SOTA Voucher NYC: What It Is, Who Qualifies, How It Pays
Quick answerSOTA (Special One-Time Assistance) is a New York City grant that pays one year of rent, month by month, straight to the landlord for a household leaving a DHS shelter. As of October 2026 the household needs recurring income (a job, SSI or SSD) and a rent that is no more than 40% of that income. It is a one-time grant, and it is a different program from HRA's One-Shot Deal.
Last checked: October 4, 2026, against HRA's SOTA FAQ, the SOTA Landlord Agreement (DHS-10a, 12/15/2021), the Landlord Agreement for Rooms (DHS-10r, 05/17/2023), the SOTA Security Voucher (DHS-10f, 06/28/2019), the Unit Hold Incentive Voucher (HRA-145, 08/08/2023), the rent review FAQ (DSS-34, 04/17/2026) and the City's SOTA rule, 31 RCNY Chapter 5 (effective September 7, 2021).
- 12 monthsof rent paid by the City, one month at a time
- 40%the most of the household's gross income the rent can take
- 5 business daysto tell DSS in writing that the tenant has left
- 1 month's rentthe most the security voucher pays on a claim
- 3 monthsafter move-out to file a security voucher claim
- 718-557-1373SOTA Hotline printed on the landlord agreement
What SOTA Is (60-Second Version)
SOTA is a one-year rent grant that moves households with income out of Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelters and into a lease. DHS runs the program and the Human Resources Administration (HRA) makes the payments. People search for a "SOTA voucher", but the City's rule calls it a SOTA grant: it ends after one year and there is nothing to renew.
- SOTAOne year of monthly rent for a DHS shelter household with income. After that the tenant pays the rent alone. The tenant-side SOTA guide covers the applicant's steps.
- One-Shot DealHRA's name for Emergency Assistance, for people who cannot pay bills after a job loss or another emergency. It is a separate program. See how a One-Shot Deal works.
- CityFHEPSA continuing rent supplement, renewed every year for up to five years with extensions for good cause. A household moving within NYC gets SOTA only if it is not eligible for a federal, State or City rental subsidy.
What it means: a SOTA tenant in the five boroughs is someone with income who did not qualify for CityFHEPS or another subsidy.
Source: HRA SOTA FAQ; HRA Cash Assistance page, "Emergency Assistance | One Shot Deal"; CityFHEPS FAQ for Landlords and Brokers, DSS-8j, 01/28/2026; 31 RCNY 5-02.
Who qualifies
A household qualifies through its shelter stay, its income and the rent on the unit it picked.
| Requirement | What the City says |
|---|---|
| Shelter stay | Families with children: at least 90 days in shelter. Single adults and adult families: 90 days out of the last 365 |
| Income type | Recurring income from employment, SSI or SSD |
| Rent to income | Rent no more than 40% of the household's current or projected income |
| Income ceiling | Household income at or below 80% of the New York City area median income for its size |
| Other subsidies | For a move within NYC only, the household must not be eligible for any federal, State or City rental subsidy |
| One time | Clients are eligible once. The rule lets DHS approve a second grant only in extraordinary circumstances |
What it means: "working" is too narrow, because a tenant on SSI or SSD can qualify, and DSS approves only households it has determined "will likely have the future ability to pay the rent".
Source: HRA SOTA FAQ for the first three rows and the last two; 31 RCNY 5-03 for the income ceiling and the second-grant exception.
How You Get Paid
HRA pays the rent monthly for one year, by check to the payee you name on the landlord agreement, and it has not paid a year up front for new participants since February 2020. The monthly amount is the full rent minus any contribution from a third party. If the lease includes a roommate who is not part of the shelter household, SOTA pays only the household's share, which is half with one roommate.
- Each month, months 1 to 12HRA issues the rent payment. A payment issued by the last day of the month counts as on time for that month, whatever the lease says.
- Within 5 business daysTell DSS in writing after you learn the tenant no longer lives in the unit, or after any legal proceeding affecting the tenancy starts.
- Within 60 days of fixing a problemIf rent was withheld over conditions, ask for its release with a court order or an inspection report showing the condition is cleared.
- Month 13 onThe tenant is responsible for the rent.
- Within 3 months after the tenant moves outLast day to file a security voucher claim.
What it means: you cannot treat a check issued on the 28th as late, and you cannot keep a payment for a month the tenant was gone.
Source: SOTA Landlord Agreement, DHS-10a; 31 RCNY 5-03, 5-06 and 5-07; SOTA Security Voucher, DHS-10f.
