If you use a housing voucher — or you're applying for one — 2026 brought real changes worth knowing. Here's a plain-language rundown. (We place voucher holders regularly, and we welcome them.)
New CityFHEPS payment standards took effect April 1, 2026. CityFHEPS is NYC's main rental assistance voucher, run by the Department of Social Services through HRA. Its maximum rents are tied to NYCHA's Section 8 payment standards, and the 2026 figures apply to new packages submitted on or after March 1, 2026 (or with a lease starting April 1 or later). As an example, the maximum rent CityFHEPS will cover for a four-person household in a two-bedroom is about $3,058 when utilities are included. Exact amounts depend on household size and bedrooms — check the current chart on the HRA CityFHEPS page.
Vouchers are now portable statewide. CityFHEPS recipients can use their voucher to secure permanent housing anywhere in New York State, not just the five boroughs.
One incentive is going away. The “unit hold” incentive — which paid landlords one month's rent to hold an apartment while HRA processed a voucher — is ending July 1, 2026. Landlords still receive guaranteed direct monthly payments, the first month plus three months of assistance upfront on a new move-in, and an HRA security voucher in place of a cash deposit.
Your rights matter here. In NYC, a landlord or broker cannot legally refuse a CityFHEPS or Section 8 voucher — doing so is source-of-income discrimination under the NYC Human Rights Law. If it happens to you, call the NYC Commission on Human Rights at 212-416-0197.
How to apply. If you're at risk of eviction or homelessness but currently housed, start with a Homebase office (call 311 to find the nearest one). If you're in a DHS or HRA shelter, your case manager begins the process. Questions about an existing voucher? The HRA Rental Assistance Call Center is 718-557-1399.
Other programs to know: Section 8 (federal, no expiration, long waitlist), FHEPS (for families with children on Cash Assistance), SOTA (a one-time payment to relocate), and the One Shot Deal / Emergency Rental Assistance (a one-time grant for rent arrears, through ACCESS HRA).
Need help finding a home that accepts your voucher? Crown Royal Realty can help — placing voucher holders is part of what we do.
Program rules and amounts change frequently; verify current details with NYC HRA before relying on them. This is general information, not legal advice. Crown Royal Realty is an Equal Housing Opportunity brokerage and welcomes applicants using any lawful source of income.