Housing voucher programs explained
Section 8, CityFHEPS, FHEPS, HASA, SOTA, and VASH all help pay rent, but they are run by different agencies and have different rules. Here is what each one is, who qualifies, and how it pays.
A housing voucher (also called a rental subsidy) pays part of your rent directly to the landlord, so you pay a smaller share out of pocket. Section 8 is the federal program available nationwide. CityFHEPS and FHEPS help eligible households facing homelessness; HASA provides housing assistance and other services for eligible New Yorkers living with HIV or AIDS. Every landlord on VoucherMatch accepts one or more of these vouchers.
Section 8 (HCV): Housing Choice Voucher Program
Federal, nationwide- Who qualifies
- Low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Income limits are set locally, usually at 50% of the area median income. It is the largest federal rental-assistance program.
- How it pays rent
- The tenant generally pays about 30% of adjusted income toward rent and utilities. The housing authority adopts payment standards using HUD rent benchmarks, including ZIP-level Small Area FMRs where required or adopted. The actual subsidy also depends on the approved rent and utility allowance; a HUD benchmark is not itself a voucher award.
- Administered by
- Local public housing authorities (in NYC, NYCHA and NYC HPD)
CityFHEPS: City Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement
NYC program; apartments throughout New York State- Who qualifies
- NYC families and individuals who are in a shelter, facing eviction, or otherwise at risk of homelessness. Eligibility is determined by HRA.
- How it pays rent
- CityFHEPS publishes its own payment standards. Within NYC they are citywide rather than ZIP-specific; outside NYC, use HRA’s applicable county schedule. HRA calculates the household’s rent share and any utility allowance.
- Administered by
- NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA)
FHEPS: Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement
New York City- Who qualifies
- Eligible families receiving Cash Assistance who need help to stay housed or move after losing housing. The household generally must include a child, an eligible full-time secondary-school student, or a pregnant person. HRA decides individual eligibility.
- How it pays rent
- FHEPS has its own NYC payment standards (HRA-146z, effective August 1, 2025), set slightly above the April 2026 CityFHEPS amounts.
- Administered by
- NYC HRA, under the FHEPS program rules
HASA: HIV/AIDS Services Administration
New York City- Who qualifies
- NYC residents living with HIV or AIDS. HASA provides rental assistance along with case management and other services.
- How it pays rent
- HASA pays up to its own rent guidelines for the unit size (HRA Special Services Rent Payment Guidelines, effective September 10, 2025).
- Administered by
- NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA)
SOTA: Special One-Time Assistance
New York City- Who qualifies
- NYC shelter residents with a source of income to sustain rent after the first year. SOTA can be used to relocate within NYC or elsewhere.
- How it pays rent
- SOTA pays one year of rent. HRA used to pay it as a single up-front lump sum; since February 2020 it pays the landlord monthly for the 12 months. It is a one-year subsidy, not an ongoing voucher.
- Administered by
- NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA)
VASH: HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing)
Federal, nationwide- Who qualifies
- Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. VASH pairs a Section 8 voucher with VA case management and clinical services.
- How it pays rent
- VASH works like a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher: the tenant pays roughly 30% of income and the voucher covers the rest up to the local payment standard.
- Administered by
- Local public housing authorities with the VA
NYC payment standards (CityFHEPS, FHEPS, HASA)
These are the citywide maximum monthly rents by unit size, with all utilities included. Each program publishes its own schedule: CityFHEPS effective April 1, 2026, FHEPS effective August 1, 2025, and HASA effective September 10, 2025. When utilities are paid separately, an allowance can reduce the amount available for rent. Section 8 uses the administering housing authority's adopted schedule.
| Unit size | CityFHEPS | FHEPS | HASA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,604 | $2,646 | $2,646 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,734 | $2,762 | $2,762 |
| 2 bedroom | $2,997 | $3,058 | $3,058 |
| 3 bedroom | $3,753 | $3,811 | $3,811 |
| 4 bedroom | $4,077 | $4,111 | $4,111 |
| 5 bedroom | $4,689 | $4,727 | $4,728 |
| Single room (SRO), CityFHEPS | $1,953 | ||
| Room in a shared apartment, CityFHEPS | $1,100 | ||
Reviewed October 20, 2026. Sources: CityFHEPS DSS-8r, FHEPS HRA-146z, HASA rent guidelines. Look up HUD benchmarks with the Rent Analyzer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Section 8 and CityFHEPS?
Section 8 is a federal program run by local housing authorities nationwide. CityFHEPS is a New York City program run by HRA for eligible households facing homelessness. Each administering agency publishes its own rent schedules and eligibility rules; CityFHEPS apartments can be located elsewhere in New York State.
Can a landlord refuse a housing voucher?
Source-of-income laws protect many voucher applicants in New York City, New York State and other jurisdictions. Coverage, property exemptions and enforcement depend on the location and facts. Check the applicable civil-rights agency before assuming a refusal is lawful.
How much rent will a voucher cover?
It depends on the program, unit size, location, household income, approved rent and utility allowance. Use your agency’s adopted payment standard for a Section 8 decision. The Rent Analyzer shows HUD benchmarks and program schedules to help you prepare questions for your caseworker.
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