Low Income Housing in New York

Low Income Housing Information

Low income housing can be a godsend, but if you don't know how to apply, or who to get your information to, how can you ever expect to be approved?

Since laws and procedure vary from state to state, you'll need to learn a few specifics before applying. We can help!

Is It Possible to Find Low Income Housing in New York?

In a word, yes, it is quite possible to find low income housing in New York, though it can be difficult to actually get a vacancy in New York City. New York is, of course, one of the most desirable parts of the country to live in and near New York City is also one of the most expensive, so they have always had considerable difficulty with low income housing. As a consequence, there are a wide range of different alternatives available, from the old rent controlled units (exceedingly difficult to get) to standard Section 8 housing which can be found throughout the United States.

Assuming the new resident already knows where they are hoping to live, the first idea would be to look for low income housing options subsidized by the federal government. This generally means Section 8 housing, administrated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In that Section 8 housing is administrated locally by HUD recognized public housing authorities (PHAs), the local PHA would be the first place to look. One can find a comprehensive directory of PHAs on the HUD website - www.hud.gov - as well as information regarding the current median income. Remember that Section 8 housing is based on a means qualification and a person has to have an annual income of less than fifty percent of the area's median income in order to qualify at all. Further, the PHAs are mandated to give seventy-five percent of their Section 8 vouchers to people making thirty percent or less of the determined median income level.

At the state level, New York offers a number of subsidiary programs beyond the federally backed ones. One can learn more about these programs through the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR, www.dhcr.state.ny.us). Many of these programs are applicable only to people meeting specific qualifying conditions, so it is worth taking the time to explore these options in detail. One may very well find a better alternative than typical Section 8 housing, depending on circumstances. For people looking for affordable housing beyond New York City, the Affordable Housing Directory (www.dhcr.state.ny.us/ahd) can be a very helpful resource as it lists all of the project-based affordable housing in the state.

New York has also implemented the tenant-based Section 8 option, known as Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), as well but many landlords remain wary of implementing its provisions in New York. Nevertheless, the HCV option can provide a helpful alternative to the lengthy waiting periods on many of the project-based affordable housing units. Remember, HCV is only applicable if the landlord chooses to accept the vouchers, so it may take some shopping around to find a place that will accept this sort of arrangement. However, as New York was heavily hit by the collapse of the housing market, it is easier to find private landlords willing to accept HCV than it once was.

In that New York, and especially the area in proximity to New York City, has always had issues with affordable housing, there are also a lot of non-profits and charity organizations that may offer alternatives to the PHA administrated programs. This is particular true for senior citizens and veterans, but can be just as true for others in need of housing assistance.