What the City pays besides rent
Three other payments can come with a SOTA lease, each on its own form and with its own limits.
| Payment | Amount | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Security voucher (DHS-10f) | Up to one month's rent | Replaces a cash deposit. Paid only on a notarized claim, with proof, that the tenant did not pay rent after the first year or damaged the unit |
| Unit hold incentive (HRA-145) | One month's rent | For holding the unit vacant while HRA finishes the approval. Listed for clients leaving DHS shelter with SOTA. Refunded if the tenant does not move in |
| Broker's fee (HRA-121) | Up to 15% of the annual rent | Paid to a licensed broker who is not the owner or an affiliate. The owner may not receive any part of it. Offered "for as long as funding remains available" |
What it means: none of these is cash in hand at signing, and the unit hold form says it creates no "legally enforceable agreement or guarantee by HRA".
Watch outThe agreement says financial incentives are not available when the unit's previous tenant received SOTA or, inside NYC, FHEPS, CityFHEPS or another City rental assistance program, unless you can show good cause for not renewing that tenant.
For a missing payment or a change of payee, the City's SOTA notice tells landlords to call the SOTA Hotline at 718-557-1373 (DHS-10g, dated 02/05/2020). VoucherMatch did not dial it.
Is There a Rent Cap?
SOTA has no rent table by bedroom size; three tests limit the rent instead.
| Test | What it requires | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Income | Rent at or below 40% of the household's gross income | 31 RCNY 5-04 |
| Reasonable rent | Rent in line with comparable units in the area. In NYC, DSS runs a rent review before the application is submitted | 31 RCNY 5-04; DSS-34 |
| Legal rent | Rent at or below the legal rent, if the unit has one | DHS-10a, item 4 |
What it means: the income test uses gross income, before taxes, so your asking rent decides which applicants can be approved.
Source: 31 RCNY 5-04; Rent Reviews FAQ, DSS-34, 04/17/2026; DHS-10a.
View the data table
| Example gross monthly income | Highest rent at 40% |
|---|---|
| $3,000 a month | $1,200 |
| $4,000 a month | $1,600 |
| $5,000 a month | $2,000 |
| $6,000 a month | $2,400 |
What it means: a $1,600 apartment needs a household grossing at least $4,000 a month, and SOTA would pay $19,200 over the year on that lease.
Source: arithmetic on the 40% test in 31 RCNY 5-04; the incomes are examples, not program figures.
In NYC the rent review is requested through Apartment Offers. DSS first matches the unit against State rent-stabilization records, a step DSS-34 says can take up to 3 weeks, then tests market-rate units against comparable rents. If the rent fails, you can accept the allowable rent or send three comparables on the Rent Comparable Form (DSS-35).
Watch outDSS-34 says tenants may be charged only the amount DSS authorized. Side payments must be refunded and can affect future participation.
The Landlord Agreement: What You're Signing
The SOTA Landlord Agreement is a notarized set of promises that lasts the whole grant year, and a false statement on it is a Class A misdemeanor under Penal Law 175.30. Apartments use form DHS-10a and rooms use DHS-10r.
- Condition. Meet building and housing codes and keep the unit habitable at rental and throughout the tenancy.
- Charges. Take nothing above the rent and the reasonable fees written in the lease.
- Security. Accept the DSS security voucher in place of cash and ask the tenant for no other security.
- Timing. Treat a SOTA payment issued by the last day of the month as on time.
- Moves. Do not move the tenant to another unit without written approval from DSS and from the tenant.
- Move-out notice. Tell DSS within 5 business days of learning the tenant no longer lives there.
- Court notice. Tell DSS and the local municipal authorities within 5 business days if any legal proceeding affecting the tenancy starts.
- Ownership. Tell DSS as soon as reasonably practicable if ownership or management is changing.
- Refunds. Return payments for any period the tenant was not living in the unit, and report and return any overpayment.
- No relatives. The landlord cannot be a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of a household member, including step-relatives.
- Lead paint. Give the federal lead disclosures for housing built before 1978. In NYC, follow Local Law 1 of 2004.
- Lease and rent. A lease of at least one year, at or below any legal rent, in a unit you have the legal authority to rent.
What it means: written notices go to SOTA Program, NYC Human Resources Administration, 150 Greenwich Street, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10007; the form gives 718-557-1373 for questions.
Source: SOTA Landlord Agreement for Apartments, DHS-10a, 12/15/2021.
Key pointBreaking these terms can disqualify you from SOTA and, inside NYC, from other City rental assistance programs. The rule says DSS gives notice and a chance to object in writing before it puts a landlord on a disqualification list.
