Emergency Housing Voucher Program (EHV)

Family Photo cropped EHV

Thank you for your interest in the New York State Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program. Our EHV Waitlist is closed and we are no longer accepting new referrals. Updates and any new announcements will be posted to this page.

If you are in need of housing assistance, please use the links below to contact HCR’s Section 8 Local Administrators (LAs), other local Public Housing Authorities and your local Continuum-of-Care (CoC) directly:

Overview

The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program is an outcome of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. A federal subsidy program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), EHV’s goal is to decrease homelessness and assist in obtaining decent, safe, and sanitary housing by subsidizing a portion of each family’s monthly rent, based on their income.

Participants of EHV live in housing of their choosing while paying approximately 30% of their monthly income on rent. The remaining rent amount (subsidy) is paid directly to the landlord by the Public Housing Authority. Homes and Community Renewal is one of three Public Housing Authorities in New York State.

Administrative Plan

Please refer to pg. 777 for EHV

Eligibility Requirements

Interested parties must apply to the program through their local Continuum-of-Care (CoC). Clients cannot apply on their own.

Eligibility is limited to individuals and families who are

Applicants must fit into at least one of the priority categories below. Additional eligibility determinations will be made, such as the family’s total annual gross income and household size.

Priority 1

Priority 2

Priority 3

Households who do not qualify within the priorities listed above and who are eligible under HUD’s PIH Notice 2021-15 , including at-risk households.

Landlord Benefits

The EHV program provides landlords with an opportunity to strengthen their communities by helping end homelessness for families and individuals, as well as providing safe, stable housing. Single family dwellings, apartment buildings, legal accessory apartments, townhouses, and condominiums are eligible. Paperwork is minimal and the owner retains normal management rights and responsibilities including tenant selection, rent collection, property maintenance and lease termination.

How the EHV program benefits landlords:

1. Vacancies are filled with qualified applicants.

2. Payment of the subsidy portion of rent is guaranteed.

3. $2,000+ of incentives are provided, including a bonus paid at lease signing, paid security deposit, a repair fund and more.

4. Landlords can assist their community by providing shelter for the most vulnerable.

Owner Incentives Outlined

A robust incentive package is offered to owners to facilitate occupancy:

✓ A landlord bonus of one month’s rent is paid to the owner at time of lease signing.*

✓ Security deposit is fully covered for the household.*

✓ Repairs can be reimbursed up to $1,000 ($2,000 for units in New York City) to ensure the unit meets Housing Quality Standards.

✓ Landlord guarantee: Should the landlord be forced to evict the tenant for non-payment of the tenant share of rent, HCR will reimburse the landlord for losses accrued prior to the date of eviction.

*For units outside of New York City only.

Landlord Resources

EHV Landlord Resources from HUD

EHV Landlord Portal FAQs

1. What is Landlord Portal

Landlord Portal is a new online tool that allows landlords with tenants on the

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) Section 8

Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)

programs to review information pertaining to your issued payments, tenants,

scheduled and completed inspections, and tax forms at your convenience,

without having to call or visit the Local Administrator offices with which you are

accustomed to working.

2. How do I register/create a new account?

You MUST FIRST Register with the New York State Verification System.

Once registered, you will be able to access the Landlord Portal.

For your convenience, a step-by-step Landlord Registration Guide is available at: https://hcr.ny.gov/landlord-portal-registration-guide

3. Who can register?

Only active landlords can create new accounts.

4. How is Landlord Portal useful to me as a landlord?

As a registered landlord, you will be able to use Landlord Portal to review

Additionally, you will be able to access and view:

5. What do I do if I can’t remember my username/password or I want to

change my password?

Logging into Landlord Portal requires you to log into your NY.gov account. If

you need to recover your username and/or password, you can do so at the

NY.gov site here. You can also change your password. If you need additional

help, you can select the Get Assistance link located on the NY.gov login

Photo: NY.Gov ID Screenshot

6. I know my password but still can’t log in. What can I do?

You can find a list of NY.gov FAQs here. The NY.gov IT Help Desk can be

reached by telephone at 844-891-1786, or you can also email Emphasys at

7. How can I find information about my tenants?

Log in first, and then click on the "Landlord Portal" link to the left. Select the

action button entitled “Landlord Portal” and then “My Families”. Clicking on

the View Details button will provide you with additional information, such as

the assigned Caseworker.

