CityFHEPS Apartments in Queens
Find apartments that accept CityFHEPS vouchers in Queens, NYC. All listings are verified and landlords are ready to work with voucher holders.
CityFHEPS Rent Limits in NYC
CityFHEPS is New York City's largest rental assistance program, helping families and individuals facing homelessness or eviction find and maintain stable housing. Payment standards match NYCHA Section 8 rates.
Studio
$2,604
1BR
$2,734
2BR
$2,997
3BR
$3,753
4BR
$4,077
5BR
$4,689
* Payment standards effective April 2026. Actual limits may vary based on program and specific circumstances.
CityFHEPS Queens Apartments by Bedroom Size
CityFHEPS rents in Queens right now
There are 4 active Queens listings on VoucherMatch from landlords who accept CityFHEPS. 3 of the 4 with a posted rent are listed at or under the CityFHEPS maximum for the apartment size, before any utility allowance. These figures are recalculated from live listings and change as apartments are added and rented.
| Size | Active listings | Asking rent | CityFHEPS maximum | At or under it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bedroom | 2 | $2,997 to $3,200 | $2,997 | 1 of 2 |
| 3-bedroom | 2 | $3,555 to $3,600 | $3,753 | 2 of 2 |
Where the Queens listings are: Far Rockaway (2), Jamaica (1).
How renting with CityFHEPS works in Queens
CityFHEPS works the same way in Queens as in the rest of the city. HRA sets one maximum rent for each apartment size across all five boroughs, and any landlord whose unit clears the city's review can be paid. What changes from borough to borough is supply: how many landlords are renting at or under the maximum, and how used to the paperwork they are.
Every landlord on this page has told us they accept CityFHEPS, which removes the first and most common obstacle. The rest of the process still has to happen, and knowing the order it happens in is the best way to keep an apartment from slipping away while the package is in review.
- 1
Get your shopping letter
The shopping letter is a one-page document that lists your household size, the maximum rent CityFHEPS will approve, and an expiration date. If you are in shelter, your housing specialist issues it. If you are in the community, it comes from your HRA case manager or Homebase office. Landlords and brokers will ask to see it before they process an application, so keep a photo of it on your phone.
- 2
Search at or under your maximum
The maximum on your letter already reflects the program's utility rules. An apartment priced above it generally cannot be approved, so filter by rent first and save the viewing trips for units that can actually close.
- 3
The landlord completes the landlord package
The package covers proof of ownership, HPD property registration, the unit and proposed rent, which utilities are included, and the landlord's agreement to program rules. The most common delays are an owner name that does not match the deed exactly and a missing HPD registration. It is worth asking about both early.
- 4
Clearance and inspection
Your housing specialist checks the building against city records (DOB, HPD, DOF, FDNY) for open problems, and the unit is inspected for habitability. Missing smoke detectors, chipped paint, broken windows, and electrical issues are the usual reasons a unit fails. A failed unit can be fixed and re-inspected.
- 5
HRA review, then key exchange
HRA reviews the full package. Once it is approved, a key exchange is scheduled: you get the keys and the landlord receives the first payments. For a new rental that is the first month's rent in full plus the next three months of the CityFHEPS supplement, and HRA issues a security voucher in place of a cash deposit.
- 6
Renew every year
CityFHEPS is renewed annually, and HRA recalculates your share from your current income each time. Assistance can run up to five years, with extensions for good cause. Missed renewal paperwork is a common reason payments stop, so treat the renewal notice like a rent bill.
What CityFHEPS pays and what you pay
The maximum rents are the same in every borough: $2,604 for a studio, $2,734 for a one-bedroom, $2,997 for a two-bedroom, $3,753 for a three-bedroom, and $4,077 for a four-bedroom. Those figures assume heat, hot water, electricity, and cooking gas are all included in the rent. If you will pay some utilities yourself, a utility allowance is subtracted and the approvable rent is lower.
Your share is typically about 30% of your household income, paid to the landlord. HRA pays the rest directly to the landlord each month. The rent also has to pass a rent reasonableness check, which means it cannot be higher than what similar apartments nearby rent for.
Landlords cannot ask for anything on top of the lease rent. Side payments, extra security beyond the HRA security voucher, and "key money" are program violations, and a landlord who asks for them can be barred from city rental assistance programs.