If the Tenant Leaves, Is Evicted or the Unit Has Problems
Each of these has a written rule, and all of them end with money going back to the City or being held until the problem is fixed.
| Situation | What the City's documents say |
|---|---|
| Tenant moves out during the year | Notify HRA within 5 business days and return funds beyond the tenant's residency. "If funds are not returned, the City will pursue legal means of recoupment" |
| You start an eviction case | Notify DSS and local authorities within 5 business days. Tenants in NYC can be referred by HRA to a lawyer for housing court. If an eviction occurs, funds beyond the residency go back |
| Conditions are not fixed | The tenant can ask HRA to withhold rent, backed by a court action, a violation issued by a City agency (in NYC) or local authority documentation (outside NYC). HRA decides |
| Withheld rent after repairs | Released only if the issue was resolved while the tenant still lived there, and only for months of residency |
| Tenant cannot pay after month 12 | The tenant owes the rent. The City's remaining exposure is the security voucher, up to one month's rent |
What it means: budget for refunds if a tenancy ends early, because SOTA covers only the months the tenant lives in the unit.
Source: HRA SOTA FAQ; DHS-10a; 31 RCNY 5-07.
The Walkthrough Inspection
A walkthrough is required before approval for units in New York City, in Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties, and in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic and Union counties in New Jersey. DHS or shelter provider staff do it with the City's Apartment Review Checklist (DSS-10a). Inside NYC the rule says it is the same assessment used for CityFHEPS, so the items in the guide to why CityFHEPS apartments fail the walkthrough apply here too.
- Utilities. Gas, electricity and water connected by the landlord before the review.
- Detectors. A working smoke detector and a working carbon monoxide detector within 15 feet of the entrance to each sleeping room.
- Paint and surfaces. No cracked, peeling or loose paint; no holes in walls, floors or ceilings; no evidence of leaks.
- Pests. No evidence of rats, mice, roaches or other vermin.
- Heat and water. A heat source in every room; hot and cold running water in the kitchen and bathroom; a working toilet.
- Kitchen. Working stove, oven, refrigerator and freezer.
- Electrical. Reset-button (GFCI) outlets in the kitchen and bathroom and no exposed wires.
- Bedrooms and windows. Each sleeping room at least 80 square feet; windows that open, close and lock.
What it means: a unit that fails can still be approved if you correct the conditions in a timely manner and it passes a second review or gets a Certificate of Correction from the local authority.
Source: Apartment Review Checklist, DSS-10a, rev. 03/12/2019; 31 RCNY 5-04.
NYC units also face a records check before the walkthrough. The Website Clearance Checklist (DSS-10) looks for vacate orders, stop work orders and open HPD lead violations, which must be corrected before a review is scheduled. You can walk the unit yourself first with the VoucherMatch pre-inspection checklist tool, though the City's checklist is the one that counts.
Key pointRooms qualify only inside NYC, only for one or two adults with no children, only with utilities included, and never in a rent-stabilized or rent-controlled unit. The City's room agreement (DHS-10r, 05/17/2023) caps room rent at the lesser of 40% of gross income or $1,100, while the published rule still says $800. Confirm the figure with DSS before you price a room.
Why Landlords Take SOTA Tenants
The draw is a year of rent paid monthly by the City for a tenant whose income has been checked against your rent, and the cost is paperwork, a walkthrough and refund duties.
| What the City's documents give you | What they do not give you |
|---|---|
| Monthly rent payments from HRA for one year | Payments for months the tenant is not living there, or while rent is withheld over conditions |
| A tenant whose rent is within 40% of gross income at approval | Any payment or guarantee of rent after month 12 |
| A security voucher worth up to one month's rent | A cash deposit, or a claim for unpaid rent during the first year |
| A hotline tenants can call about income loss, eviction or repairs | A published timeline for approval, or approval when funding runs out |
What it means: from month 13 this is an ordinary tenancy paid from the tenant's own income, and the City's documents promise nothing beyond the security voucher.
Source: DHS-10a; DHS-10f; HRA SOTA FAQ; 31 RCNY 5-03 and 5-09.
How to Get SOTA Tenants
SOTA households find their own apartments with help from shelter case managers and housing specialists, and the City keeps no waitlist, so the job is to make your vacancy visible to them.
- 1Offer the unitHRA tells NYC landlords to register apartments, rooms and SROs in its Apartment Offers portal, linked from the HRA landlord page. Any landlord or broker can also send the unit to the Home Support Unit.
- 2Clear the records check and rent reviewFor NYC units, the building is checked for violations and the rent is reviewed before the application goes in.
- 3Pass the walkthroughDHS or provider staff review the unit where a walkthrough is required.
