How Much Does HASA Pay for Rent in 2026?

If you receive HASA and you're apartment hunting, the first question is always the same: what's the most HASA will approve? For 2026, the answer for a single person renting a studio is $2,604 per month with all utilities included, and the caps go up from there based on household size.

This guide covers the current HASA maximum rents by bedroom size, how much of that you pay versus what HASA pays, and what happens when utilities aren't included in the rent.

HASA Maximum Rents for 2026

HASA's rent levels track the same payment standard schedule used by CityFHEPS and NYC Section 8. The city updated that schedule effective April 1, 2026, based on HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents:

These are the amounts when heat, hot water, electricity, and cooking gas are all included in the rent. If you'd pay any utilities yourself, the maximum drops by a utility allowance (more on that below).

One thing worth knowing: the 2026 amounts are slightly lower than the 2025 schedule, because HUD's Fair Market Rents for New York City came down this year. DSS publishes guidelines on when the 2025 amounts still apply versus the 2026 amounts, so if you started your housing search or signed paperwork before April 2026, ask your caseworker which schedule applies to your case. The official schedule is on the DSS CityFHEPS payment standards document (DSS-8r), which HASA follows.

Your caseworker has the final word on what rent HASA will approve for your specific household. Documented extenuating circumstances can change what's approvable, so treat this table as the baseline, not a guarantee or a hard ceiling in every case.

How Much of the Rent Do You Pay?

HASA rental assistance works on an income-based split:

If you have no income: HASA pays the full rent, up to the maximum for your household size.

If you have income (a job, SSI, SSD, or other sources): you contribute 30% of your gross household income toward rent, and HASA pays the remainder up to the maximum.

Here's what that looks like for a single person on SSI receiving roughly $1,000 per month, renting a studio at $2,500:

• Your share: about $300 per month (30% of income)
• HASA pays: about $2,200, directly to the landlord

HASA pays landlords twice a month (semi-monthly), not once a month. Landlords who haven't worked with HASA before sometimes find this surprising, so mention it up front when you're negotiating.

What If the Rent Is Above the Maximum?

Unlike Section 8, where a tenant can sometimes pay the difference on a unit priced above the payment standard, HASA generally won't approve an apartment priced above its rent guidelines for your household size. If you find a great apartment at $2,900 and you qualify for a 1-bedroom maximum of $2,734, the practical answer is usually to keep looking or to ask the landlord whether they'll adjust the rent.

Landlords listed on VoucherMatch can see program rent levels, which cuts out most of this back-and-forth. Browse HASA-friendly listings to search apartments from landlords who already work with the program.

Utilities Change the Math

The maximums above assume the landlord covers all utilities. When you pay some utilities yourself, DSS subtracts a utility allowance from the maximum rent. The allowance depends on which utilities you pay and the apartment's size.

For example, under the 2026 DSS utility allowance schedule, a tenant in a 2-bedroom who pays cooking gas and electric has $181 per month subtracted, which brings the effective maximum rent for that apartment down from $2,997 to $2,816.

Practical takeaway: an apartment with all utilities included lets you use the full maximum. If you're comparing two similar apartments and one includes utilities, that one usually stretches your approval further. Our guide on Section 8 utility allowances in NYC explains the same mechanics in more detail.

Who Qualifies for HASA Rental Assistance?

Quick recap of eligibility, covered in depth in our complete HASA guide:

• You must be an NYC resident diagnosed with HIV or AIDS (since "HASA for All" in 2016, no symptoms are required)
• For rental assistance and cash benefits, household income must be below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
• Enrollment starts through ServiceLine at 718-557-1399

HASA is more than a rent subsidy. It's case management, benefits coordination, and housing support in one program, and your caseworker is your main point of contact for all of it, including apartment approvals.

How HASA Rents Compare to Other Programs

Because HASA follows the same schedule as CityFHEPS and NYC Section 8, the dollar caps are identical across the three programs in 2026. The differences are in how the programs work:

• HASA pays semi-monthly, requires a caseworker inspection rather than a Section 8 HQS inspection, and includes wraparound services.
• CityFHEPS serves households experiencing or at risk of homelessness. See the CityFHEPS payment standards breakdown for that program's rules.
• Section 8 is federal, portable out of state, and administered by NYCHA or HPD. See Section 8 payment standards for NYC.

What Landlords Should Know

If you own property and a HASA applicant wants your unit, the numbers work like this: rent at or below the schedule above (adjusted for utilities), tenant pays 30% of their income if they have income, and HASA pays you the balance twice a month. A caseworker inspects the unit before approval.

Refusing an applicant because their rent comes from HASA is source-of-income discrimination and has been illegal in NYC since 2008. If you want tenants whose rent is largely government-backed, list your property free on VoucherMatch and reach HASA recipients searching right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does HASA pay for a single person in 2026? Up to $2,604 per month for a studio, or $1,953 for an SRO, with all utilities included. If you have income, you contribute 30% of gross income and HASA covers the rest.

Does HASA pay the security deposit and broker fee? HASA can help with move-in costs like security deposits and broker fees in many cases. Ask your caseworker what your case qualifies for, since approvals are handled individually.

Can I rent an apartment that costs more than the HASA maximum? Generally no. HASA approves apartments within its rent guidelines for your household size. Exceptions require documented extenuating circumstances and go through your caseworker.

Did HASA rents go down in 2026? The schedule effective April 1, 2026 is slightly lower than 2025 because HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for NYC decreased. DSS guidelines determine whether the 2025 or 2026 amounts apply to your case, so confirm with your caseworker.

Does HASA pay rent directly to my landlord? Yes. HASA pays the landlord directly on a semi-monthly basis. You pay your share (if any) directly to the landlord as well.

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