Photo: Actions Landlord Portal

8. How can I find information about the rented units?

Log in first, and then click on the "Landlord Portal" link to the left. Select the

action button entitled “My Units”. Clicking on the View Details button will

provide you with additional information such as Resident and Unit

Photo: Landlord Portal My Units Screenshot

9. How can I find information about my HAP payments?

Log in first, and then click on the "Landlord Portal" link to the left. Select the

action button entitled “My Payments”. Clicking on the View Details button will

provide you with detailed payment information.

Photo: Landlord Portal My Payments Screenshot

10. How can I review my own profile information?

Log in first, and then click on the "My Profile" link to the left. You will see

general contact information associated with your user profile on Landlord

Portal. For your protection, changes to your information cannot be made

Photo: Landlord Portal Actions Profile Screenshot

11. How can I find information about my tenant’s payment holds or

abatements?

Log in first, and then click on the "Landlord Portal" link to the left. Select the

action button entitled “Holds and Abatements”.

The list can be sorted by unit address, type (Unit or Abatement) or status

(Open or Closed) by clicking on the down arrow of the drop-down menus.

Photo: Landlord Portal Hold and Abatement Screenshot

12. Some of my tenants are missing. Why can’t I see all of them?

This occurs if you are a Management Company or a landlord with multiple

properties. To link you to all of your properties please email us at

[email protected] so we may assist you.

13. I have other questions. Who can I contact for support?

For Landlord Portal support, you may email your questions to:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a limited number of Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) to our PHA, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR). EHVs are tenant-based rental assistance under Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) and will generally operate like tenant-based Section 8.

EHV assistance is limited to families and individuals who are:

Potentially eligible families and individuals must first complete an initial screening with their local Continuum-of-Care (CoC) and be referred to NYSHCR. Clients cannot apply on their own.

What is a Continuum of Care?

The Continuum of Care (CoC) is a local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless individuals and families. The CoC Program is designed to:

Section 9.b of HUD Notice PIH 2021-15 provides a more thorough description of CoCs and their role in the EHV program. Additional information on CoC’s can be found at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/coc

What is a Victims Service Provider?

HUD defines a victim service provider to mean a private nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to provide direct services to victims of domestic violence. This term includes permanent housing providers—including rapid re-housing, domestic violence programs (shelters and non-residential), domestic violence transitional housing programs, dual domestic violence and sexual assault programs, and related advocacy and supportive services programs.

What is a Coordinated Entry system?

Provisions in the CoC Program Interim Rule at 24 CFR § 578.7(a)(8) require that CoCs establish a Coordinated Entry (CE) System. The Coordinated Entry (CE) process is an approach to coordination and management of a crisis response system’s resources that allows users to make consistent decisions, based on available information, to efficiently and effectively connect people to housing and service interventions that will rapidly end their homelessness.

What are the roles and responsibilities of PHAs, CoCs, and Victim Service Providers (VSPs)?

CoCs and VSPs are responsible for the following:

PHAs are responsible for all the PHA administrative responsibilities for the EHV program in accordance with the EHV Operating Requirements Notice and the applicable HCV program regulations, including but not limited to:

Are participants in Rapid Rehousing programs eligible for EHV?

Are the vouchers available for individuals or just for families?

What if an individual or family is over income?

As in the regular voucher program, the PHA must determine whether a family is income eligible prior to the provision of EHV assistance. If the family is over income based on the most recently published income limits for the family size, the family is ineligible for HCV assistance.

Are there any restrictions on families who may owe debts to a PHA?

No, as outlined in HUD Notice 2021-15, Section 9g., unlike regular HCV admissions, PHAs may not deny an EHV applicant admission regardless of whether:

My local CoC has referred me to your EHV program. What’s next?

What happens after my eligibility packet is submitted?

Your eligibility application packet will be reviewed for completeness and program eligibility.

Program eligibility includes:

What if my application for EHV assistance is denied?

I have received an Emergency Housing Voucher. What do I do now?

How does EHV help me pay rent?

Does my EHV expire?

Will I be eligible for assistance with a security deposit or moving expenses?

I found an apartment, what are the next steps?

What is a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract?

When can I move into my new unit?

Can I move and still be assisted with my EHV voucher?

Can I move out of NYC with my EHV voucher?

Contact Us

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Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.