How do I get rental assistance when I’m behind on my rent?

New York City tenants can apply for help with back rent through a few different methods, including One Shot Deals, charitable donations, and through housing vouchers, such as FHEPS and CityFHEPS.

The first step: Gather your documents

• Proof of income or government benefits
• A lease, a copy of your latest housing court papers, or letter from your landlord
• Proof of identity for everyone in your household
• Any documents related to your problem (job loss, illness, death in the family)

One Shot Deal

• A one shot deal is a one time payment from the Human Resources Administration (HRA) to pay back rent to avoid an eviction. To qualify, you must have a source of income other than public assistance such as employment or SSI.

• You can apply either in-person at an HRA (Human Resources Administration) center or at the Access HRA website: https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/

• To qualify, you must have enough income to cover both your current rent and other major expenses like utilities, a lease in your name, and a social security number. In some cases, one-shot deals are grants that do not need to be repaid.

• HRA will ask you to provide proof of income, such as pay stubs or W2s, social security payments, disability payments, or workers comp.

• If you can’t cover your rent, a commitment letter from a third party, like a family member or a friend who will agree to help you pay your rent, will help you to qualify.

Seeking out a charity

• Charities such as Coalition for the Homeless, Nazareth Housing, and the Bridge Fund also offer rental arrears assistance based on the borough you live in. You can call the Housing Court Answers hotline to determine what charities serve your borough: Call (212) 962-4795.

• You can get assistance from more than one charity at a time.

• Some charities can help undocumented tenants with back rent and other support.

Homebase

• Homebase offers homelessness prevention services, including access to housing vouchers like FHEPS and CityFHEPS. These programs may also pay for rent arrears and help cover a portion of or your full rent moving forward.

• If you are living with children who are documented and under the age of 18, and are on public assistance and receiving cash assistance, you may be eligible for a FHEPS voucher.

• Contact Homebase if you currently don’t have enough income to cover your rent.

To see a list of Homebase providers, and the ZIP codes they serve, go to the following website:

https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/homebase-locations.page

For free legal help, call Legal Services NYC at 917-661-4500 Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more about our intake process here.

* The information does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult an attorney regarding your matter. Legal help subject to capacity and location.