CityFHEPS is a rental assistance supplement program to help individuals and families find and keep an apartment, a room, or single room occupancy (SRO) unit. CityFHEPS consolidates seven subsidies into a single program, designed to simplify and streamline the process for all New Yorkers, including landlords and brokers, who serve as partners in our efforts to connect low-income New Yorkers to stable housing.
The program is administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS), which includes both the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and the Human Resources Administration (HRA).
If you house a tenant with CityFHEPS, you will receive rent payments directly from DSS/HRA.
What are the benefits of participating in CityFHEPS for landlords and brokers?
Under CityFHEPS, you will receive:
• Rents for apartments and SROs are based on apartment size and indexed to FMR for one-year leases.
• For new apartments and SROs: The option to receive the first month’s rent in full, plus the next three (3) months’ rent supplement up front, or the first month’s rent in full For CityFHEPS tenants remaining in place, HRA pays the supplement for the first month.
• For rooms: The first four (4) months’ rent in full up front except if the household receives a shelter allowance.
• Monthly rental assistance payments from DSS/HRA for up to five (5) years if your tenant continues to meet eligibility requirements and you remain in compliance with program requirements with additional extensions beyond five (5) years available for “good cause.”
• A timely and standardized apartment or room “preclearance.”
What is the maximum rent for apartments and SROs CityFHEPS tenants can lease?
The payment standards are the maximum amount of subsidy that HRA will pay to owner on behalf of the CityFHEPS tenant. For new unit rentals within New York City, the amounts are as following:
CityFHEPS 2026 payment standards:
1 Bedroom $2,734
2 Bedroom $2,997
3 Bedroom $3,753
*The payment standards stated above are the maximum rent amounts if all utilities are included in the lease.
The following incentive may also be available:
• A “unit hold” incentive equal to one month’s rent for landlords who agree to hold an apartment while the
housing packet is being processed