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Eligibility for Public Housing and Section 8

Public Housing

You may be eligible for NYCHA public housing if:

  • The income of your family does not exceed the NYCHA limits found here.
  • You meet NYCHA’s definition of a family. Note that the term “family” as used by NYCHA includes the following:
    • Two or more persons related by blood, marriage, domestic partnership, adoption, guardianship or court awarded custody.
    • A single person.
  • You and the co-head of your household are at least 18 years of age (the co-head must be your spouse or partner).  To be eligible for a senior building, you or your co-head must be at least 62 years of age.

More detailed information about eligibility and the NYCHA application process can be found here.

It’s important to know that NYCHA does perform background checks and may deny admission to a family* if any person who is expected to be a member of the household:

  • Was evicted from public or Section 8 housing within a prescribed period of time.
  • Is illegally using a controlled substance, or there is reasonable cause to believe that illegal use of a controlled substance or a pattern of abuse of alcohol may interfere with the health safety, or right of peaceful enjoyment of the premises.
  • Was convicted of drug related criminal activity or violent criminal activity.

*Families denied eligibility because of a violent felony or drug or alcohol related convictions will remain ineligible for until a set period of time has elapsed, depending on the crime. If you believe a determination was incorrect, an appeals process is available.

If you have additional questions about this process you may also seek assistance from an advocate in the Crisis Intervention Program.

Section 8

Eligibility for NYCHA Section 8 is similar to the criteria listed above.  However, at present NYCHA is not accepting Section 8 applications.  In December of 2009 NYCHA stopped accepting applications for all priorities due to insufficient funding.  It is not clear at this time when the waiting list may eventually re-open.

For more information on how to apply for Public Housing click here.