New York City Mayor Eric Adams plans to issue thousands of federal rental assistance vouchers and accept new applications for Section 8 housing for the first time in almost 15 years. While this could provide relief for some New Yorkers in need of housing aid, others who have been waiting for years may find themselves excluded from the program due to administrative reasons.
The city’s decision to open up applications comes as it grapples with skyrocketing rents, limited housing supply, and a record-high homeless population. Although Adams mentioned issuing “1,000 vouchers a month,” details regarding the timeline and implementation of the plan have not been provided yet. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), which already provides Section 8 vouchers to nearly 100,000 households, will also start accepting new applications later this year.
Approximately 7,000 applicants remain on the waiting list, which was over 100,000 households at its peak. NYCHA will prioritize homeless individuals, domestic violence victims, and people with disabilities, among others, when issuing vouchers. Section 8, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher program, is a federal housing assistance program that has no expiration date once recipients find a suitable apartment. Income criteria for eligibility in New York City are around $50,000 for an individual and $70,600 for a family of four.