Applying to NYC housing lotteries with a Section 8 or CityFHEPS voucher
Most lotteries list a minimum income. If you have a housing voucher, that minimum doesn't apply to you in the buildings HPD and HDC oversee.
What the rule says
- Applicants with a tenant-based Section 8 voucher or another qualifying rental subsidy are not held to the listing's minimum income.
- They must be considered as long as the voucher's payment standard, minus any utility allowance, covers the apartment's rent.
- Everything else still applies, including the maximum income and household size.
Which vouchers count
- Housing Choice Vouchers and Emergency Housing Vouchers (Section 8), issued through NYCHA, HPD or New York State HCR.
- CityFHEPS vouchers from the City's Human Resources Administration, for households leaving the City's shelter system. People in a DHS shelter may qualify for Augmented CityFHEPS, which pays more for apartments listed on Housing Connect; a shelter letter is enough proof.
- Other qualifying rental subsidies. Some ZIP codes have higher payment standards (Exception Payment Standards), which can cover more expensive apartments.
How to apply
In your Housing Connect profile, say that you have a voucher to cover the rent, then apply to lotteries whose rent your voucher covers. Your maximum income still has to fit: see NYC housing lottery income limits 2026.
Outside lotteries too, it's illegal in New York City for a landlord or broker to refuse you because you pay with a voucher, with exceptions only for some small owner-occupied buildings. You can report it to the NYC Commission on Human Rights by calling 311 and asking for "Human Rights".
Checked against official NYC sources on October 31, 2026.