperwork is minimal and the owner retains normal management rights and responsibilities including tenant selection, rent collection, property maintenance and lease termination.
How the EHV program benefits landlords:
1. Vacancies are filled with qualified applicants.
2. Payment of the subsidy portion of rent is guaranteed.
3. $2,000+ of incentives are provided, including a bonus paid at lease signing, paid security deposit, a repair fund and more.
4. Landlords can assist their community by providing shelter for the most vulnerable.
Owner Incentives Outlined
A robust incentive package is offered to owners to facilitate occupancy:
✓ A landlord bonus of one month’s rent is paid to the owner at time of lease signing.*
✓ Security deposit is fully covered for the household.*
✓ Repairs can be reimbursed up to $1,000 ($2,000 for units in New York City) to ensure the unit meets Housing Quality Standards.
✓ Landlord guarantee: Should the landlord be forced to evict the tenant for non-payment of the tenant share of rent, HCR will reimburse the landlord for losses accrued prior to the date of eviction.
*For units outside of New York City only.
Landlord Resources
EHV Landlord Resources from HUD
EHV Landlord Portal FAQs
1. What is Landlord Portal
Landlord Portal is a new online tool that allows landlords with tenants on the
New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) Section 8
Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)
programs to review information pertaining to your issued payments, tenants,
scheduled and completed inspections, and tax forms at your convenience,
without having to call or visit the Local Administrator offices with which you are
accustomed to working.
Landlord Portal is located at: https://section8.hcr.ny.gov/Account/Login.
2. How do I register/create a new account?
You MUST FIRST Register with the New York State Verification System.
Once registered, you will be able to access the Landlord Portal.
For your convenience, a step-by-step Landlord Registration Guide is available at: https://hcr.ny.gov/landlord-portal-registration-guide
3. Who can register?
Only active landlords can create new accounts.
4. How is Landlord Portal useful to me as a landlord?
As a registered landlord, you will be able to use Landlord Portal to review
- Your profile
- A list of your EHV and/or HCV tenants
- Your HAP payments, by tenant, for the prior 24 months
- Reexamination or recertification dates for your tenant(s)
- Year-end tax forms
Additionally, you will be able to access and view:
- Upcoming Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections
- View and download Inspection reports
5. What do I do if I can’t remember my username/password or I want to
change my password?
Logging into Landlord Portal requires you to log into your NY.gov account. If
you need to recover your username and/or password, you can do so at the
NY.gov site here. You can also change your password. If you need additional
help, you can select the Get Assistance link located on the NY.gov login
page.
6. I know my password but still can’t log in. What can I do?
You can find a list of NY.gov FAQs here. The NY.gov IT Help Desk can be
reached by telephone at 844-891-1786, or you can also email Emphasys at
7. How can I find information about my tenants?
Log in first, and then click on the "Landlord Portal" link to the left. Select the
action button entitled “Landlord Portal” and then “My Families”. Clicking on
the View Details button will provide you with additional information, such as
the assigned Caseworker.
8. How can I find information about the rented units?
Log in first, and then click on the "Landlord Portal" link to the left. Select the
action button entitled “My Units”. Clicking on the View Details button will
provide you with additional information such as Resident and Unit
Demographics.
9. How can I find information about my HAP payments?
Log in first, and then click on the "Landlord Portal" link to the left. Select the
action button entitled “My Payments”. Clicking on the View Details button will
provide you with detailed payment information.
10. How can I review my own profile information?
Log in first, and then click on the "My Profile" link to the left. You will see
general contact information associated with your user profile on Landlord
Portal. For your protection, changes to your information cannot be made
online.
11. How can I find information about my tenant’s payment holds or
abatements?
Log in first, and then click on the "Landlord Portal" link to the left. Select the
action button entitled “Holds and Abatements”.
The list can be sorted by unit address, type (Unit or Abatement) or status
(Open or Closed) by clicking on the down arrow of the drop-down menus.
12. Some of my tenants are missing. Why can’t I see all of them?
This occurs if you are a Management Company or a landlord with multiple
properties. To link you to all of your properties please email us at
[email protected] so we may assist you.
