How to Apply for HASA in NYC: Step-by-Step

Applying for HASA starts with one phone number: ServiceLine at 718-557-1399. There's no online application, no waitlist, and no lottery. If you're an NYC resident with an HIV or AIDS diagnosis, you can start the process today, and if you're currently homeless, you can request emergency housing placement the same day you call.

This guide walks through the application step by step: what documents you need, what happens after you're enrolled, and how to get from application to an approved apartment.

Step 1: Contact ServiceLine

ServiceLine is HASA's single entry point for applications, information, and referrals:

• Phone: 718-557-1399, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
• Email: ServiceLine@hra.nyc.gov
• In person: 400 Eighth Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001

Many people are referred by a hospital social worker, clinic, or community organization, but you don't need a referral. You can call ServiceLine yourself.

If you're homeless when you call, say so. HASA can arrange same-day emergency housing placement through ServiceLine while your full application is processed. That's different from the general DHS shelter system, and it's one of the most important things to know about the program: you do not have to wait for full enrollment to get a roof over your head.

Step 2: Provide Medical Documentation

HASA eligibility is medical first. You'll need documentation of an HIV or AIDS diagnosis, as defined by the CDC. Since "HASA for All" took effect in 2016, you do not need symptoms or an AIDS diagnosis; any NYC resident diagnosed with HIV qualifies for HASA case management.

Your medical provider completes the documentation. The HRA HIV/AIDS Services page has downloadable forms, including a General Request for Program Admission. If your provider has worked with HASA before (most NYC HIV clinics have), they'll know the paperwork.

For the financial side of the program (rental assistance and cash benefits, not just case management), your household income must be below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Bring whatever income documentation you have: pay stubs, an SSI or SSD award letter, or a benefits statement.

Step 3: Get Assigned a Caseworker

Once you're enrolled, HASA assigns you a caseworker at one of its centers, located in all five boroughs. This person becomes your main point of contact for everything: rental assistance, cash benefits, Medicaid, SNAP, transportation help, and referrals.

The caseworker relationship matters more in HASA than in any other NYC housing program. Your caseworker approves apartments, inspects units, processes your benefits, and troubleshoots problems. Get their direct contact information, keep records of what you submit, and follow up in writing when something stalls.

Step 4: Sort Out Your Housing Path

HASA housing assistance comes in a few forms, and your caseworker helps determine which fits:

Emergency housing if you're homeless now: temporary placement (transitional housing, SRO, or a family emergency unit) while you search for permanent housing.

Private market apartment with rental assistance: you find an apartment, HASA inspects and approves it, and HASA pays the landlord directly, twice a month. You contribute 30% of your gross income toward the rent if you have income; if you have no income, HASA pays the full approved rent. Current rent caps by apartment size are in our guide on how much HASA pays for rent in 2026.

Supportive housing if you need on-site services: congregate residences with social services on site, or scatter-site apartments leased through housing providers.

Step 5: Find the Apartment

For the private-market path, the apartment search is on you, but you're not without help. Your caseworker can share a list of brokers who've placed HASA clients before, and you can search anywhere you'd normally look.

The practical problem most HASA clients hit is landlords who don't know the program or don't want the paperwork. It's illegal for them to refuse you for that reason (source-of-income discrimination has been banned in NYC since 2008), but arguing discrimination law with a landlord takes time you may not have.

The faster route is landlords who already want voucher tenants. Every landlord on VoucherMatch is there specifically to rent to voucher holders, HASA included. Filter for your borough and budget, and message landlords directly.

When you find a unit, your caseworker inspects it. If it passes and the rent is within HASA's guidelines for your household size, the caseworker approves it, the paperwork gets finalized, and HASA starts paying the landlord directly.

How Long Does It Take?

Realistic expectations, based on how the process is structured:

• Same day: emergency housing placement if you're homeless and call ServiceLine.
• Days to a few weeks: enrollment and caseworker assignment once your medical documentation is in.
• The variable part: finding an apartment and getting it inspected and approved. This depends on the market and on how quickly your caseworker moves. Push politely, in writing, and escalate through the HASA center director if your case stalls.

If a deadline matters (an eviction case, a shelter exit date), tell your caseworker explicitly and put it in writing.

If You're Denied or Your Case Stalls

If HASA denies your application or a specific benefit, you have the right to challenge the decision through a fair hearing with the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Our guide on requesting a fair hearing for NYC rental assistance covers the process.

For stalled cases, start with your caseworker, then their supervisor, then the center director. Legal help is available and free for most HASA clients: The Legal Aid Society and organizations like Housing Works advocate for HASA clients regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for HASA online? No. Applications go through ServiceLine: 718-557-1399, ServiceLine@hra.nyc.gov, or in person at 400 Eighth Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhattan.

Do I need an AIDS diagnosis to qualify? No. Since 2016, any NYC resident diagnosed with HIV qualifies for HASA case management, regardless of symptoms. Financial benefits additionally require income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

I'm homeless right now. How fast can HASA house me? Call ServiceLine and request emergency placement; same-day placement is part of the program's design. Permanent housing takes longer, but you don't wait on the street while the application processes.

Does HASA have a waitlist? No. Unlike Section 8, HASA has no waitlist or lottery. Eligibility is medical and financial, and enrollment is continuous.

Can I have HASA and Section 8 at the same time? You can receive HASA services while holding a Section 8 voucher you already have. The programs coordinate differently on the rent side, so ask your caseworker how your subsidies interact.

What does HASA pay for besides rent? Case management, cash assistance, help with Medicaid and SNAP enrollment, transportation assistance, and referrals for mental health, substance use treatment, and home care. See our complete HASA guide for the full picture.

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Enrolled in HASA and searching for an apartment? Browse listings from landlords who welcome HASA.

Landlord with a vacancy? List your property free and connect with HASA clients whose rent is paid directly by the city.