How to Apply for FHEPS in NYC When You're Facing Eviction
Quick answerIn New York City, as of October 2026, you apply for FHEPS to stay in your apartment through ACCESS HRA or at an HRA Benefits Access Center, by asking for help with rent arrears. To move to a new apartment you apply through a Homebase office, and in shelter through your case manager. You need a child under 18 or a pregnancy, an active Cash Assistance case, and an eviction case or a rent demand letter.
Last checked: October 4, 2026, against HRA's FHEPS page, the FHEPS client fact sheet (HRA-146r, rev. 08/20/2025), the FHEPS application (HRA-146a, rev. 06/30/2025), HRA's FHEPS file checklists (HRA-146m and HRA-146n), the payment standards (HRA-146z, effective 08/01/2025), the landlord fact sheet (HRA-146q), the shopping letter sheet (DSS-31), the ACCESS NYC FHEPS page, Social Services Law 131-bb and the State's fair hearing pages.
- $20,000back rent FHEPS can pay to keep you housed, more case by case
- $3,058maximum rent for a two-bedroom, utilities included
- 12 monthsthe written lease or agreement you need when you apply
- 10 daysto report a change in rent, income or household
- 5 yearshow long FHEPS can last before a good-cause extension
- 718-557-1399HRA's Rental Assistance Call Center
What it means: FHEPS itself pays the back rent, so you do not need a second program to stop the eviction.
Source: HRA-146r, FHEPS Fact Sheet, HRA-146z, FHEPS Payment Standards and HRA-146q, Fact Sheet for Landlords.
Where to Apply: ACCESS HRA, a Benefits Access Center, or Homebase
Where you apply depends on whether you want to stay, need to move, or are in shelter.
- Staying, not on Cash Assistance yetapply for Cash Assistance and FHEPS together in ACCESS HRA and select "help with rent arrears" in the Cash Assistance application. You can also apply in person at a Benefits Access Center.
- Staying, already on Cash Assistancein ACCESS HRA select "help with an emergency," then "rent arrears." This is a special grant request, and the City's ACCESS NYC page says "Do not submit a new application."
- Movingif you were evicted in the past 12 months, or are being evicted and cannot stay, contact a Homebase provider. HRA's page says Homebase helps with the FHEPS to move application.
- In shelteryour housing specialist or case manager applies with you. HRA says shelter residents "will automatically be assessed" for FHEPS and CityFHEPS.
What it means: the online application is for staying put, and the 718-557-1399 line answers questions but is not listed as a way to apply.
Source: HRA FHEPS page, ACCESS NYC FHEPS page (last updated August 20, 2024) and HRA, I Am Currently in Shelter.
- 1Open ACCESS HRAuse the website or the mobile app and make the selection for your case from the cards above.
- 2Answer and uploadHRA's instruction is to "answer as many questions and upload as much proof of your eligibility as you can."
- 3Do the Cash Assistance interviewif you filed a new Cash Assistance application, call 929-273-1872, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. You have the right to an interview in person at a Benefits Access Center instead.
- 4HRA decidesthe supplement amount is set when the application is approved. HRA has not published how long a FHEPS decision takes.
- 5HRA pays your landlordthe back rent and then the monthly supplement go directly to the landlord.
What it means: once the application is in, the interview call is the step that is in your hands.
Source: HRA FHEPS page, HRA Cash Assistance page, CA Interview Instructions and HRA-146r.
If you need to move: Homebase and the shopping letter
Homebase is an HRA program run by nonprofit providers, with over 20 offices across the five boroughs (HRA).
- Your officeeach Homebase office serves set ZIP codes. Look yours up on the Homebase locations page, or call 311 or 718-557-1399.
- AppointmentHRA says anyone seeking Homebase services "should call the office in advance to schedule an appointment" (Homebase page).
- Shopping letterHRA's checklists call it "Potential Eligibility for FHEPS (aka 'Shopping Letter')," form HRA-146j or HRA-146k. The amount on it is the most you can rent for with all utilities included (DSS-31).
- Not publishedHRA does not say how long a FHEPS shopping letter is valid, so read the dates on your own letter.