13. I have other questions. Who can I contact for support?
For Landlord Portal support, you may email your questions to:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV)? |
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a limited number of Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) to our PHA, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR). EHVs are tenant-based rental assistance under Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) and will generally operate like tenant-based Section 8. EHV assistance is limited to families and individuals who are:
Potentially eligible families and individuals must first complete an initial screening with their local Continuum-of-Care (CoC) and be referred to NYSHCR. Clients cannot apply on their own. |
|
What is a Continuum of Care? |
The Continuum of Care (CoC) is a local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless individuals and families. The CoC Program is designed to:
Section 9.b of HUD Notice PIH 2021-15 provides a more thorough description of CoCs and their role in the EHV program. Additional information on CoC’s can be found at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/coc |
|
What is a Victims Service Provider? |
HUD defines a victim service provider to mean a private nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to provide direct services to victims of domestic violence. This term includes permanent housing providers—including rapid re-housing, domestic violence programs (shelters and non-residential), domestic violence transitional housing programs, dual domestic violence and sexual assault programs, and related advocacy and supportive services programs. |
|
What is a Coordinated Entry system? |
Provisions in the CoC Program Interim Rule at 24 CFR § 578.7(a)(8) require that CoCs establish a Coordinated Entry (CE) System. The Coordinated Entry (CE) process is an approach to coordination and management of a crisis response system’s resources that allows users to make consistent decisions, based on available information, to efficiently and effectively connect people to housing and service interventions that will rapidly end their homelessness. |
|
What are the roles and responsibilities of PHAs, CoCs, and Victim Service Providers (VSPs)? |
CoCs and VSPs are responsible for the following:
PHAs are responsible for all the PHA administrative responsibilities for the EHV program in accordance with the EHV Operating Requirements Notice and the applicable HCV program regulations, including but not limited to:
|
|
Are participants in Rapid Rehousing programs eligible for EHV? |
Yes. CoCs have the discretion to refer households in Rapid Rehousing programs. |
|
Are the vouchers available for individuals or just for families? |
EHVs are available to both individuals and families meeting the eligibility criteria. |
|
What if an individual or family is over income? |
As in the regular voucher program, the PHA must determine whether a family is income eligible prior to the provision of EHV assistance. If the family is over income based on the most recently published income limits for the family size, the family is ineligible for HCV assistance. |
|
Are there any restrictions on families who may owe debts to a PHA? |
No, as outlined in HUD Notice 2021-15, Section 9g., unlike regular HCV admissions, PHAs may not deny an EHV applicant admission regardless of whether:
|
|
My local CoC has referred me to your EHV program. What’s next? |
Referrals will be drawn in order. Applicants will be sent eligibility packets via email. Required forms included in the Eligibility packet will need to be completed and submitted back together with verification of all household members’ information, including birth certificates, social security cards, Alien Registration Card (if any), current government issued photo ID, all income information (e.g., public assistance benefit letter, SSI statement, child support, current checking account statement, current paystubs), proof of fulltime student status (if applicable), and asset information. Your CoC can help with gathering and uploading the required documents to the online portal provided with your eligibility packet notice. |
|
What happens after my eligibility packet is submitted? |
Your eligibility application packet will be reviewed for completeness and program eligibility. Program eligibility includes:
|
|
What if my application for EHV assistance is denied? |
If your application is denied, you will receive written notice of the denial and have the opportunity to request an informal review (not a hearing). |
|
I have received an Emergency Housing Voucher. What do I do now? |
Once you receive an EHV, you must find an apartment to rent and submit a completed leasing package to your assigned Case Manager before the expiration of your voucher. Your CoC can help connect you with EHV housing search assistance. Please work closely with them as they may have access to resources dedicated to the housing search. Please make best efforts to attend all appointments and apartment viewings. |
|
How does EHV help me pay rent? |
If you lease up in a unit with an EHV, your household will typically pay 30% of your household income toward rent, and NYSHCR will pay the difference. As the voucher holder, you will pay your portion of the rent directly to the owner. NYSHCR will pay their portion of the rent directly to the owner as well. |
|
Does my EHV expire? |
The term of the voucher is listed on the first page of the voucher. If you do not submit a completed leasing packet before the voucher expiration date, the voucher will expire, and you will not receive rental assistance. For NYSHCR EHVs, your initial voucher term will be 180 days. Additional extensions, beyond 180 days, will only be considered for Reasonable Accommodation requests. You must request your extension, if needed, before your voucher expiration date by contacting your assigned Case Manager, given on your eligibility notice. |
|
Will I be eligible for assistance with a security deposit or moving expenses? |
EHV voucher holders may be eligible to receive security deposit and moving expense assistance. Your Case Manager can provide more details and guide you through the next steps. |
|
I found an apartment, what are the next steps? |
You and the owner of the apartment must complete the leasing package and submit it to your assigned Case Manager administering your voucher. We will review the leasing packet for completeness and must determine that the rent charged is reasonable and that the owner is eligible to rent the unit. We will also determine whether the apartment meets federal Housing Quality Standards (HQS). A physical inspection of the unit will be done. If the rent is reasonable and the unit is otherwise eligible to receive EHV assistance, then we will approve the rental. |
|
What is a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract? |
This is the agreement between the PHA (NYSHCR) and the owner of the apartment, in order for us to make monthly subsidy payments on your behalf to the owner. We will provide the HAP contract to the owner in the final stage of the rental process. The owner must sign and return the HAP contract to us with a fully executed lease. |
|
When can I move into my new unit? |
EHV applicants may move into their new apartment as of the start date of the HAP contract, which is listed on the initial Approval/Move-in letter. |
|
Can I move and still be assisted with my EHV voucher? |
Yes. You may be eligible to move if you have complied with EHV program requirements. If you require an emergency transfer, please contact your assigned Case Manager to find out more about the emergency transfer process. |
|
Can I move out of NYC with my EHV voucher? |
Yes. Moving outside the New York City area is called portability. EHV voucher holders have the opportunity to live anywhere in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands as long as there is a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program administered in that area. You will need to submit a request and provide the name and contact information of the PHA you would like to transfer your voucher (port) to; if you need assistance in locating this information your administering agency can assist. Please contact your assigned PHA Case Manager to find out additional information on how to port-out with your EHV. Note: The housing search assistance services offered by the receiving housing authority may be different than the housing search assistance services offered by NYSHCR to EHV holders. |
Contact Us
Email us:
Call us:
(833) 942-3903
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Housing and Services Resource Center: https://acl.gov/HousingAndServices