Section 8 waitlist in NYC: What comes next?

Editor's note: The video above originally aired Aug. 1, 2024

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – New Yorkers have started getting their Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, sending them searching for apartments with some financial support.

Over the summer, the city opened the Section 8 waitlist for the first time since 2009, which drew over 600,000 applicants. Only 200,000 made it onto the waitlist, and now those applicants face additional steps before turning the key in their new apartments. 

"At this time, eligibility interviews are being conducted, vouchers are being issued, and voucher-holders are in the process of searching," a NYCHA spokesperson told PIX11 News.

Here’s what to expect after getting on the Section 8 waitlist:  

1. Once an applicant makes it onto the waitlist, they are asked to complete a full application with documentation like birth certificates, income and asset information and Social Security cards.
2. Eligibility interview: NYCHA will review the materials with the applicant during an interview. For a family of two, this interview could take around 45 minutes. Criminal background and sex offender checks are then conducted on all household members over 16 years old.
3. Once eligibility is confirmed, the Housing Choice Voucher is issued and applicants have 120 days plus an optional 60-day extension to search for an apartment. First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer said NYCHA will issue 1,000 vouchers per month.
4. The voucher will specify the applicant's approved housing size and expiration date. During a program briefing, NYCHA representatives will explain pricing and utility payments to prepare voucher holders for their housing search.
5. Searching for an apartment: NYCHA will only help pay for units determined to charge reasonable rent based on market prices. Qualifying apartments can be found on this website. NYCHA sets a maximum they will pay for different-sized apartments, a figure called the Voucher Payment Standard. For example, NYCHA will only contribute up to $2,696 for a one-bedroom and $3,027 for a two-bedroom. These figures can change based on zip code. StreetEasy suggests filtering by the Voucher Payment Standard to find an appropriately priced apartment.
6. Once they pick an apartment, voucher holders will submit a rental packet to NYCHA that includes information from both the applicant and the building’s owner. 
7. The unit will then be inspected for housing quality standards. Inspectors will look for things like functioning smoke detectors, room sizes, proper windows and insulation, and bathroom conditions. 
8. Once approved, NYCHA will pay their share of the rent directly to the landlord. Tenants are expected to contribute roughly 30% of their income towards rent, which will be paid directly to the landlord. Tenants pay any portion of the rent that exceeds the Voucher Payment Standard, but cannot contribute more than 40% of their adjusted income.