What FHEPS Is and Who Qualifies
FHEPS, the Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement, is a rent supplement HRA runs for families on Cash Assistance who are being evicted or have lost their home. All three conditions below must be true.
- A child or a pregnancy. your household includes a child under 18, a child under 19 who is in high school or a vocational or technical program full time, or a pregnant person. For FHEPS to stay, HRA's page says a child under 18.
- Cash Assistance. you have an active Cash Assistance case. If you are in shelter, it is enough to qualify for Cash Assistance once you leave.
- A housing emergency. you are being evicted in NYC, were evicted in NYC in the last 12 months, or received a rent demand letter. Three shelter routes also count: you are in HRA shelter; in DHS shelter and eligible for HRA shelter; or in DHS shelter and were evicted in NYC in the year before you entered.
What it means: an eviction paper alone is not enough, and being eligible for Cash Assistance is not the same as having a case.
Source: HRA-146r and the HRA FHEPS page, which adds that "all decisions for FHEPS are made on a case-by-case basis."
HRA's page says the program also covers survivors of domestic violence and their children. If that is your situation, tell the worker: FHEPS files include a separate domestic violence form (HRA-146p).
Key pointState law has the City run FHEPS under a State-approved plan (Social Services Law 131-bb), and it can only be used in the five boroughs (DSS-31). For how it differs from CityFHEPS, and the "FHEPS A" and "FHEPS B" labels, see FHEPS vs CityFHEPS.
The Eviction Paper or Rent Demand You Need
You need proof of an eviction case, a past eviction or a rent demand, and you do not have to be in court yet. HRA's page says FHEPS to stay helps pay back rent "even if you are not in court."
| Your situation | Proof the FHEPS application lists |
|---|---|
| Eviction case | A Housing Court petition, judgment, order or stipulation |
| Rent demand | A rent demand letter from the landlord or management company |
| Foreclosure | Notice of possession (or writ of assistance), judgment of foreclosure, or notice of petition and holdover |
| Vacate order | A court-ordered or City agency vacate order, or proof that a City agency decided you must leave for health or safety reasons |
What it means: a written rent demand is enough to start, so you can apply before the landlord files a case.
Source: section 3 of the FHEPS application, HRA-146a (rev. 06/30/2025).
Key pointYour name does not have to be on the court papers or the lease. The fact sheet says "Your family did not have to be the tenants of record when the rent was first due." You then show you lived there with a lease or agreement, DMV or school records, bank statements, or a phone or utility bill (HRA-146a).
If you are already in Housing Court, free Right-to-Counsel lawyers are available in every ZIP code regardless of immigration status. HRA says to tell the court "I would like an attorney" at your first appearance, or call Housing Court Answers at 718-557-1379 or 212-962-4795 (HRA, Legal Services for Tenants). No HRA document says court staff take FHEPS applications.
Documents You Will Need
HRA's own checklist for a FHEPS file lists the items below.
- Eviction or rent demand proof. one of the papers in the table above.
- Lease or written agreement for 12 months. required when you apply. With no lease, or one that ends in under a year, you must explain or prove that you can stay at least one year after approval.
- Income proof. the last 30 days of pay stubs, or other proof of income, for everyone in the household over 18.
- Landlord's breakdown of arrears. if you are staying and owe back rent.
- From the landlord. the Landlord Utility Information form (DSS-8q), and proof of ownership if you are moving.
- Cash Assistance case number. the application asks for it.
- Proof you lived there. only if nobody on your Cash Assistance case is the tenant of record.
What it means: these lists are written for the worker who assembles the file, so use them to bring everything in one visit. A new Cash Assistance application has its own document list on HRA's Cash Assistance page, which was not checked for this article.
Source: HRA-146m, FHEPS A checklist, HRA-146n, FHEPS B checklist (both rev. 01/15/2025) and HRA-146a.
Watch outIf your household is not named on the lease, the application asks three things: the tenant of record has the right to stay 12 months, their income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, and you are named as co-tenant on the lease, in a court stipulation or in a written agreement (HRA-146a, section 6).
What FHEPS Pays
FHEPS pays back rent when you stay, then a monthly supplement on top of your Cash Assistance shelter allowance, up to a maximum rent set by apartment size.