- 4Sign the packetA lease of at least one year, the notarized landlord agreement and the security voucher, plus your W-9 and proof of ownership.
- 5Get paid monthlyDHS approves the application, subject to funding, and HRA sets up the account that pays you.
What it means: the City has not published how long approval takes, so ask the housing specialist for dates before you hold a unit.
Source: HRA landlord page; DSS-34; SOTA Demographic Sheet, DHS-10e, 01/15/2025; 31 RCNY 5-03 and 5-09.
Forms an owner signs or supplies
| Form | Name | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| DHS-10a | SOTA Landlord Agreement for Apartments | Every apartment |
| DHS-10r and DSS-8d | Landlord Agreement for Rooms; Room Rental Allocation Form | Room rentals |
| DHS-10s | Landlord Payment Agreement for non-relative roommates | Lease shared with a roommate |
| DHS-10f | SOTA Security Voucher | Every unit |
| HRA-145 | Unit Hold Incentive Voucher | If you are holding the unit |
| HRA-121 | Broker's Request for Enhanced Fee Payment by Check | If a broker is involved |
| W-9 and deed | Tax form and proof of ownership | Every unit |
What it means: the shelter's housing specialist assembles the packet, and your part is these forms plus the lease.
Source: SOTA Documents page and SOTA Demographic Sheet, DHS-10e.
You can also list the unit free on VoucherMatch and say in the listing that you accept SOTA.
Watch outIn New York City it is illegal to refuse a tenant because the rent will be paid with a housing subsidy or public assistance, with exceptions for small owner-occupied buildings and units that are not publicly advertised (NYC Commission on Human Rights). The post on whether a landlord can refuse a voucher covers the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SOTA pay a year of rent upfront? No. Since February 2020, HRA has paid landlords monthly for new SOTA participants, for one year.
What happens if the tenant moves out in month 6? You notify HRA in writing within 5 business days of learning the tenant left and return any funds beyond the tenant's residency. You keep the rent for the months the tenant lived there.
Is there a maximum rent for SOTA? There is no dollar table for apartments. Three tests apply instead.
- Income: within 40% of the household's gross income
- Reasonable rent: in line with comparable units in the area
- Legal rent: at or below it, if the unit has one
Does the unit need an inspection? Yes, in NYC and the ten nearby counties listed above. The City's documents require a walkthrough only in those places, but every landlord certifies that the unit is habitable and meets local codes.
Can the tenant renew SOTA for a second year? No. HRA says clients are eligible one time. The rule allows a second grant only in extraordinary circumstances, at DHS's discretion, for a household that returned to shelter or is at risk of it.
What's the difference between SOTA and CityFHEPS for a landlord? The length of the subsidy and how the rent is set.
- SOTA: pays the rent for one year and stops; the rent is tested against the tenant's income
- CityFHEPS: a supplement that can renew annually for up to five years, with its own requirements for landlords and rents set by its own payment standards
What does SOTA stand for? Special One-Time Assistance. The City's rule calls the payments a "SOTA grant".
Can SOTA be used in New Jersey or Westchester? Yes. The rule allows a unit in any of the 50 states, Washington, D.C. or a U.S. territory. Westchester and six New Jersey counties are among the places where a walkthrough is required.
Can a SOTA tenant sublet the apartment? No. The participant agreement and the rule bar the household from subletting the unit or assigning its rights during the grant year.
TipHave a vacancy that could work for a SOTA tenant? Register it with HRA through the links above, then list it free and name SOTA in the listing.
Sources for this article (17)
- SOTA FAQ (nyc.gov)
- 31 RCNY Chapter 5 (rules.cityofnewyork.us)
- HRA Cash Assistance page, "Emergency Assistance | One Shot Deal" (nyc.gov)
- CityFHEPS FAQ for Landlords and Brokers, DSS-8j, 01/28/2026 (nyc.gov)
- SOTA Landlord Agreement, DHS-10a (nyc.gov)
- SOTA Security Voucher, DHS-10f (nyc.gov)
- HRA-145 (nyc.gov)
- HRA-121 (nyc.gov)
- DHS-10g (nyc.gov)
- Rent Reviews FAQ, DSS-34, 04/17/2026 (nyc.gov)
- Apartment Review Checklist, DSS-10a, rev. 03/12/2019 (nyc.gov)
- Website Clearance Checklist (DSS-10) (nyc.gov)
- HRA landlord page (nyc.gov)
- Home Support Unit (nyc.gov)
- SOTA Demographic Sheet, DHS-10e, 01/15/2025 (nyc.gov)
- SOTA Documents page (nyc.gov)
- NYC Commission on Human Rights (nyc.gov)
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