If a landlord will not take CityFHEPS
A landlord or broker in New York City cannot turn you down because your rent is paid through CityFHEPS. That is source-of-income discrimination, illegal under the NYC Human Rights Law since 2008 and under the NYS Human Rights Law statewide.
The common versions: the apartment is suddenly "no longer available" once you mention the program, an ad that says "no programs," a higher rent quoted to voucher holders, or a "40 times the rent" income rule applied to you even though the program pays most of the rent.
Write down the date, the address, and who you spoke to, and keep any texts or emails. You can report it to the NYC Commission on Human Rights at 212-416-0197 or to the HRA Source of Income Discrimination Team at 929-221-6576 (soi@dss.nyc.gov).
Who to call about CityFHEPS in Queens
- HRA rental assistance (DSS OneNumber)
- 718-557-1399
- Homebase office for your address
- Call 311 and ask for Homebase
- Case status and documents
- ACCESS HRA
- Official CityFHEPS forms and rent schedule
- nyc.gov/hra
- Queens Housing Court
- 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435Hours and help center (nycourts.gov)
If you have an eviction case in Queens, it is heard at this courthouse. Tenants in NYC eviction cases may qualify for a free lawyer. Ask at the court help center before your first appearance.
CityFHEPS guides
How to apply for CityFHEPS without going through shelter
The four doors into the program and which one fits your situation.
How to get a CityFHEPS shopping letter
Who issues it, how to read it, and what to do when it expires.
CityFHEPS renewal and what to do when it stalls
The renewal timeline and how to tell your case is stuck.
How to move to a new apartment with CityFHEPS
Keeping the subsidy when you change apartments.
CityFHEPS stopped paying your landlord
The usual causes and the fastest fixes.
How to report a landlord who refuses your voucher
Who takes the complaint, what evidence helps, and what happens next.
CityFHEPS Apartments in Other NYC Boroughs
Want help with the search? Licensed brokers in Queens that accept vouchers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CityFHEPS rent limit in Queens?
CityFHEPS rent limits in Queens match the NYC-wide payment standards: Studio: $2,604, 1BR: $2,734, 2BR: $2,997, 3BR: $3,753. These are maximum rents that the voucher program will approve.
How do I find CityFHEPS apartments in Queens?
VoucherMatch lists verified apartments that accept CityFHEPS vouchers. Browse our listings, filter by neighborhood and bedroom count, and apply directly through our platform. All landlords on VoucherMatch have confirmed they accept housing vouchers.
Can I use my CityFHEPS voucher anywhere in Queens?
Yes, CityFHEPS vouchers can be used anywhere in NYC where a landlord accepts them. However, the apartment must pass inspection and the rent must be within the payment standard for the unit size. Use our rent analyzer tool to check if a specific rent qualifies.
How do I get a CityFHEPS voucher if I live in Queens?
There is no open online application. Households come into CityFHEPS through one of four doors: Homebase (if you are at risk of losing your home), an active eviction case in Housing Court, a DHS shelter stay, or a referral category such as certain veterans. If you are behind on rent in Queens and not yet in court, call 311 and ask for the Homebase office that covers your address.
What is a CityFHEPS shopping letter?
It is the one-page document that shows your household size, the maximum rent CityFHEPS will approve, and an expiration date. Landlords and brokers ask for it before they process an application. If it has expired, ask the office that issued it for a renewal. Renewed letters are usually updated to the current maximum rents.
Does CityFHEPS pay the security deposit?
HRA issues a security voucher instead of a cash deposit. Landlords in the program must accept it and cannot ask you for additional security.
Can I rent an apartment that costs more than my CityFHEPS maximum?
Generally no. Unlike Section 8, where a tenant can sometimes cover a gap, CityFHEPS cannot approve a rent above the maximum on your shopping letter. For a two-bedroom that ceiling is $2,997 with all utilities included. Some landlords will adjust the rent to fit, so it is worth asking before you walk away.
How long does CityFHEPS approval take once I find an apartment?
It depends on how quickly the landlord package is completed and whether the unit passes inspection the first time. Packages stall most often over paperwork: an owner name that does not match the deed, or a building that is not registered with HPD. Ask your housing specialist what is outstanding and follow up in writing.
How long does CityFHEPS last?
You renew once a year, and assistance can continue for up to five years, with extensions available for good cause. Households with a member who is 62 or older, or an adult receiving federal disability benefits, may qualify for longer.
Ready to find your new home?
Browse 4 CityFHEPS apartments in Queens and apply today.