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- Back rentup to $20,000 for the rent your family owes for any period you lived in the apartment. A larger request "will be considered on a case-by-case basis." HRA's footnote says the limit is "subject to annual State approval."
- What HRA will not payshelter allowance you lost to a Cash Assistance sanction. The application says no arrears are paid unless you show that this part will be paid by you or someone else, or forgiven by the landlord.
- Monthly rent"Many families will have their entire rent covered by FHEPS and their CA shelter allowance." You pay a share if someone on the case has income, or if someone in the home is not on the case, such as a person on SSI.
- Not eligible for FHEPSback rent help for other households is the One-Shot Deal.
What it means: ask for the full amount you owe on the application, with the landlord's breakdown attached.
Source: HRA-146r, HRA-146q and the arrears worksheets in HRA-146a.
| People on your Cash Assistance case | Apartment size | Maximum rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Studio | $2,646 |
| 1 or 2 | 1 bedroom | $2,762 |
| 3 or 4 | 2 bedrooms | $3,058 |
| 5 or 6 | 3 bedrooms | $3,811 |
| 7 or 8 | 4 bedrooms | $4,111 |
| 9 or 10 | 5 bedrooms | $4,727 |
What it means: if you pay any utilities yourself, HRA subtracts a utility allowance and the maximum is lower. Larger sizes and the CityFHEPS figures are in FHEPS vs CityFHEPS.
Source: HRA-146z, FHEPS Payment Standards (rev. 08/19/2025), still the schedule linked on HRA's FHEPS page on October 4, 2026.
View the data table
| People on the case | Shelter allowance | Rest, up to the FHEPS maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $277 | $2,485 |
| 2 | $283 | $2,479 |
| 3 | $400 | $2,658 |
| 4 | $450 | $2,608 |
| 5 | $501 | $3,310 |
| 6 | $524 | $3,287 |
What it means: the shelter allowance is a small part of the rent, and FHEPS carries the rest.
Source: the FHEPS To Stay worksheet on page 7 of HRA-146a. The second column is VoucherMatch's subtraction of the shelter allowance from the maximum rent; one or two people are shown at the one-bedroom maximum.
ExampleWith a made-up rent, a family of three with no other income rents a two-bedroom at $2,900 with utilities included. That is under the $3,058 maximum. The shelter allowance covers up to $400, and FHEPS can cover the other $2,500, which is under the $2,658 on the worksheet.
After Approval: Keeping FHEPS
FHEPS can last up to five years, as long as your Cash Assistance case stays open and a qualifying child is still in the household.
- Report changes within 10 days. a change in rent, in your landlord or the person you pay, in the number of people on your case, or in the income of anyone in the apartment.
- How to report. in ACCESS HRA select "submit a case change," or report in person, by mail or by fax. HRA says to call 311 for Benefits Access Center contact details.
- Keep Cash Assistance open. FHEPS stops if the case closes. HRA publishes no separate FHEPS renewal form, so your Cash Assistance recertification and interview are what keep it going.
- Avoid a sanction. it lowers the shelter allowance and the supplement, and you pay the landlord the difference while it lasts.
- Ask before you move. the application says you cannot move without HRA's written approval and a new application.
- After five years. you can apply for an extension if you show good cause.
- If FHEPS stopped. ask for a restoration in ACCESS HRA with "help with an emergency" and "rent arrears," even if you do not owe rent yet.
What it means: most of the ways to lose FHEPS run through the Cash Assistance case, so treat that case's mail as FHEPS mail.
Source: HRA-146r, the HRA FHEPS page and HRA-146a, section 9.
Watch outIf HRA denies, reduces or stops your benefits, the State says you may ask for a fair hearing within 60 days of the date on a Public Assistance notice, and to check your own notice for the deadline (OTDA). Call 1-800-342-3334 or use the online form. The VoucherMatch guide: how to request a fair hearing.
What Landlords Should Know
HRA pays the landlord directly, and refusing a tenant because they have FHEPS is against the law.
- Tenant staying: up to $20,000 toward the arrears if the family is approved, and more case by case.
- Tenant moving in: "the first month's rent in full plus the next three months' rent supplement up front, as well as a security voucher."
- Lease: a written lease or agreement for at least 12 months. The City is not a party to it.
- No side deals: you cannot charge more than the rent in the lease.
- When it stops: payments end if the tenant's Cash Assistance case closes or no qualifying child remains.
- Questions: HRA's Home Support Specialists and its Rental Assistance Call Center are both at 718-557-1399.
Source: HRA-146q, FHEPS Fact Sheet for Landlords (rev. 08/20/2025). HRA lists FHEPS among the programs covered by the source of income discrimination law, with complaints going to the City Commission on Human Rights at (212) 416-0197. Tenants can follow how to report a landlord who refuses your voucher, and landlords can list a property free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for FHEPS online? Yes, if you are applying to stay in your apartment.
- To stay: use ACCESS HRA and choose the rent arrears option for your case.
- To move: there is no online application. It goes through Homebase, or through your case manager if you are in shelter.
Can I apply for FHEPS if I don't have an eviction notice yet? Yes, if your landlord or management company has sent you a rent demand letter. HRA's fact sheet counts that alongside an eviction case, and its page says FHEPS to stay applies "even if you are not in court."
Can FHEPS pay my back rent? Yes. FHEPS to stay can pay up to $20,000 in back rent, and more case by case. You must be able to stay at least 12 more months, with a lease or written agreement from the landlord.
Is there a paper FHEPS application? Yes, form HRA-146a, the "FHEPS A and B Application."
- Who it is for: HRA posts it under documentation for providers, and it has a section for the worker who prepares it.
- Filing it yourself: HRA does not say whether a family can file it alone, so use ACCESS HRA or a Benefits Access Center.
How long does FHEPS approval take, and how do I check on it? HRA has not published a processing time for FHEPS. For questions about a case or a payment, HRA's Rental Assistance Call Center is at 718-557-1399.
What's the difference between FHEPS and CityFHEPS? FHEPS is for families with a child or a pregnancy who are on Cash Assistance. CityFHEPS is a separate City program with its own rules, and it is only for households that do not qualify for FHEPS. The comparison is in FHEPS vs CityFHEPS.
What happens if my income changes while I'm on FHEPS? Report it to HRA within 10 days.
- What changes: the fact sheet says changes "may increase or lower your FHEPS rent supplement."
- How: "submit a case change" in ACCESS HRA, or in person, by mail or by fax.
Where can I find an apartment with FHEPS after an eviction? An eviction in the last 12 months is one of the ways to qualify for FHEPS to move, and a landlord cannot turn you down because of FHEPS. For the search itself, see renting with an eviction on your record.
Next step: if you have a rent demand or court papers today, open ACCESS HRA and start the rent arrears request, then gather the lease and the landlord's breakdown. If you will be moving, call your Homebase office and browse apartments that take FHEPS or all current listings.
Sources for this article (22)
- HRA-146r, FHEPS Fact Sheet (nyc.gov)
- HRA-146z, FHEPS Payment Standards (nyc.gov)
- HRA-146q, Fact Sheet for Landlords (nyc.gov)
- ACCESS HRA (a069-access.nyc.gov)
- Benefits Access Center (nyc.gov)
- Homebase provider (nyc.gov)
- HRA FHEPS page (nyc.gov)
- ACCESS NYC FHEPS page (access.nyc.gov)
- HRA, I Am Currently in Shelter (nyc.gov)
- HRA Cash Assistance page (nyc.gov)
- CA Interview Instructions (nyc.gov)
- HRA (nyc.gov)
- Homebase page (nyc.gov)
- DSS-31 (nyc.gov)
- Social Services Law 131-bb (nysenate.gov)
- FHEPS application, HRA-146a (nyc.gov)
- HRA, Legal Services for Tenants (nyc.gov)
- HRA-146m, FHEPS A checklist (nyc.gov)
- HRA-146n, FHEPS B checklist (nyc.gov)
- OTDA (otda.ny.gov)
- online form (otda.ny.gov)
- source of income discrimination law (nyc.gov)
VoucherMatch Editorial Team
Every rule, date and dollar amount in this article is checked against the agency document it comes from, and the sources are listed above. How VoucherMatch articles are researched and corrected
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